After a chilly night in a converted barn on a small organic farm near Ophemert, our literary adventurer hit the road again this morning, to continue her journey in the footprints of Patrick Leigh Fermor. This tantalizing scene of blue skies and puffing clouds over a carpet of spring flowers soon vanished and our bookworm set out beneath leaden skies, anticipating another soaking.
The Dutch weather may be unkind but, from the sound of it, Dutch breakfasts are not. Katy reports that her hosts appeared this morning bearing homemade yoghurt, blackberries and muesli, with dried pears and apples from the orchard. Sounds fairly wonderful to us. Next stop, Tiel, and then across the border to Germany.
About the contributor
On Sunday 30 April 2017, 34-year-old Londoner Katy MacMillan-Scott embarked on the adventure of a lifetime: a 600-mile journey from Rotterdam to Budapest, following the route of writer Sir Patrick Leigh Fermor. It is the first leg of a literary pilgrimage that will see her travel all the way to Istanbul over the next few years.
Katy decided to undertake the epic journey following the death of her friend Harriet Clarke from bowel cancer at the age of 32 last March. She credits Robert Macfarlane’s essay, The Gifts of Reading – which is centered around A Time of Gifts – and a talk at the Frontline Club for inspiring her to plan a literary adventure in Harriet’s memory, to celebrate her friend’s life and to raise awareness for Bowel Cancer UK’s Never Too Young campaign.
At Slightly Foxed we’ll be mapping Katy’s route and sharing news of her progress from the comfort of our desks during her three-week trip.