Walking for Andy from Paris to Luxembourg

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Et ass ongewinnt, dass ech dës zwee Deeg nach net ze Fouss gaange sinn. Mais dat bleift net esou. Fir moar ass schonn eng länger Sortie geplangt. Ech freeën mech lo schonn drop.
Vu wat ech awer bis elo nach ni geschriwwen hunn, ass wéi esou en Dag op der Rees organiséiert gouf.
Ugefaangen huet den Dag fir mech géingt aacht Auer wéi ech opgestanen sinn. No der Dusch sinn d’Féiss an d’Been agecrèmt a masséiert ginn. Kuerz virun 9 Auer sinn ech dann gemittlech Kaffi drénke gaangen. Dat huet esou bis ongeféier véirel vir Zéng gedauert. D’Féiss sinn nach eng Kéier mat engem speziellen Stëft behandelt ginn fir keng Bloderen ze kréien. En huet nawell gutt gehollef. Duerno hunn ech mech nach mat der Sonnecrème ageriwwen. Ënnerwee hunn ech dat net méi esou gär gemaach. Dann hunn ech nach de Rucksak kontrolléiert.
Fir de Smartphone hat ech een Zousazakku. Doduerch konnt ech ëmmer bis zum Schluss meng Streck senden. Ouni dësen zousätzlechen Akku wier no 4 Stonnen Feierowend gewiescht.
Nodeems ech da meng komfortabel Schong ugedoen hatt, si mir op den Depart gefuer, deen den Dag virdrun nach Arrivée war. Ech sinn just eemol direkt am Hotel ukomm a konnt also och just eemol vum Hotel aus un fortgoen. Éier et lass gaangen ass sinn ech nach, wéi Dir jo wësst, vun hanne fotograféiert ginn. Wann dann och nach de GPS an de Smartphone gréng Luucht ginn hunn, waren et nach ongeféier 6 Stonnen bis op déi nächst Arrivée. Pausen hunn ech bal keng gemaach. Vill Honger hat ech och ni. Just wann eng Pâtisserie an der Géigend war, konnt ech net widderstoen. Ze drénken hat ech awer ëmmer genuch derbäi. Fënnef Kilometer viru Schluss hunn ech deen éischten SMS un d’Kollegen mam Auto geschéckt. Sou wossten si, dass ech nach eng Stonn ënnerwee wier. Am Duerf selwer hunn ech hinnen dann déi genau Adress gesimst. Nodeems si mech dann fonnt haten sinn erëm Fotoen gemaach ginn an da si mir séier zréck an den Hotel gefuer. Hei hunn ech dann dat selwecht wéi moies mat de Féiss an de Been gemaach.
An der zwëschen Zäit sinn d’Fotoen schonn eemol an der Gréisst reduzéiert ginn. Sou krit een se méi séier online gesat.
Op d’Iessen hu mir eis alleguer gefreet. Nom Iessen, esou géingt hallwer Eelef sinn dann d’Fotoen online gaangen. Den Text vum Dag ass geschriwwen ginn an éier ech mech ëmsinn hatt war et och schonn no hallef Nuecht. Den Text gouf nach iwwerlies, eventuell verbessert an dann online gesat. Géingt eng Auer war et dann endlech esou wäit, dass ech konnt an d’Bett goen. Virdrun hunn ech awer nach all d’Batterien un de Stroum gehaangen.

Zum Schluss soen ech nach all deene Merci, déi Dag fir Dag um Site laanscht gesurft sinn!

Bis dann,
Jean-Jacques Zeimes

Days sixteen and seventeen

I’ve been home for two days now and I still can’t seem to get used to my sedentary lifestyle. I miss walking. Tomorrow, I’ll  take a longer promenade and I’m seriously looking forward to this.
Today however, I’d like to reveal the details of how I organized myself and coordinated everything during the two weeks on the road. Consider it a look behind the scenes.
I usually got up at around eight o’ clock, took a shower, put some lotion on my feet and legs and gave them a massage. Shortly before nine o’ clock I went downstairs to have breakfast. I allowed myself enough time to eat before I went back to my room. I quickly applied some preventative treatment against blisters and put on some sun lotion. I knew fully well that I wouldn’t have time to do it properly during the walk. I then checked my backpack, put on my walking shoes and left.
As you know, I used my smart phone to send you the necessary data about my itinerary and progress. Unfortunately, its battery would only last for approximatively four hours, so I had brought along a second one to avoid any longer disruptions in the data transfer.
I didn’t just leave the hotel and start walking. Obviously, I had to start from the exact location I had previously arrived at. In most cases, this was somewhere along the way, but not necessarily in a town where I had booked my overnight stay. Every day, somebody had to drive me to that precise location before I could start walking.
Before the actual walk, I usually asked the person who had driven me to the starting point to take a picture of my back. I then checked my GPS and phone and finally started on my 6-hour ordeal. I rarely took a break and I never really felt particularly hungry during the walks. I only stopped if I happened to walk past a bakery. Indeed, pastries were the only luxury I indulged in from time to time. As far as water was concerned, I was well prepared. I usually carried enough around with me. Once I came close to reaching the final five kilometres, I sent a text message to the person who had driven me to that day’s point of departure, thus letting him know that I was nearing the end of that day’s stage. As soon as I stopped walking, I sent them the address of the place where they could pick me up. Again we took a couple of pictures and then drove to the next hotel.
In my room, I treated my legs and feet to the same massage as in the morning while the day’s pictures were being compressed to allow for easier data transfer.
The day’s highlight was usually dinner. Afterwards, usually at around ten thirty, I put the pictures online, wrote a short summary of my encounters, recharged the batteries for the different devices and went to bed (at around 1 am).

Let me conclude by thanking all the people who have visited this website day after day.

