Home to Home

In Summer 2017, I turned artist in residence at Deveron Projects. During my sabbatical I undertook a 90 day pilgrimage walking from my home in Huntly, to visit my mother at my childhood home near Munich.

Having lived, loved and travelled a lot both within and outwith Europe, I always felt blessed with my European passport and the privileges it brings. The UK’s Brexit decision has brought this birth right of free movement into question. Walking through Scotland, England, Holland and Germany, the countries I know best, my aim was to discover what this diverse continent has to offer: spiritually, politically, personally. Creating a path, my path, allowed me to reflect on what holds me/us to being a European, and what home means in our current geopolitical situation.

‘Home to Home’ encourages us to take time out and create a path of significance to our own lives, to think about our very personal intentions in the wider globalised context. Documented through daily postcards to my mother, the 1800km walk created a unique route linking old and new friends, exchanging oak leaves and woollen path spun bracelets, while gathering ideas for back home on the way.

On the way I was accompanied by my husband Nick. Here is a daily account of our places, distances, highlights, friends visited and made, where we found the oak leaves and what else was going on in the world:

Day 1 Monday 3 July 2017: Huntly to Rhynie; distance: 20.00km; The all-too-familiar walk; Host: Debbi and Simon Beeson; Dinner with Sam Trottman; topic of the day: Friends; Oak leaf found: Claire Newman’s garden; Highlight of the Day: Crowd and pipes on Square; World News of the Day: Wimbledon 2017 day one; accumulated: 20.00km.

Day 2 Tuesday 4 July 2017: Rhynie to Glenkindie; distance: 25.00km; The painful route; Host: Gill and Chris Russel; topic of the day: Materialism (fancy rucksack); Oak leaf found: Craig Castle Estate; Highlight of the Day: Gill’s rucksack; World News of the Day: United States commemorates 241 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence; accumulated: 45.00km.

Day 3 Wednesday 5 July 2017: Glenkindie to Ballater; distance: 30.00km; The lazy flower route; Host: Roelf and Miep Helfrich-Dijkhuizen; topic of the day: Wild Flowers; Oak leaf found: Woods between Logie Coldstone and Ballater; Highlight of the Day: Lazy well; World News of the Day: Police called to reports of a suspicious package at Manchester airport; accumulated: 75.00km.

Day 4 Thursday 06 July 2017: Ballater to Loch Muick; distance: 16.00km; The royal route; Host: Roelf and Miep Helfrich-Dijkhuizen; topic of the day: Royals; Oak leaf found: Crown Estate Loch Muick path; Highlight of the Day: Lynn of Muick salmon ladder; World News of the Day: Riot fears at G20; accumulated: 91.00km.

Day 5 Friday 07 July 2017: Loch Muick to Kilry; distance: 40.00km; The utterly beautiful-exhausting route; Host: Kirsty and Simon Duncan; topic of the day: How far can you push your body?; Oak leaf found: No oak (Cairngorms); Highlight of the Day: Seeing Simon; World News of the Day: Treaty banning nuclear weapons approved by UN; accumulated: 131.00km.

Day 6 Saturday 08 July 2017: Kilry to Coupar Angus; distance: 21.00km; The sweet raspberry route; Host: Red House Hotel; topic of the day: Who picks the berries; Oak leaf found: Cateran Trail before Kilry; Highlight of the Day: Wild raspberries; World News of the Day: Trump-Putin meeting dominates G20; accumulated: 152.00km.

Day 7 Sunday 09 July 2017: Coupar Angus to Perth; distance: 22.00km; The wheat-oak-lined route; Host: Kate and Yunior Sargent-Aguyar; topic of the day: Local wool production; Oak leaf found: Wolfhill, oak lined avenue beyond Coupar Angus; Highlight of the Day: Heap of sheep wool; World News of the Day: Crashes on Tour de France; accumulated: 174.00km.

Day 8 Monday 10 July 2017: Perth to Kinross distance: 27.00km; The motor-wayed route; Host: Keith and Sue Allen; topic of the day: Cemeteries; Oak leaf found: Glenfarg, path after motorway; Highlight of the Day: Sue’s garden; World News of the Day: Iraq announces ‘victory’ over Mosul; accumulated: 201.00km.

Day 9 Tuesday 11 July 2017: Kinross to Dunfermline; distance: 17.00km; The changing weather route; Host: Kasia Airbnb; topic of the day: Self-healing; Oak leaf found: Near Townhill; Highlight of the Day: Dumfermline Abbey; World News of the Day: David Davis rejects claims government has softened its stance on Brexit since election; accumulated: 218.00km.

