The Nijmegen Four Days Marches has started its last day. The route goes via Cuijk and Mook to the Via Gladiola, where the participants are given a festive welcome. Tamara Hiddes from Emmen is also on her way to the finish today.
The Drentse started the final part of the Four Days Marches at 05.45 am. “This morning I had the feeling that a truck had run over me. But now that I have the pass again, it actually goes quite smoothly,” says Tamara. “I discovered a very small blister yesterday, but it doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t matter if the blister gets bigger, because it’s the last day anyway. I want to finish on Via Gladiola anyway.”
Over the past few days, the weather conditions presented the hikers with an extra challenge. At first it was tropically warm, then the temperature dropped and rain showers moved over the country. “Yesterday it was 20 degrees colder than Tuesday. And it really started to pour, but it’s part of it,” says Tamara.
“The public started to support us even more fanatically because we were completely drowned. My shoes were not dry this morning, but luckily I have a second pair with me.”
Unlike many other hikers, Tamara decided to start on Monday. That first walking day of the Four Days Marches was actually canceled because of the heat. “I attach great importance to the fact that I walked for four days. That makes me really proud of this edition. Three days sounds a bit cowardly to me, a kind of ‘two-fingers-in-the-nose edition’.”
Today Tamara still has a total of 42.8 kilometers to walk. “When I’m inside, I’ll take a shower and then go home. And then I won’t do anything all weekend.”