See you,

Jean-Jacques Zeimes

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Wéi ech dunn a Richtung vun der Schoul gekuckt hunn, gesinn ech eng Kamera, Mikroen, d’Frënn an d’Famill déi um Trottoir stinn an an d’Hänn klappen. Vun iwwerall si bekannt a léif Gesichter op mech duer komm. Vu lauter Emotiounen weess een net wien ee sollt fir d’éischt begréissen. Et gesäit een d’Leit an awer realiséiert een net direkt wien alles do ass. Flott denkt een sech. Jidderengem wëllt ee Moien an och Merci soen, dass en se komm sinn. Wat fir eng Iwwerraschung, de Sportminister Romain Schneider ass op meng Arrivée komm! Dat ass eng grouss Éier fir mech an ech hun mech immens doriwwer gefreet. Mir hunn eis Moie gesot an e bësschen mateneen geschwat.
Duerno huet de Fernseh an de Radio een Interview mat mir gemaach. Leider huet de Reporter vun der geschriwwener Presse am längsten missten waarden. Mais och hien hat nach flott an interessant Froen fir mir ze stellen.
Déi obligatoresch Gruppefoto mam Sportminister Romain Schneider huet d’Myriam gemaach. Wann Dir d’Fotoen vun haut kuckt, gesitt Dir och de Fändel vun deem ech ëmmer nees geschriwwen hunn. Et ginn eigentlech zwee därer Fändelen. D’Idee war fir Ënnerwee eppes symbolesches derbäi ze hunn. Duerch d’Ënnerschrëften sollt et eppes lieweges ginn, wat een herno och kann upaken, ouni dass et direkt futti geet. Ausserdeem bleiwen duerch di Nimm déi do drop stinn d’Erënnerungen vill méi laang frësch. Firwat? All Kéiers wann ech een ugeschwat hunn, war et anescht a ni Routine. Nodeems jiddereen esou laang Gedold hat si mir dunn zesummen e Patt drénke gaangen. Wéi ech beim ominéisen Sall 011 laanscht gaange sinn wosst ech, elo ass de Foussmarsch eréischt ganz eriwwer. Mais de Wee geet weider. D’Stëmmung beim Patt war richteg flott an mir konnten gutt zesummen schwätzen. Dee Moment deen ech hei erlieft hunn, wäert ech ni vergiessen. E grousse Merci nach eng Kéier un all déi déi an iergend enger Form dës Rees begleet hunn.
Zum Schluss soen ech awer och nach dem Andy villmools Merci, dass hien den Tour de France 2010 gewonnen huet. Ouni säin Triumph wier dës Aventure fir mech esou net méiglech gewiescht. Merci Andy!
Gutt Nuecht a bis moar.
J-J

Day fifteen (2)

 When I looked towards the main entrance of the school, I saw a camera, a couple of microphones as well as friends and relatives who were standing near the sidewalk, cheering. Wherever I looked, I saw friendly faces. I was overwhelmed and didn’t know who to talk to first. My eyes quickly scanned the crowd but I simply lost track of everybody I recognized. I was surprised to see Mr Romain Schneider, the Minister for Sport, who seemed to have taken time off his busy schedule to congratulate me. I was deeply honoured by his presence. We talked a bit and then it was already time to give the local press some interviews. This took quite a while, which meant that some of the journalists had to wait a bit longer. Luckily, they were all patient enough. I would have thought them to run out of things to ask, but even the last of them managed to come up with interesting questions.
Once I had finished all the interviews, Myriam took a group shot with Mr Schneider and the people who had accompanied me during the two weeks. By the way, all of the pictures should be online by now, which means that you’ll also have the opportunity to see the famous flag I keep talking about. There are actually two of them. The idea was to carry along something of symbolic importance. The signatures were supposed to bring it to life, to make it more tangible without ruining it. More importantly, each of the names on the flag is supposed to conjure up memories of the different encounters I had during the long trip.
Once all the official pictures had been taken, we went inside to celebrate with food and drinks. We walked past room 0.11, where I had made that ominous promise so many years ago, and it was only then I realized that I had finally arrived at the end of my journey. There was a cheerful mood among all the people and I had plenty of opportunity to talk to everybody. I am sure I’ll never forget this day. Once again, I’d like to express my gratitude to all the people who have been somehow involved in this adventure.
I would also like to thank Andy for winning the 2010 Tour de France. Without his victory, I would never have been able to follow through with this plan. Thanks a lot.

Good night.

J-J

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Haut ass et esou wäit, d’Arrivée am LTAM ass fir 17.00 Auer virgesinn. Eng flott Erfahrung wäert dann technesch op en Enn goen.
Um hallwer zwou ass d’Lydie an de Lee mech bei den Hotel siche komm an et huet nawell richteg gutt gereent deen Ament. Iwwert Riedgen ass den Himmel awer schonn nees méi blo ginn. De Lee ass haut nach eng Kéier als Guide mat gaangen. Hie kennt sech immens gutt an eisem Land aus. Well mir fir déi 13 lescht Kilometer genuch Zäit haten, hu mir eis och net gehetzt. Viru fënnef Auer wollten mir net beim Arts et Métiers sinn. Kuckt een sech de Wee vun därer leschter Etapp un, da mierkt een séier, dass mir op kee Fall deen direkten Wee an den LTAM gewielt hunn. Zu Leideleng-Gare hu mir d’Annabelle mam Homer begéint. Si huet de Fändel ënnerschriwwen an ass duerno mat eis, bis mir d’Richtung gewiesselt hunn, weider gaangen. Fir ee Moment huet et esou aus gesinn wéi wann den Homer mat eis wéilt weider goen. Hien huet dunn awer séier gemierkt, dass seng Meeschtesch net méi derbäi war.
Gläich drop waren mir och schonn zu Märel. Um Märeler Kierfecht krut ech vum Pascal déi lescht Ënnerschrëft op de Fändel.
Well mir nach iwwerall Fotoen gemaach hunn ass eis d’Zäit och net ze laang ginn. Och doheem gëtt et vill ze fotograféieren, probéiert et eemol aus.
Fir vum Rollengergronn op den Lampertsbierg ze kommen benotzt een am beschten deen schéine Park Tony Neuman. An der zwëschen Zäit war et schonn véierel fir fënnef. Déi lescht véirel Stonn wollt ech awer eleng sinn, fir bis bei d’Schoul ze goen. De Lee huet dat gutt verstanen an ass dunn een aneren Wee wéi ech weider gaangen. Punkt fënnef Auer sinn ech bei menger Schoul ukomm.
Moar schreiwen ech Iech dann wéi et duerno weider gaangen ass.
Gutt Nuecht a bis moar.
J-J