Day 10 Wednesday 12 July 2017: Dunfermline to Edinburgh; distance: 28.00km; the bridged and built-up route; Host: Rachel and Michael; topic of the day: Roundabouts;      Oak leaf found: Roundabout Dumfermline and Rosyth; Highlight of the Day: Mussels under Fourth bridge; World News of the Day: Orange order parade passes without protest; accumulated: 246.00km.

Day 11 Thursday 13 July 2017: Edinburgh; distance: 4.00km; The all-day Edinburgh PC-day Host: Rachel and Michael; topic of the day: Digital detox; Oak leaf found: No oak; Highlight of the Day: Fish shop; World News of the Day: Ambulance trust accused of jeopardising patients by sending cars; accumulated: 250.00km.

Day 12 Friday 14 July 2017: Edinburgh to Roslyn; distance: 16.00km; The DaVinci route; Host: Rachel and Michael; topic of the day: What is a pilgrimage?; Oak leaf found: Craigmillar Estate; Highlight of the Day: Talking to BBC; World News of the Day: Theresa May and her chief of staff, Gavin Barwell, at the Spectator summer party; accumulated: 266.00km.

Day 13 Saturday 15 July 2017: Roslyn to Peebles; distance: 28.00km. The drizzly railway looser route Host: Lindore Guesthouse; topic of the day: Forgotten railways; Oak leaf found: Just beyond Roslyn; Highlight of the Day: Having Rachel; World News of the Day: City firms plan to relocate to Dublin, post Brexit; accumulated: 294.00km.

Day 14   Sunday 16 July 2017: Peebles to Selkirk; distance: 34.00km; The best one yet route; Host: County Hotel; topic of the day: Old drovers routes; Oak leaf found: Kittlegary Estate; Highlight of the Day: Finding pink wool; World News of the Day: Jane Austen is heroine of the new £10 note; accumulated: 328.00km.

Day 15 Monday 17 July 2017: Selkirk to Hawick; distance: 22.00km; The sheepy wool route; Host: Bridge Inn; topic of the day: Redundant textile industry; Oak leaf found: The Haining, Selkirk; Highlight of the Day: Alice; World News of the Day: Justine Greening raids free schools budget; accumulated: 350.00km.

Day 16 Tuesday 18 July 2017: Hawick to Byrness; distance: 35.00 km; The rubbished-cheaky border road route; Host: Forest View Guesthouse; topic of the day: What are the ethics of cheating?; Oak leaf found: Forest View Garden; Highlight of the Day: Piper at the border; World News of the Day: Rainfall floods Istanbul metro; accumulated: 385.00km.

Day 17 Wednesday 19 July 2017: Byrness to Bellingham; distance: 24.00km. The misty sheepish route; Host: Airbnb; topic of the day: The line; Oak leaf found: No oak; Highlight of the Day: Chaivot hotel dinner; World News of the Day: NHS England needs 2200 more A+E consultants; accumulated: 409.00km.

Day 18 Thursday 20 July 2017: Bellingham to Hadrians Wall; distance: 34.00km. The scratchy, muddy Roman route; Host: Eileen Donald; topic of the day: Getting lost; Oak leaf found: Just beyond Bellingham; Highlight of the Day: Hadrians Wall; World News of the Day: NHS watchdog reveals 3,500 mental health patients are kept locked in; accumulated: 443.00km.

Day 19 Friday 21 July 2017: Hadrians Wall to Newcastle; distance: 6.00km; The lazy metro route; Host: Ferry; topic of the day: How does one develop an aesthetic? Oak leaf found: none; Highlight of the Day: Bar on boat; World News of the Day: Earthquake in Turkey and Greece; accumulated: 449.00km.

Day 20 Saturday 22 July 2017: Newcastle to Ijmuiden/Amsterdam; distance: 5.00km; The fiets route; Host: Pauline Burmann; topic of the day: The importance of maps; Oak leaf found: none; Highlight of the Day: Seeing Pauline from the boat; World News of the Day:  New Zealand storm: states of emergency declared as flooding hits South Island; accumulated: 454.00km.

Day 21 Sunday  23 July 2017: Amsterdam distance: 4.00km: The lazy sailors route; Host: Pauline Burmann; topic of the day: Can friends always stay friends, even if you don’t see them?; Oak leaf found: opposite Pauline’ house Amsterdam; Highlight of the Day: Seeing Marian; World News of the Day: 20th anniversary of Diana’s death; accumulated: 458.00km.

