After a passionate goodbye to José Siep I went cheerfully en route. Nice and cool, a faint sunshine. But soon it seemed fair in hell and later we were delighted with prolonged downpours. Reason enough to have a stop at Landal Park Braamtsche in Braamt to treat ourselves to chocolate with whipped cream and a piece of cake. Back to basics. Or is this basic instinct? On the Walloon road at Wijnbergen José picked the sodden Siep from the road and Tosca and I were left alone with our thoughts. Despite a few small little detours, all in all no more than 1 km., the trip went well, though lonely. In castle Slangenburg the sun started shining again, while I ordered a cup of soup. Tosca waited outside near the main entrance of the restaurant, tied to a pole.
In Slangenburg friend Siep and José got married long ago. I was wittness in the church. I remember that Marij, Sonja and I, helped by the playing band, sang the song of Father Abraham and that I played the guitar ‘Wij zijn twee vriendjes, jij en ik ….’ etc. (We are two friends, until the last breath; we always stay together, even when we will be 100 years old .; We are two friends, until the last breath; Doebie, Doebie doebiedoeb, doeb, doeb (bis), etc.) Along the way you always meet fellow Pieterpad walkers. That’s like a candy, nice for a moment. but it doesn’t establish relations.
Using my handy and maps, I found my guesthouse of Friends of the Bicycle, in Halle . Now there appear to be two villages Halle , near each other , each with its own church . That probably causes a considerable competition: football , fanfare ? But due to the modern equipment I arrived at least 2 km. outside the village at a farm guesthouse . They also have two dogs there . Good to know. Because thenn I do not have to squeeze my buttocks when Tosca happens to bark . Of course I have the entire house for me alone, like mostly. By bike, which I borrowed from the landlady, I cycled 2 or 3 km. back to the village , there to buy some tasty fatty morsels in the fritery . Next i kept busy by calling again to possible addresses for tomorrow, probably in Haaksbergen. I’ve got relatives living there , but I do not get them on line. Also a school friend of Sonja lives there . But I can not call everyone simultaneously. Now it is 9:30 pm. I will soon try again , otherwise it’ll be too late .
Beautiful lane to castle Slangenburg 
Saturday March 21st 2015. Halle 26? km.