Day fifteen

Today’s the day. If everything goes according to plan, I should arrive at the LTAM at around 5 pm. It will mark the end of a great experience.
Lydie and Lee picked me up at the hotel at around 2 o’ clock. It was pouring down with rain at that moment but I wasn’t too worried. I could already see the sun breaking through the clouds over Riedgen, so I knew I would be fine. Lee, who really knows our country inside out, once again assumed the role of guide. Knowing that we only had thirteen kilometres to walk, we allowed ourselves plenty of time to get to the rendezvous point at the LTAM. We obviously couldn’t show up there before 5 o’ clock, so we opted for a less direct route. In Leideleng-Gare, we came across Annabelle and Homer. She signed the flag and then they both walked with us until we had to part ways. Homer didn’t really want to leave us but finally bid us farewell when he realized that his wife was already moving in the other direction.
A short while later, we arrived in Märel. As we were walking past the local cemetery, we saw Pascal. He was the last person to sign the flag. We took loads of pictures along the way and didn’t notice how quickly time flew by. You’d be surprised how many photography subjects you can find in Luxembourg. You should give it a go some time.
In Rollingergrund, we slowly made our way uphill towards Limpertsberg. It was a quarter to five by the time we got to Tony Neuman park. I then asked Lee to leave me as I wanted to walk the final kilometre on my own. Lee understood this and we went separate ways. At five o’ clock sharp, I arrived at my school.
Tomorrow, I’ll tell you how things went on from there.
Good night.

J-J

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Haut sinn ech emol erëm fir d’éischt säit laanger Zäit zu Lëtzebuerg erwescht. An der Nuecht huet et gutt gereent fir dass et Mëttes sollt schéi sinn. Kuerz virun zwielef Auer ass de Gilbert mech bei den Hotel siche komm a mir sinn zesummen op Rodange gefuer. De Gilbert huet mech net nëmmen op den Point de Depart gefouert. Nee, hien ass och déi ganz Etapp mat bis op Riedgen gaangen. Dës Etapp huet dem Lydie säi Mann de Lee zesummegestallt, si hunn schonn zu Rodange op eis gewaart. De Lee wollt, dass ech  haut am Minett géif iwwert flott Weeër goen. Fir mech war dat immens relax well ech net hu missten dem GPS nogoen. De Lee war mäi Guide. De Wee ass iwwert den Tëtelbierg, Nidderkuer, Suessem, Lampech an duerno op Riedgen gaangen. Dës Streck kënn Dir ganz gär eng Kéier nogoen. Si wäert iech dann genausou gutt gefalen wéi mir. No an no hunn sech ëmmer méi Frënn bei mir gemellt fir ze froen op si een Deel vun der Streck däerften matgoen. Wat kann et méi flottes ginn, wéi wann een Leit rondrëm sech huet déi ee gären hunn? Zu Nidderkuer war et de Patrick, den direkt no senger Fréihschicht derbäi komm ass. D’Patrice konnt awer leider net bleiwen an ass gläich drop erëm heem gefuer. Weider ënnen am Text kënnt Dir och erausfannen firwat! Virun Suessem ass de Marc mat senger Famill an engem Studienkolleg mat op de Wee gaang. Mat hinnen waren mir elo schonn zu néng Leit. Viru Lampech war et de Georges alias “Chicken” deen mat eis gaangen ass.
Op der Vëlospiste zwëschen Suessem a Lampech hunn ech d’Romy an de Serge ugeschwat op si op de Fändel wéilten ënnerschreiwen. Fir si war dat keen Thema. Ech hu mäi Rucksak opgemaach fir de Fändel erauszehuelen, mais do war kee Fändel ze fannen. D’Romy an de Serge waren genausou wéi ech richteg enttäuscht, dass en si net op de Fändel ënnerschreiwen konnten. Dobäi huet de Gilbert mech nach éier mir fortgefuer sinn gefrot gehat: “Hues du de Fändel derbäi?”. Jo, ech hunn de Fändel ëmmer derbäi. Esou séier kann een sech täuschen!
Mir sinn weider gaangen, hunn d’Landschaft genoss a gutt matenaner geschwat. Vu wäitem war de Kierchbierg an och de Lampertsbierg schonn ze gesinn. Et ass also net méi wäit bis op d’Arrivée. D’Etapp vu moar gëtt déi Kierzten.
Zu Riedgen hu mir an engem Bushaischen op d’Patrice gewaart fir, dass hat eis nees op Rodange bei den Auto féiert. Mais d’Patrice hat Retard. D’Ursaach vun dësem Retard huet mat der Preparatioun vun deem wat Dir op der leschter Foto vun haut gesitt ze dinn. Merci Patrice, dass du Retard has!
Ech freeën mech schonn elo op déi lescht Etapp a si gläichzäiteg immens traureg, dass des eemoleg Erfahrung elo bal eriwwer ass.
Bis geschwënn am LTAM.
J-J

Day fourteen

For the first time in a fortnight, I woke up in Luxembourg. It had been raining throughout the night but the sun was already out by midday. Shortly before twelve o’ clock, Gilbert picked me up at the hotel and we drove to Rodange. He had decided to join me on today’s walk to Riedgen, so he left his car there and got ready. In Rodange, we also met up with Lydie and Lee. Lee, who was intent on showing us some of the more scenic routes through the south of the country, had actually planned today’s itinerary. Relying on him as a guide was a very pleasant experience. It was great not to have to check the GPS all the time to play it safe. Today’s route took us from the Tëtelbierg via Nidderkuer, Suessem and Lampech straight to Riedgen. It was a very enjoyable walk. If you ever feel like exploring the south of the country, I can honestly recommend it. As we moved along, friends kept calling me to ask if they could join us for a while. I was glad to hear from them. Let’s face it, nothing beats being around people who actually care about you. In Nidderkuer, we met up with Patrick, who had just left the early shift. He joined us as well. Patrice, on the other hand, couldn’t stay with us. She drove back home a little while later. There was a reason for that as you’ll find out soon enough. Shortly before reaching Suessem, we were joined by Marc, who had brought along his family as well as a friend from university. There were nine of us now but that was not the end of it. Just before Lampech, we encountered Georges aka Chicken. He also joined our ranks.
On the bicycle path that leads from Suessem to Lampech, we came upon Romy and Serge and I promptly asked them to sign my flag. They were glad to do so, but when I opened my backpack, I found that it was missing. We were all very disappointed. I couldn’t believe that I had left it at the hotel. Just before leaving this morning, Gilbert had asked me whether I had packed it and I was so sure that I had put it in my backpack. I guess I was wrong.
We continued on our journey, all the while talking and enjoying the scenery. In the distance we could already make out the taller buildings of Limpertsberg and Kirchberg. We were definitely closing in on our final destination. This was a good sign. Tomorrow’s stage would be sensibly shorter than the previous ones.
We finally arrived in Riedgen and waited for Patrice, who was supposed to drive us back to Gilbert’s car. She was late but we didn’t worry too much about that. We knew she was busy preparing something. Today’s final picture should give you a hint.
I’m already looking forward to tomorrow’s final stage despite the fact that it heralds the end of a unique experience.
I’ll see you at the LTAM.