Day 22 Monday 24 July 2017: Amsterdam to Noordwijk/Leiden distance: 31.40km; The big-cloud beach route; Host: Helga and Kai van Manen; topic of the day: Cultural differences; Oak leaf found: none; Highlight of the Day: Dinner with Kai and Helga; World News of the Day: protesters challenge police over death of Rashan Charles; accumulated: 489.40km.

Day 23 Tuesday 25 July 2017: day in Leiden; distance: 4.00km; The homesick reminiscence tour; Host: Helga and Kai van Manen; topic of the day: Heimweh to a place you don’t come from; Oak leaf found: none; Highlight of the Day: Seeing our old house again; World News of the Day: Libyan rival leaders agree to ceasefire after Macron-hosted talks; accumulated: 493.40km.

Day 24 Wednesday 26 July 2017: Leiden/Noordwijk to Den Haag; distance: 25.20km; The sunny naked beach route; Host: Gerda and Han Roos; topic of the day: What makes a friend?; Oak leaf found: Scheveningen Bos; Highlight of the Day: Swimming near Scheveningen in North Sea World; News of the Day: Facebook posts $3.89bn quarterly profit, up 71% from last year; accumulated: 518.60km.

Day 25 Thursday 27 July 2017: Den Haag to Rotterdam; distance: 25.00km; The finding the line routen; Host: Douwe van Manen; topic of the day: War torn cities revival; Oak leaf found: Den Haag to Delft, near Rijswijk; Highlight of the Day: Kletsen with Gerda in the morning; World News of the Day: Israeli security forces and Palestinian worshippers clash outside al-Aqsa mosque; accumulated: 543.60km.

Day 26 Friday 28 July 2017 Rotterdam: to Bergambacht; distance: 24.00km; The leave the city route; Host: Airbnb; topic of the day: It is the houses that are sick, not the people; Oak leaf found: Rotterdam, opposite Erasmus University; Highlight of the Day: Many blackberries; World News of the Day: North Korea missile test shows it could reach New York; accumulated: 567.60km

Day 27 Saturday 29 July 2017: Bergambacht to Meerekerk distance: 27.00km; The misty Polder route; Host: Airbnb; topic of the day: Hospitality; Oak leaf found: Polder, near Ameide; Highlight of the Day: Windmill in Polder; World News of the Day: Graduates who take up placements are often worse off than their peers three years later; accumulated: 594.60km.

Day 28 Sunday 30 July 2017: Meerekerk to Leerdam; distance: 25.00km. The perfect house route; Host: Het Oude Posthujis; topic of the day: War graves and bunkers; Oak leaf found: On the way to Merekerk; Highlight of the Day: Dragging bridge; World News of the Day: Venezuela votes amid crisis; accumulated: 619.60km.

Day 29 Monday 31 July 2017: Leerdam; distance: 4.00 The coughy office day; Host: Het Oude Posthujis; topic of the day: Small world coincidences; Oak leaf found: No oak; Highlight of the Day: DP funding came through; World News of the Day: Trump’s communication director got sacked after 10 days; accumulated: 623.60km.

Day 30 Tuesday 01 August 2017: Leerdam to Buurmalsen; distance: 23.00km. The fruity river route; Host: airbnb Frits; topic of the day: Fruit and migrant workers; Oak leaf found: Avenue of oaks, Rhenoy; Highlight of the Day: Man with Klompen in Rhenoy; World News of the Day: Trump sacks Scaramucci; accumulated: 646.60km.

Day 31 Wednesday 02 August 2017: Buurmalsen to Beneden Leeuwen; distance: 28.50km. The royal netherlandish orchard and cemetery route; Host: De Twee Linden; topic of the day: Are Royals good or bad (Australians waiting till Queen dies)?; Oak leaf found: Airbnb garden, Buurmalsen; Highlight of the Day: Swimming in lake; World News of the Day: PSG wants to pay 200mil for footballer from Brazilian; accumulated: 675.10km.

Day 32 Thursday 03 August 2017: Beneden Leeuwen to Zetten; distance: 24.00km; The why do you want to be here?-route;  Host: airbnb Jos; topic of the day: Freight today; Oak leaf found: Bridge at Beneden Leeuwen; Highlight of the Day: Nasturtiums revisited; World News of the Day: 5mil jackpot unclaimed in UK; accumulated: 699.10km.