J-J

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Haut den Owend, wëll ech zu Lëtzebuerg sinn! Wat e flott Gefill muss dat dach sinn nees Heem ze kommen. Dësen Dag huet awer och schonn de Goût vum Äddi soen. Well haut den Owend läit dee franséischen Deel vum Wee hanneru mir. Ausserdeem fueren den Ierbes an d’Annick haut Heem. D’Annick wier nach gär bis zum Schluss matgaangen. Him huet et dës Woch richteg gutt gedoen fir bal all Dag de Wee op Lëtzebuerg matzegoen. Dem Ierbes huet et grad esou gutt gefall. Merci fir dat wat Dir fir mech gemaach hutt.
D’Wieder ass wéi al Dag nees excellent. Do schéngt et een ze ginn, deen et schonn zënter zwou Wochen gutt mat mir mengt. Merci!
D’Fabienne an de Jean-Michel, Proprietairen vun eisem Hotel hunn nach de Fändel ënnerschriwwen an duerno si mir op Grand-Failly gefuer. Am Kapp war ech schonn zu Rodange. Gutt, dass een net weess wéi wäit een ze goen huet bis een ukënnt. Giff een et nämlech wëssen dann géif een sech selwer bremsen. De Wee ass mir vu Kilometer zu Kilometer ëmmer méi vertraut ginn. Firwat? Op de Stroossen waren ëmmer méi Autoen mat lëtzebuergeschen Nummereschëlter ze gesinn. An d’Dierfer hunn ëmmer méi un Lëtzebuerg erënnert.
Wann et eng normal Etapp gewiescht wier, wier zu Cosnes-et-Romain Schluss gewiescht. Zoufälleger Weis gouf et hei eng Pâtisserie. D’Sylvie hat nach Eclairen an Hambierstäertecher. Déi waren richteg gutt. D’Sylvie hat mir ausserdeem versprach de Fändel ze ënnerschreiwen. Well awer andauernd nei Clienten an d’Geschäft komm sinn hunn ech gewaart bis si Zäit hatt. Während deem ech gewaart hunn, sinn ech och gewuer ginn firwat d’Leit haaptsächlech komm sinn. Ma, si wollten all eng d’Tarte au sucre.
Mont-St-Martin war meng nächst Statioun. Dem GPS no waren dat nach ongeféier 6 km. Wéi ech méi no bei Mont-St-Martin komm sinn hunn ech den GPS op Rodange ëmprogramméiert. Nodeems hien alles berechent hat, waren et nach ëmmer 6 km. Dëst huet mech awer net weider schockéiert. Ech well zu Rodange ukommen an ech kommen och do un. Egal wéi wäit et nach ass! De Wee deen den GPS mir uginn huet ass duerch eng verloossen Industriezone gaangen. Firwat hien dës Weeër eraussicht, weess ech net. Dat eenzegt wat ech weess, dass een an deenen Industriezonen op jidder Fall ee Schrack méi séier geet. Stroosseschëlter hunn néierens gewisen wou et op Rodange giff goen. Eréischt ganz kuerz virun engem Rond-Point war och Rodange ugeschloen. Datt ech richteg war hunn ech net um Schëld Rodange erkannt, mais un deenen villen Tankstellen. Ech war glécklech an erliichtert wéi ech erëm zu Lëtzebuerg war. Den Edy an de Jeff zwee Buschaufferen waren déi éischt Lëtzebuerger, déi op de Fändel ënnerschriwwen hunn.
Gläich drop hunn ech och schonn mäi Brudder gesinn. Mir sinn eis an d’Äerm gefall an hunn net missten vill soen. Duerno si mir gemittlech an den Hotel gefuer an hunn eis richteg gutt ënnerhalen.
Gutt Nuecht a bis moar.
J-J

Day thirteen

Today’s objective is to reach Luxembourg. One part of me is looking forward to coming back home, but the other part knows that this also means saying goodbye to France, with its picturesque countryside and convivial residents. What is more, I’ll also have to say goodbye to Annick and Ierbes, who will both be driving home today. I know that Annick would have enjoyed finishing the journey with me and I am grateful for her and her dad’s support. Thank you for everything. I do appreciate it.
Once again the weather is excellent and I can’t help but think that somebody has been holding a protective hand over me these past two weeks.
This morning, Fabienne and Jean-Michel, the owners of the hotel we were staying at, signed the flag and we all drove to Grand-Failly. In my mind, I was already in Rodange. I guess it’s a good thing that you don’t always know exactly how much further you have to go until you reach your destination. Honestly, knowing the exact distance would only have slowed me down. As it was, I simply marched on. The closer I came to Luxembourg , the more familiar everything became. An increasing number of cars driving by were registered in Luxembourg and the villages I came across reminded me of those typical of our region.
If today’s stage had been anything like the previous ones, it would have ended in Cosnes-et-Romain but I really wanted to get to Rodange, so I moved on. I just stopped for a while at the local bakery where they were selling éclairs and raspberry tarts. I had to try them and I was right to do so. They were really delicious. Sylvie, the shop assistant, promised to sign my flag but, as she was busy serving customers, I had to wait. While I was sitting there it came to my attention that most people were there to buy French sugar pies. This had to be the local speciality.
The next town on my itinerary was Mont-St-Martin, which, according to my GPS, was six kilometres away. Shortly before getting there, I reprogrammed my device so that it would direct me to Rodange. Once it had calculated the new route, it informed me that my destination was still 6 kilometres away. I followed the itinerary through an abandoned industrial park until I realized that there were no road signs. I didn’t know which way to go. I quickened my pace and was glad when I was greeted by an increasing number of petrol stations. This is when I realized that I had to be close to the border. I was relieved to be back in Luxembourg. Edy and Jeff, two bus drivers, were the first Luxembourgers to sign my flag. Shortly afterwards I saw my brother waiting for me. We embraced. Words were unnecessary. We then drove to the hotel where we spent the evening talking.