Day 33 Friday 04 August 2017: Zetten  to Nijmegen; distance: 22.50km; The bridged suburbia route Host: B+B Prince topic of the day: How to cope with suburbia?; Oak leaf found: Oak avenue, near Slijk-Evijk Estate; Highlight of the Day: Seeing bridge(s) to Nijmegen; World News of the Day: heatwave 46 C in Mediterranean; accumulated: 721.60km.

Day 34   Saturday 05 August 2017: Nijmegen to Berg en Dal; distance: 8.00km; The hilly African route; Host: Joep and Josje Kruijsen; topic of the day: Linguistics, languages, children; Oak leaf found: Near Bunker, Valkhof Park Nijmegen; Highlight of the Day: Visit to bunker in Nijmegen; World News of the Day: Holland won European Cup; accumulated: 729.60km.

Day 35 Sunday 06 August 2017: Berg en Dal to Berg en Dal; distance: 1.00km; The lazy kletsen day Host: Joep and Josje Kruijsen; topic of the day: Summer, Brexit and Cagain; Oak leaf found: Joanneke Kruissen’s house, Stollenbergweg 59, Berg en Dal; Highlight of the Day: Border road; World News of the Day: UK government in cabinet chaos about Brexit; accumulated: 730.60km.

Day 36 Monday 07 August 2017: Berg en Dal to Kleve; distance: 28.00km; The border without borders route; Host: Jugendherberge; topic of the day: Borders without borders; Oak leaf found: Dutch-German border, near Duivelsberg; Highlight of the Day: Jägerstand in distance; World News of the Day: Diesel summit in Germany; accumulated: 758.60km.

Day 37 Tuesday 08 August 2017: Kleve to Kalkar; distance: 25.50km; The Beuys and Voltaire route; Host: Zweite Heimat; topic of the day: Beuys and his place; Oak leaf found: Schloss Moyland, between Kleve and Kalkar; Highlight of the Day: Moyland Castle; World News of the Day: Pound got weaker against Euro accumulated: 784.10km.

Day 38 Wednesday 09 August 2017: Kalkar to Xanten; distance: 24.00km; The acorned Newspaper route; Host: Kohl’s Zimmervermietung; topic of the day: News and what is news about us; Oak leaf found: Main Square Kalkar; Highlight of the Day: Mugs of coffee with photographer; World News of the Day: Trump and Kim Jong-un threaten with bombs; accumulated: 808.10km.

Day 39 Thursday 10 August 2017: Xanten to Rheinsberg; distance: 22.00km; The maized, salty route; Host: Hotel am Fischmarkt; topic of the day: All in the name of eco; Oak leaf found: Amphitheater Birten; Highlight of the Day: Seeing newspaper article; World News of the Day: Illegal pesticided eggs in Britain and Germany; accumulated: 830.10km.

Day 40 Friday 11 August 2017: Rheinsberg to Moers; distance: 26.00km; The big factories across the river route Host: Hotel Moerser Hof; topic of the day: Why are all churches closed on pilgrimage way?; Oak leaf found: Osttor Orsay, Citygate; Highlight of the Day: View of factories Rhine; World News of the Day: 18 of Rooney family enslaved many vulnerable people; accumulated: 856.10km.

Along the Niederrhein between Xanten and Neuss

Day 41 Saturday 12 August 2017: Moers to Krefeld-Ürdingen; distance: 20.00km; The rainy Rhine route; Host: Hotel Imperial; topic of the day: Railways and their uses; Oak leaf found: Toeppersee Park; Highlight of the Day: Döner in Krefeld; World News of the Day: Trump threatens military ptions for Venezuela; accumulated: 876.10km.

Day 42 Sunday 13 August 2017 Krefeld-Ürdingen to Neuss; distance: 25.00km; The find the Beuys instead of Playmobil route; Host: Hotel Viktoria; topic of the day: Was everybody a victim of Nationalsozialismus?; Oak leaf found: Schloss Linn; Highlight of the Day: Staircase in Hotel; World News of the Day: Violence after election in Kenya; accumulated: 901.10km.

Day 43 Monday 14 August 2017: Neuss to Dormagen; distance: 30.00km; The policed nature-industry route; Host: Dinah Baer Henney; topic of the day: The use of police; Oak leaf found: Near Stülzelberg; Highlight of the Day: Dinah’s flat; World News of the Day: Nazis swinging swastika flags in Charlotteville; accumulated: 931.10km.

Day 44 Tuesday 15 August 2017: Dormagen to Köln distance: 25.00km; The electrified pumpkin route; Host: Dinah Baer Henney; topic of the day: Can chemical parks be highlights? Oak leaf found: Hoechst near Bormayer; Highlight of the Day: the Dome, the pumpkins, chemical path; World News of the Day: Theresa May seeks interim EU deal to avoid trade chaos; accumulated: 956.10km.

Day 45 Wednesday 16 August 2017: Köln to Wesseling; distance: 18.00km The raffinierte refined route; Host: Dinah Baer Henney; topic of the day: Deutsch lernen; Oak leaf found: Entrance to Wesseling; Highlight of the Day: View of refinery in Wesseling, best ice café?; World News of the Day: 100+ Massai loose their homes over Serengeti border dispute; accumulated: 974.10km.

Day 46 Thursday 17 August 2017: Wesseling to Bonn; distance: 16.00km; The rainy, river, runner route; Host: Ulrike und Klaus Haupt-Kraemer; topic of the day: Running;  Oak leaf found: Rheinweg bei Verding, Highlight of the Day: Seeing Ulrike; World News of the Day: Man drives into crowds in Las Ramblas; accumulated: 990.10km.

Day 47 Friday 18 August 2017: Bonn to Bonn; distance: 8.00km; The Iranian Museum Day; Host: Ulrike und Klaus Haupt-Kraemer; topic of the day: Living for your career; Oak leaf found: Museumsmeile Bonn; Highlight of the Day: Iran Art 2-4 BC; World News of the Day: Steve Bannon (Trump media officer ) fired; accumulated: 998.10km.

Day 48 Saturday 19 August 2017: Bonn to Königswinter; distance: 30.00km; The mad circle route; Host: JUFA Hotel; topic of the day: Getting old, parenting of parents; Oak leaf found: Bonn to Koenigswinter, where we saw first vineyard; Highlight of the Day: Seeing Weert; World News of the Day: Air Berlin might close; accumulated: 1028.10km.

Day 49 Sunday 20 August 2017: Königswinter to Remagen; distance: 20.00km; The Hamish Fulton steps route; Host: Rhein Inn; topic of the day: Can art transform places?; Oak leaf found: Garden of Linzer Brauhaus; Highlight of the Day: Hamish Fulton work/art; World News of the Day: Spanish King attends Mass; accumulated: 1048.10km.

Day 50 Monday 21 August 2017: Remagen to Andernach-Kripp; distance: 23.00km; The oaked forest route; Host: Residenz am Martinsberg; topic of the day: Cargo and its trails, trails anyway; Oak leaf found: Oak forest by Brohl; Highlight of the Day: Oakwood; World News of the Day: Solar eclypse in US accumulated: 1071.10km.

Day 51 Tuesday 22 August 2017: Andernach-Kripp to Koblenz; distance: 30.00km; The hot catch the train route; Host: Jargen appartments; topic of the day: Cars and the space; Oak leaf found: Near Nettehammer; Highlight of the Day: Peach trees; World News of the Day: China launches fastest train 300km hour; accumulated: 1101.10km.

Day 52 Wednesday 23 August 2017: Koblenz to Braubach; distance: 26.00km; The up+down prison route; Host: Hotel Bellavista; topic of the day: Woods, autumn; Oak leaf found: Near prison Koblenz; Highlight of the Day: 1597 Gasthaus; World News of the Day: EU citizen letter facing detention) sent out in error; accumulated: 1127.10km.

Day 53 Thursday 24 August 2017: Braubach to Kamp Bornofen; distance: 20.00km; The brexited first sight of autumn walk; Host: Hotel Kurfürst; topic of the day: Forests and their likings; Oak leaf found: Near Marksburg; Highlight of the Day: Joke from Michael;  World News of the Day: Net migration falls since Brexit; accumulated: 1147.10km.

Day 54 Friday 25 August 2017: Kamp Bornofen to Sankt Goarshausen; distance: 26.00km; The serve yourself castled route; Host: Rheinhotel Adler; topic of the day: Honesty shops; Oak leaf found: Burg Liebenstein; Highlight of the Day: Self-service caravan; World News of the Day: Britain tests driver free lorries; accumulated: 1173.10km.

Day 55 Saturday 26 August 2017: Sankt Goarshausen to Bacherach; distance: 20.00km; The Heinrich-Heine-W-Turner route; Host: Rheinhotel Adler; topic of the day: Mass and seasonal tourism; Oak leaf found: St. Goarshausen; Highlight of the Day: William Turner; World News of the Day: M1 crash, 6 peole died; accumulated: 1193.10km.

Day 56 Sunday 27 August 2017: Bacherach to Bingen; distance: 21.00km; The Swiss wine route; Host: Hotel Krone; topic of the day: Wine; Oak leaf found: Near Burg Rheinstein; Highlight of the Day: Michael safe; World News of the Day: 24 inches of rain in 24 hours, Texas; accumulated: 1214.10km.