Good night.

J-J

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Haut de Moien wéi ech erweecht sinn wousst ech direkt dësen Dag gëtt gutt. Kuerz éier ech fortginn liesen ech nach är Messagen an setzen se dann online. De Wee vun Murvaux op Grand-Failly ass direkt hannert der Kierch biergop fortgaangen. No e puer Minutten war ech schonn e gutt Stéck iwwert dem Duerf. Ee schéine Wee. Iwwert dem goen si mir déi verschiddenst Gedanken duerch de Kapp gaangen. Ginn ech gären liicht Weeër oder ginn ech op alle Weeër eens. Jo, et ass net schlecht wann een déi virgetrëppelt Weeër verléisst an sech dann op dat neit Onbekannt aléisst. Am Ufank maachen engem déi nei Weeër Angscht . Am léifsten giff een nees gär zréck op deen ale bekannte Wee goen. Gedankeverluer sinn ech dem Wee einfach no gaangen. Vun Zäit zu Zäit kucke ech och alt eemol op mäi GPS. Oh, oh ech hunn de Wee verluer! Wat maachen, nees zréck goen? Nee dat maachen ech net. Ech sinn weider gaangen. Da kann ech jo elo mol kucken wéi wäit et mam Vertrauen hier ass. De Wee ass ëmmer méi verschwonnen. Et konnt een just nach erahnen, wou de Wee misst sinn. Duerno ass et weider an e Bësch gaangen. Hei war et trotz der Sonn esou däischter wéi wann et scho bal Nuecht wier. Eng Mëschung aus Angscht an Virwëtz  huet sech agestallt. Dësen düsteren Wee krut einfach keen Enn. Ech war esou gespaant wou en mech géif hiféieren. No enger Zäit ass et erëm méi hell ginn an ech sinn op enger schéiner sonneger Plaz eraus komm. Duerno ass et erof op Brandeville gaangen.
Wann mech net alles täuscht ass haut een Deel vu mengem Wee esouguer iwwert de Jakobswee gaangen.
Brandeville ass ee wonnerschéint Duerf et mengt ee bal et wier een an der Schwäiz. Zu Bréhéville huet d’Annick mat sengem Papp op mech gewaart. Hat ass vun do un bis zum Schluss matgaang. Virun Lissey kruten mir nach Besuch vum Marc a vum Tom. Si sinn haut de Moien zu Lëtzebuerg mam Vëlo bis op Murvaux gefuer. Duerno sinn si de Wee deen ech dem Marc gëschter Owend gemailt hat nogefuer bis en se eis begéint hunn. Dat war eng flott Iwwerraschung. Eigentlech wollten mir an engem Duerf eppes zesummen drénken, mais dëst ass hei net esou einfach. Duerno sinn si bis op Lissey gefuer. Zu Lissey souzen si ënnert engem Bam op eis ze waarden. Mir hunn nach e puer Fotoen gemaach an sinn och schonn nees weider gaangen. Och si wollten net ze laang Paus maachen fir nees mat Zäit doheem ze sinn.
Vun Lissey bis op Grand-Failly waren et nach ongeféier 15 km . Well d’Annick an ech eis nach genuch ze erzielen haten si mir richteg gutt viru komm.
Zou Dombras huet de Jean-François seng Schallotten sou zesummen gebonnen, dass hien se besser dréchnen kann. Et war relativ einfach fir mat him an d’Gespréich ze kommen. Och hien huet de Fändel ënnerschriwwen. Ausserdeem huet hien eis gesot, dass hien zou Lëtzebuerg geschafft hätt an elo zënter engem Joer an der Pensioun wier. Hien huet eis säin Mobilhome gewisen a gesot, dass hien an deenen leschten véier Wochen 6000 km mat senger Fra duerch d’Frankräich gefuer wier. Vun Dombras op Grand-Failly waren et nach fënnef Kilometer.
Moar well ech vu Grand-Failly bis op Lëtzebuerg goen!
Gutt Nuecht a bis moar.
J-J

Day twelve

When I woke up this morning, I somehow knew that this was going to be a good day. Shortly before leaving, I read through your messages and posted them (I usually do that in the mornings).
Today’s route from Murvaux to Grand-Failly started behind the church and slowly wound uphill. A few minutes later, I had already left the village well behind me. While I was making my way towards Brandeville, I kept mulling over certain things. I thought about  the different routes I had taken these past days and tried to decide which ones I had enjoyed most. There’s certainly something exciting about choosing the road less travelled and embracing the unknown, but it can be a frightening experience too, especially at the start. Sometimes, the urge to go back to the well-trodden paths we are used to is too tempting. While I was thus lost in thoughts, I didn’t pay attention to the route I was following. Every now and then, I looked at my GPS to make sure that I was still on track. It was during one of those checkups that I realized that I had got lost. Now, of course, I could have backtracked but I didn’t really want to do that. This was the opportunity to put my theory to the test, so I moved on. The trail I was following became narrower and narrower. At times, I actually had to guess where it was. It finally disappeared into a forest and I bravely continued. Despite the sun, it was dark here because the trees overhead blocked out most of the sunshine. Again, I fought the urge to turn back. My curiosity was piqued and it pushed me onwards. After a while the trees became sparser and the sun managed to break through the dense foliage. I finally emerged from the forest and continued on my way to Brandeville, a village very akin to those found in Switzerland. By the way, if I’m not mistaken, part of today’s route linked up with the Camino de Santiago trail.
I continued towards Bréhéville, where I met up with Annick and her dad. Annick walked with me the rest of the day. Shortly before arriving in Lissey, we saw Marc and Tom, who had cycled all the way from Luxembourg to Murvaux. Once they had gotten there, they had followed the instructions that I had mailed Marc to meet up with us. We decided to go for a drink in one of the villages along our way but that turned out to be more difficult than we had expected. So, Marc and Tom decided to cycle to Lissey and wait for us there. When Annick and I had finally caught up with them, we took a couple of pictures and continued on our journey. Marc and Tom left as well as they didn’t want to be back home too late.
We then walked the remaining 15 kilometres to Grand-Failly. We talked a lot and made good progress. In Dombras, we met Jean-François who had just finished tying up shallots to dry them. We talked for a while and he told us that he used to work in Luxembourg. He had retired a year ago and both he and his wife had spent the past 4 weeks travelling around France in their camper van. They had actually covered 6000 kilometres in that short period. He then signed our flag and bid us farewell.
The final 5 kilometres of today’s walk took us to Grand-Failly. If everything goes as planned, I’ll arrive in Luxembourg tomorrow.

Good night.

J-J

Please scroll down for the English version.

Haut sinn déi geeschteg Strapazen vu gëschter keen Thema méi. D’Wieder an d’Streck sinn optimal. Zemools deen éischten Deel vun der Streck iwwert eng Strooss gaangen ass, wou ech kengem Mënsch begéint sinn, just Natur pur. An enger Wiss bei Sommerance huet dem Jupp säin Iesel nach mat senger Madame fir Nowuess gesuergt!
Nodeems dësen Deel vun der Streck laanscht war, ass et wieder op Dun-sur-Meuse gaangen. Op den Dierfer ënnerwee war keng Hetz ze spieren. D’Hénger sinn op de Stroosse gelaf. D’Leit hunn an hire Gäert geschafft. Dieren vun den Haiser stoungen op. Verschiddentlech war emol ee Radio ze héieren, an dat war et dann och schonn. Verglach mat gëschter hat ech d’Gefill richteg séier virun ze kommen. Kuerz virun Bantheville sinn zwee Vëlosfuerer laanscht gefuer an hunn frëndlech Bonjour gesot. Wéi ech dunn e bësschen méi spéit och an d’Duerf komm sinn, gesinn ech déi zwee vun virdrun wéi si eng Paus an enger Wiss gemaach hunn. Ech sinn bei si gaangen an mir hunn eng länger Kosettchen gehalen. Mat Leit, déi och méi lues ënnerwee sinn wéi mam Auto huet een direkt gudden Kontakt. D’Jacqueline an de Wim sinn virun aacht Deeg zu Boulogne sur Mer mam Vëlo fortgefuer an sinn elo um Wee fir op Lëtzebuerg, duerno nach op Tréier an dann nees Heem an Holland. Si hunn och allen zwee op de Fändel ënnerschriwwen. Am Ufank hat ech just de Wim gefrot fir ze ënnerschreiwen. Wéi ech de Fändel nees wollt apaken huet Jacqueline gefrot firwat ech si net géif froen. D’Erklärung war ganz einfach. Wa méi Leit beieneen waren, huet bis elo ëmmer nëmmen een wollten ënnerschreiwen. Mais sou séier kann een e Fauxpas maachen wann een d’Situatioun net richteg aschätzt. Mir hunn eis nach géigesäiteg fotograféiert, Äddi gesot an eis nëmmen dat Bescht gewënscht. Ech si weider gaangen an sie hunn nach agepaakt. Kuerz drop si sie gemittlech laanscht gefuer an hunn nach, bis ech sie net méi gesinn hunn, gewénkt.
Zu Doulcon war eppes méi lass. Den nächsten Weekend ass hei ee gréissert Fest. Ausserdeem hu se hei och en Office du Tourisme. Hei schafft d’Claire. Selbstverständlech wollt hat och op de Fändel ënnerschreiwen.
Zu Dun-sur-Meuse hätt ech kënnte direkt an eise Hotel goen mais da wieren net genuch Kilometer op der Auer gewiescht. Eng Stonn méi spéit war ech dunn zu Murvaux. Moar geet et hei weider Richtung Lëtzebuerg.
Gutt Nuecht a bis moar.

J-J

Day eleven

Today started out well. The weather was great and the route that I was following couldn’t have been nicer. Yesterday’s exertions were finally forgotten and I just enjoyed the quiet and unspoiled countryside. In a meadow near Sommerance I came across two donkeys which were laying the groundwork for their latest addition to the family.
On my way to Dun-sur-Meuse, I passed through a number of peaceful villages. Chickens were wandering the streets and people were just working in their gardens while their front doors were left wide open. Every now and again the faint sound of music coming from a radio disrupted the peaceful atmosphere. Unlike yesterday, I had a feeling that I was making good progress. Shortly before arriving in Bantheville, I was overtaken by two cyclists who greeted me and rode on. I met them again a bit later while they were having a rest in the village. I walked up to them and we began talking. Jacqueline and Wim told me that they had left Boulogne-sur-Mer eight days ago and that they were heading towards Luxembourg and Trier before riding back home to the Netherlands. When Wim signed my flag, Jacqueline wondered why I hadn’t asked her to do the same. I explained to her that I had always contented myself with one signature when coming across a group of people and that I hadn’t ignored her deliberately. It wasn’t immediately obvious to me that I had made a gaffe, so I told myself that I’d be more careful next time. We then took a couple of pictures and wished each other well. I said goodbye and left. A short while later, they overtook me again and waved.
Doulcon, the town that I arrived in next, was quite busy. Everybody was getting ready for a festival. I walked towards the visitor centre to obtain some information about the town and this is where I met Claire. We talked a bit and she too signed my flag.
Once I had arrived in Dun-sur-Meuse I could have gone straight to my hotel but I knew that I hadn’t walked far enough today, so I continued. An hour later, I arrived in Murvaux and I called it a day.
Good night.

J-J

Please scroll down for the English version.