Day 57 Monday 28 August 2017: Bingen to Mainz; distance: 32.00km; The hot + humid route; Host: Traude and Peter Grosenick; topic of the day: Swimming in nature or pool; Oak leaf found: Rhine near Bingen; Highlight of the Day: Swim in Rhine; World News of the Day: Labour U-turn on Brexit; accumulated: 1246.10km.

Day 58 Tuesday 29 August 2017: Mainz; distance: 6.00km; The tooth ached church day; Host: Traude and Peter Grosenick; topic of the day: Families; Oak leaf found: none; Highlight of the Day: Seeing Gudrun; World News of the Day: Researchers call a new sort of ants after Obama; accumulated: 1252.10km.

Day 59 Wednesday 30 August 2017: Mainz; distance: 4.00km; The hot inside house day; Host: Traude and Peter Grosenick; topic of the day: Heat and floods; Oak leaf found: On the way to Grosenick Garden; Highlight of the Day: Seeing Renate – my cousin; World News of the Day: Floods in Texas and Mumbai; accumulated: 1256.10km.

Day 60 Thursday 31 August 2017: Mainz to Rüsselsheim; distance: 24.00km; The exhausted of too much talk Opeled day; Host: Traude and Peter Grosenick; topic of the day: The art of listening; Oak leaf found: Volkspark Ruedesheim; Highlight of the Day: Rhine/Main corner; World News of the Day: low unemployment in Germany; accumulated: 1280.10km.

Day 61 Friday 01 September 2017: Rüsselsheim to Erzhausen; distance: 20.00km; The forested airport runway route; Host: Margaretenhof; topic of the day: Air traffic, noise, etc.; Oak leaf found: Ostpark Hassloch; Highlight of the Day: Euroschool; World News of the Day: Kenyan elections pronounced illegal; accumulated: 1300.10km.

Day 62 Saturday 02 September 2017: Erzhausen to Babenhausen; distance: 30.00km; The straight-on beach route; Host: Hotel Schwartzer Loewe; topic of the day: How one can keep on moving after Brexit?; Oak leaf found: S-Bahn Erzhausen; Highlight of the Day:  Hotel Schwarzer Loewe; World News of the Day: 5000 people walk over Queensferry Bridge once in a life; accumulated: 1330.10km.

Day 63 Sunday 03 September 2017: Babenhausen to Aschaffenburg; distance: 15.00km; The shortish Bavarian border route; Host: airbnb Juergen; topic of the day: What makes a land, a country, a state? Oak leaf found: Hügelgrab, near Babenhausen; Highlight of the Day: Carillon Konzert; World News of the Day: Korea tests hydrogen bomb; accumulated: 1345.10km.

Day 64 Monday 04 September 2017: Aschaffenburg  to Weibersbrunn; distance: 30.00km; The hilly robbers missing day; Host: Anja Martin; topic of the day: Children and getting them; Oak leaf found: Fasanerie Aschaffenburg; Highlight of the Day: Anja’s house; World News of the Day: detained German freed in Turkey; accumulated: 1375.10km.

Day 65 Tuesday 05 September 2017: Weibersbrunn to Marktheidenfeld; distance: 25.00km; The downhill beech-oak route; Host: Anja Martin; topic of the day: The oak; Oak leaf found: Near Weibersbrunn; Highlight of the Day: Water buffalos; World News of the Day: Duchess wins damages over topless photos; accumulated: 1400.10km.

Day 66 Wednesday 06 September 2017: Marktheidenfeld to Zellingen; distance: 23.00km; The agrar-deserted route; Host: Hubert and Birgit Martin; topic of the day: The joys of travel; Oak leaf found: Woods outside Marktheidenfeld; Highlight of the Day: Walking with Hubert;  World News of the Day: Brexit document leaked to Guardian; accumulated: 1423.10km.

Day 67 Thursday 07 September 2017: Zellingen to Würzburg; distance: 20.00km; The fraud news back home route; Host: Ina Zesewitz; topic of the day: EU migration; Oak leaf found: Mainwiese Würzburg; Highlight of the Day: Seeing Ina; World News of the Day: bad Brexit doc continues; accumulated: 1443.10km.

Day 68 Friday 08 September 2017: Würzburg  to Veitshöchheim; distance: 4.00 km; The lazy baby day; Host: Susi und Klaus-Dieter Tretter; topic of the day: Sell by day; Oak leaf found: Susi’s garden, Veitshöchheim; Highlight of the Day: Seeing Susi; World News of the Day: Wayne Dixon 7000m coastal mission; accumulated: 1447.10km.