Haut de Moien hunn ech beim Kaffi nach e bësschen mam Ben geschwat. De Ben ass deejéinegen deen d’Panne mat sengem Auto am Rond-Point hat. Hien hat immens vill Chance, dat dës Panne net op der Autobunn geschitt ass. Gëschter hat hien eben keng Loscht fir iwwert d’Autobunn Heem ze fueren. D’Bauchgefill ass also net ze ënnerschätzen.
Nodeems de GPS gestart, an de Wee berechent war sin ech deem Wee nogaangen. No e puer Kilometer hunn ech op därer Pabeierskaart nogekuckt op d’Richtung géif stëmmen. Jo, d’Richtung huet gestëmmt mais et gëtt ee risen Ëmwee fir op Buzancy. Op eemol ass een Auto laanscht gefuer an huet gefrot wou mir géifen hi goen. Hien hätt eis virdrun laanscht säin Haus goe gesinn an duerfir wier hien a säin Auto geklommen, eis nogefuer fir eis ze froen op hien eis kéint hëllefen. Hien huet eis ee schéine Wee duerch den Bësch un d’Häerz geluecht fir op Buzancy ze kommen. Merci Monsieur! E puer Kilometer weider hu mir eng Rascht am Schied gemaach. Hei do dee frëndlechen Mann vu virdrun ass erëm mam Auto stoe bliwwen an huet mir nees genau erklärt wou ech misst higoen (‘Tu fais comme tu veux mon grand’). De Fändel huet hin nach ënnerschriwwe, ech krut nach Waasser a fort war en. Kilometeren méi spéit ass de Mann nach eng Kéier laanscht gefuer!!
D’Sonn huet richteg gutt gedréckt, kee Schied wäit a breed, a Buzancy nach esou wäit ewech. Ech war permanent domat beschäftegt wéi ech haut am séiersten géif op Buzancy kommen. Mat dësem Gedanken hunn ech mir haut selwer een Deel vum Wee verschass. Wann ee mengt et hätt een sech veriert oder et géif een en Ëmwee maachen, dann ass all Kilometer duebel esou wäit. Et ass een net méi am Moment, an dat ass kee flott Gefill. Kuerz drop ass den Ierbes d’Annick erléise komm. Ech sot him, dass et haut géif méi spéit ginn, well Buzancy nach wäit ewech wier. Doropshin sot hien du brauchs guer net op Buzancy ze goen. Hien hätt sech schonn gëschter gefrot, firwat ech den urspüngleche Wee net géif änneren. An elo wier ech jo genau richteg fir nees iwwert roueg Stroossen kënnen ze goen. Ma hien hat vollkommen Recht. Vun elo un waren all d’Suergen nees wéi ewech geblosen. Déi lescht Kilometer waren zwar méi schwéier wéi soss mais de Kapp war erëm fräi fir de Wee ze genéisen. Heiansdo brauch een net vill fir nees op dee richtegen Wee ze fannen.
Gutt Nuecht a bis moar.
J-J

Day ten

At breakfast this morning, I talked to Ben, the unfortunate motorist whose car had broken down yesterday. He had been quite lucky under the circumstances. He told me that he had wanted to take the motorway back home but had somehow decided to travel via back roads. His gut feeling proved to be right.
After breakfast, I got ready to leave. I switched on my GPS, typed in today’s destination and we left. After a few kilometres I took out my map to check whether we were still on track. I found out that we were still walking in the general direction of Luxembourg but that we had somehow turned south. We were actually taking a detour to get to Buzancy. Luckily a car passed us at that moment and the driver asked what way we were heading. He explained that he had seen us walk by his house and that he had decided to follow us in case we needed assistance. I told him that we were trying to get to Buzancy and that we had deviated from the planned route. On hearing this, he directed us towards a wooden trail that he knew would lead us to Buzancy. We thanked him and moved on.  A few kilometres further down the road, we took a rest in the shade. Minutes later, the motorist  drove up for the second time and again gave us directions. He told us that it was up to us to choose which way to go. He then signed the flag, gave us some water and drove off. We thought that we had seen the last of him, but we were wrong. A few kilometres later he drove by yet again, but this time he didn’t stop.
We slowly made our way towards Buzancy in the sweltering heat of the day. There was nothing in sight to provide any shade and our destination was still a long distance off. I kept thinking about how to get to Buzancy as quickly as possible and this brooding made me become more miserable by the minute. I was afraid that we had become lost and the kilometres started to seem endless. A short while later, Ierbes picked up Annick. I told him that I would arrive a bit later today, as Buzancy was still some way off. He then asked me why I had decided to stick to the planned route in the first place. Why not simply continue on this route, which was a lot quieter anyway? He was right. I realized that I had been worrying about nothing. The final kilometres were a bit more difficult but I felt better and I did actually enjoy the walk. I guess sometimes it doesn’t take much to get back on the right track.

Good night.

J-J

Please scroll down for the English version.

Haut  sinn ech e bësschen ausserhalb vu Juniville op d’Streck gaangen. Gläich drop sinn ech och schonn laanscht de Musée vum Verlaine komm. Ausserdeem wandelt een rondrëm Juniville op de Spueren vun Rimbaud  a Verlaine.
Endlech eemol ee Bäcker an deem Duerf. D’Fanny huet mech servéiert an esouguer op de Fändel ënnerschriwwen. Op hat mir alles gegleeft hutt wat ech him erzielt hunn, weess ech net, mais seng Macaronen an seng Abricotine waren een Gedicht.
Nodeems ech t’Duerf verlooss hunn, ass een Trakter lues laanscht mech gefuer. Deen huet awer esou no Schmierfett, Ueleg a Mazout gericht, dass ech mech direkt a menger Kandheet erëmfonnt hunn. Den Trakter vu mengen Grousselteren huet genau d’selwecht gericht. Dee ganzen Dag iwwer sinn ech ëmmer nees duerch déi verschidden Geréch déi an der Luucht louchen u meng Kandheet erënnert ginn – ei dat deet gutt.
Wien waren iwwerhaapt meng Virfahren? Haten si och Dreem oder hunn si just geschafft? Ass een nach mat hinnen duerch een onsiichtbart Band verbonnen? Ech weess et net! Ech weess just, dass ech et haut genoss hunn un déi Zäit zréck ze denken. Am Moment fillen ech mech richteg gutt. Den Owend am Restaurant haten se flott franséisch Musek. Et war deen éischten Owend zënter laangem wou ech emol erëm Musek héieren hunn.  Et war eng extra Stëmmung. Et war nostalgesch.
Zu Pauvres sinn ech dunn op Haaptstrooss gestouss déi op Vouziers geet. Hei war vill Traffik. Ech hunn esou schnell wéi méiglech probéiert fir erëm vun därer Strooss ewech ze kommen. Déi nächst Strooss war zwar een Ëmwee, duerfir awer méi roueg a méi sécher. Am Duerf Mars sous Bourcq hu mir dräi eeler Dammen begéint. Mir soten hinnen, dass si an engem richteg schéinen Duerf géifen wunnen. Ma méi einfach kann een net mat de Leit an d’Gespréich kommen!
Just virun eisem Hotel am Rond-Point haat een Auto mat enger lëtzebuergescher Plaque eng gréisser Panne. De Mikael, deem seng Fra net wäit vum Rond-Point ee Geschäft huet, ass duerch de Kaméidi op den Auto opmierksam ginn an huet dem Mann direkt gehollef. De Mikael ass Schoulmeeschter a mécht och gäre Sport. Hien huet mir villes iwwert d’Géigend wou ech am Moment sinn erklärt a mir nach gesot wou ech nach onbedéngt misst higoen. Hien war schonn e puer Mol zu Lëtzebuerg. Also Lëtzebuerg ass net méi esou wäit ewech.
D’Annick war haut bal dee ganze Wee derbäi.
Well mäi Wee net vun Ufank un opgezeechent gouf, ass d’Statistik net komplett richteg. Bis elo sinn ech ongeféier 220 Kilometer gaangen. Ausserdeem huet eis/är Homepage zënter haut méi wéi 10.000 Hits. Merci!
Esoulaang ech nach net brong genuch am Gesiicht sinn, gëtt et just déi bekannte Vue vu mir.