Day 69 Saturday 09 September 2017: Veitshöchheim; distance: 4.00km; The music inspired cultured day; Host: Susi und Klaus-Dieter Tretter; topic of the day: Mothers, ageing, what to do? Oak leaf found: Susi’s garden, Veitshoechheim; Highlight of the Day:   Schäufele cake; World News of the Day: Bodies of 400 children discovered in Lanarkshire cemetery; accumulated: 1451.10km.

Day 70 Sunday 10 September 2017: Veitshöchheim; distance: 8.00km; The wine and grape tasting, lazy quatschen day; Host: Susi und Klaus-Dieter Tretter; topic of the day: Retiring (early); Oak leaf found: Susi’s garden, Veitshöchheim; Highlight of the Day: Testing the different grapes; World News of the Day: 5000 Brexiters rotest in London: Exit from Brexit; accumulated: 1459.10km.

Day 71 Monday 11 September 2017: Veitshöchheim to Giebelstadt; distance: 26.00km; The goodbye, farewell over the fields route; Host: ARB Pension; topic of the day: Ländlicher Raum, empty shops; Oak leaf found: Along the Main, east of Würzburg; Highlight of the Day: Smelly villages; World News of the Day: Irma hit Florida with less power; accumulated: 1485.10km.

Day 72 Tuesday 12 September 2017: Giebelstadt to Aub; distance: 20.00 km; The short back to the olden day route; Host: Gasthaus Goldenes Lamm; topic of the day: Gentrification; Oak leaf found: Just before Aub; Highlight of the Day: Aub, dreamy village; World News of the Day: Couple separated on BA flight after row; accumulated: 1505.10km.

Day 73 Wednesday 13 September 2017: Aub to Creglingen; distance: 22.00km; The chapelled to be a single route; Host: Pension Herrgottstal; topic of the day: Walking alone, if Nick leaves; Oak leaf found: Near Reichelsburg; Highlight of the Day: 1000 year old oak; World News of the Day: Antarctica seen highest ever temperature; accumulated: 1527.10km.

Day 74 Thursday 14 September 2017: Creglingen to Rothenburg OT; distance: 20.50km; The damp, cold or inspiring artist route; Host: Jugendherberge; topic of the day: The power of art; Oak leaf found: Beyond Creglingen; Highlight of the Day: Tilman Riemenschneider altar in Herrgotts-Kirche; World News of the Day: Grenfell inquiry starts; accumulated: 1547.60km.

Day 75 Friday 15 September 2017: Rothenburg OT to Schillingfürst; distance: 15.30km; The get-away from tourist back to normal route; Host: Gasthof Adler; topic of the day: The value of churches; Oak leaf found: Beyond Rothenburg; Highlight of the Day: Beergarden in Schillingfürst Castle; World News of the Day: Bomb on Parsons Green District Line; accumulated: 1562.90km.

Day 76  Saturday 16 September 2017: Schillingfürst to Feuchtwangen distance: 20.00km; The wedding hailbail superstitious route; Host: Platamon Hotel; topic of the day: Is Christianity superstitious?; Oak leaf found: Next to Kloster Sulz; Highlight of the Day: Kuchen in Café Kreuzgang; World News of the Day: Ryan Air cancels 40 flights; accumulated: 1582.90km.

Day 77  Sunday 17 September 2017: Feuchtwangen to Dinkelsbühl distance: 15.00km; The energised langdscape route; Host: Gasthaus Eisener Krug; topic of the day: Energy vs. aesthetics; Oak leaf found: Woods near Zehdorf; Highlight of the Day: Dinkelsbühl Altstadt; World News of the Day: Myanmar massacre at Rohingya; accumulated: 1597.90km.

Day 78 Monday 18 September 2017: Dinkelsbühl to Raustetten; distance: 22.70km; The wooded birthday route; Host: Gasthof Waldeck; topic of the day: Birthdays/Unesco status; Oak leaf found: Woods at Tietweg; Highlight of the Day: Caricature book from Nick; World News of the Day: Koala hitches ride under car wheel; accumulated: 1620.60km.

Day 79 Tuesday 19 September 2017: Raustetten to Bopfingen distance: 20.00km; The Celtic duked memory route; Host: Jürgen Pfitzer; topic of the day: Gardening and baking; Oak leaf found: 2 km after Raustetten; Highlight of the Day: The Ipf; World News of the Day: Berlin buys 30 new electro buses; accumulated: 1640.60km.