Gutt Nuecht a bis moar.
J-J

Day nine

I started today’s walk outside the town of Juniville. A bit later, I walked past the Verlaine Museum. Both Verlaine and Rimbaud left their mark on this region as traces of both poets are still omnipresent.
There was a baker’s in Juniville, so I stopped to satisfy my sweet tooth with some baked treats. Fanny, the shop assistant, served me and we talked a bit. I told her what I was doing but it’s hard to tell if she believed everything I said. It didn’t really matter anyway as I was more interested in the macarons and abricotines that she sold and boy, were they delicious!
After leaving the village, I was slowly overtaken by a tractor and the strong smell of grease, oil and gasoil, brought back childhood memories. I was reminded of my grandparents’ tractor, which smelled exactly the same. Throughout the day, various odours kept transporting me back to those blissful years I spent as a child. I also thought of my ancestors and the lives they had led. Did they have dreams or did their lives only consist of drudgery? Is there an unseen bond that still ties us? To be honest, I don’t know. What I do know is that I enjoyed every minute of today’s walk and that I feel good. Maybe this has something to do with the restaurant I dined at this evening. They were playing French music and the atmosphere was great. It had been some time since I had been listening to music and I became a bit nostalgic.
In Pauvres I took the main road towards Vouziers. It was very busy so I decided to leave it as quickly as possible. I knew this would mean that I had to take a detour but it would also be quieter and safer.
In Mars sous Bourcq I met three elderly ladies and I told them that they were lucky to live in such a picturesque village. They were glad to hear this and we spent some time talking.
At the roundabout just outside my hotel, I came across a car that had broken down. It was actually registered in Luxembourg. Mikael, whose wife runs a little business close by, offered to help the driver. Later, he told me that he is a teacher and that he does a lot of sports. He provided me with loads of information about the region and told me about places to go. He added that he had already been to Luxembourg on a couple of occasions. I am obviously nearing my destination.
Unfortunately, live tracking didn’t work during the first few days, so the statistics aren’t a hundred percent accurate. So far, I have covered approximately 220 kilometres. What is more, as of today our Internet site has reached more than 10.000 views. Thank you.
By the way, as long as I don’t have a nice tan, you’ll have to make do with the usual pictures of me.

Good night. You’ll hear from me tomorrow.

J-J

P.S. Annick joined me again today.

Please scroll down for the English version.

Haut ass deen Dag wou ech mierken, dass de Kierper sech un deen regelméissegen Foussmarsch gewinnt huet. D’Moral ass nach ewéi deen éischten Dag, nämlech excellent. Dëst ass och op är léif Ënnerstëtzungen zréck ze féieren. Merci!
Aus Reims erauszekommen war net esou einfach. Vir net ze vill Ëmweeër ze maachen hunn ech de GPS esou agestallt wéi wann ech mam Auto ënnerwee wier. Déi Strooss déi ech dunn gaangen sinn war zwar vill befuer, mais dank dem Vëloswee deen derlaanscht gaangen ass, trotzdem sécher. Wéi ech dunn endlech vun dëser Strooss erof war, sinn ech op Caurel komm. Wann dir iech de Wee um Internet ukuckt gesitt dir, dass ech hannert dësem Duerf just nach richt aus gaangen sinn. Dee Wee war net op menger Landkaart mais um GPS. Et ass e Stéck vun engem alen Réimerwee.
Iwwerall an de Felder ass geschafft ginn. Stréi ass zu Botten gepresst ginn. D’Felder sinn nees fir déi nächst Planzen virbereet ginn asw. Op dësem Wee hu mir och een trauregen Bauer begéint. De Kardan vun senger Maschinn war futti. Hie sot, dass hien haut nach vill ze schaffen gehat hätt, mais elo misst hien sech emol vir d’éischt drëms këmmeren, dass seng Maschinn so séier wéi méiglech gefleckt gëtt.
Ah jo, mir hunn och nach een mam Vëlo begéint, mais dat waren se all. Ee ganz riichten a rouegen Dag. D’Annick ass haut eréischt méi spéit vun sengem Papp op d’Streck bruecht ginn awer duerfir bis zum Schluss mat gaangen.
Gutt Nuecht a bis moar.
J-J

Day eight

After seven days of walking, my body seems to have become attuned to this daily grind. My morale is still high, not least thanks to your constant support. I appreciate all the encouragement I have received these past days.
Finding a way out of Reims was more difficult than I thought. Now, I didn’t want to waste too much time on unnecessary detours, so I switched my GPS from pedestrian to driving mode. The road it sent me on was obviously quite busy but the bicycle lanes kept me out of harm’s way. I followed it all the way to Caurel. Once I had switched back to pedestrian mode, the GPS sent me down an old Roman road that didn’t feature on any of my maps. This explains why today’s walk deviates so much from the planned route.
I saw a lot of farmers working on their fields today. Straw was being baled and fields were being prepared for sowing and planting. One of the farmers we came across was in a bit of a jam as the transmission shaft on his tractor had been damaged. He was very unhappy. There was so much work left to be done but he knew he couldn’t continue until he had found a way to get his machine fixed.
We also met somebody on a bike today, but that was it. All in all, it was a quiet day. By the way, Annick joined me a bit later and walked with me for the rest of the day.

Good night.

J-J