Day 80 Wednesday 20 September 2017: Bopfingen to Nördlingen; distance: 16.00km; The plenty of relatives route; Host: Ursula Eichner; topic of the day: Relatives; Oak leaf found: Berger Tor, City Wall Nördlingen; Highlight of the Day: Nördlingen Wall; World News of the Day: Earthquake n Mexico; accumulated: 1656.60km.

Day 81 Thursday 21 September 2017: Nördlingen to Harburg; distance: 30.00km; The walled, wooded Biergarten route; Host: Ursula Eichner; topic of the day: Quiteness of towns; Oak leaf found: Woods near Eisbrunn; Highlight of the Day: Beergarden Eisbrunn; World News of the Day: Theresa May giving 20 mio to EU; accumulated: 1686.60km.

Day 82 Friday 22 September 2017: Harburg to Donauwörth; distance: 17.00km; The if-S-was-N or N-was-S route; Host: Gasthof Goldener Adler; topic of the day: If S was N or N was S; Oak leaf found: Woods near Reismuehle; Highlight of the Day: Seeing Stefan; World News of the Day: Trump questions Iran agreement; accumulated: 1703.60km.

Day 83 Saturday 23 September 2017: Donauwörth to Langweid; distance: 32.00km; The chatter about the olden days way; Host: Hotel Schlemmerhütte; topic of the day: Family ties; Oak leaf found: Wood near Biberach; Highlight of the Day: Crossing Danube: World News of the Day: Trump and Kim Jong-un call each other mad; accumulated: 1735.60km.

Day 84 Sunday 24 September 2017: Langweid to Augsburg; distance: 18.00km; The long along the Lech election route; Host: Andreas Demhartner, Manuela Kemnitzer; topic of the day: Elections; Oak leaf found: Along Lech, near Lech Museum; Highlight of the Day: Lunch on banks of Lech; World News of the Day: German elections; accumulated: 1753.60km.

Day 85 Monday 25 September 2017: Augsburg to Pittriching; distance: 25.00km; The kiddie make you a dinner at Edeka route; Host: Pension Vögele; topic of the day: Elections and their results; Oak leaf found: Near Zoo, Augsburg; Highlight of the Day: Family Breakfast; World News of the Day: Frau Petr/AFD not into Bundesgtag; accumulated: 1778.60km.

Day 86 Tuesday 26 September 2017: Pittriching to Landsberg; distance: 24.00km; The copper chappelled upper Lech route; Host: Stefan + Ulrike Zeiske; topic of the day: Making your own monument; Oak leaf found: Assisi Kapelle Pitriching; Highlight of the Day: Assisi Kapelle; World News of the Day: Playboy founder dies 91; accumulated: 1802.60km.

Day 87 Wednesday 27 September 2017: Landsberg; distance: 1.00km; The lazy catch-up violin day; Host: Stefan + Ulrike Zeiske; topic of the day: The value of craft; Oak leaf found: Behind Landsberg; Highlight of the Day: Geigenbauer Martin; World News of the Day: Stau 3km Lindauer Autobahn; accumulated: 1803.60km.

Day 88 Thursday 28 September 2017: Landsberg to Utting; distance: 25.00km; The see the Alps route; Host: Uschi + Christof Tretter; topic of the day: Mountains, Alps; Oak leaf found: Cross before Langenfeld; Highlight of the Day: View from Christof’s house; World News of the Day: Brexit stalling; accumulated: 1828.60km.

Day 89  Friday 29 September 2017: Utting to Wessling/Breitbrunn; distance: 15.00km; The laked memory lane; Host: Sabine Hirschvogel; topic of the day: Breakfasts; Oak leaf found: Hirschi’s parents’ farm, Breitbrunn; Highlight of the Day: Boat over Ammersee; World News of the Day: Controversial referendum in Spain; accumulated: 1843.60km.

Day 90 Saturday 30 September 2017: Wessling/Breitbrunn to Germering; distance: 17.00km; The end of it all route; Host: Gertraud Zeiske; topic of the day: What next?; Oak leaf found: Schellenbergstrasse 13, Traudi Zeiske Garden; Highlight of the Day: Zwetschgendatschi; World News of the Day: 1000s march in Ireland to call end to abortion ban; accumulated: 1860.

Thank you to all the hosts and co-walkers along the way. Thank you to Deveron Projects, who let me go and all the many people who supported us in many forms. Thank you Nick for accompanying me through the walks of life.