While walking, Joyce Westerink and José de Jaeger regain space in the head

Rain or shine, Joyce Westerink and José de Jaeger put on their walking shoes every day to walk alone or with the dog Lupi. Lupi is named after Canis lupus, the Latin name for the wolf. “Don’t you think she looks like this?”

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Today they are walking on the Staniastate Estate near Oentsjerk. “We just got hit by a hailstorm!” When Joyce came to live with José in Snakkerburen in Apeldoorn a year and a half ago, she missed the woods. “It was so open here with all these meadows.” She quickly explored Fryslân on beautiful hiking trails. “Oranjewoud is really beautiful!”

Walk on the border road

José was walking happily. “At my home in Breda, my mother often took a border walk with friends. I have also been there often. Joyce now also appreciates the open landscape of Friesland. “It’s wonderful that wind in your hair, you let go of everything.” During the walks, they have the most beautiful conversations. “At home, we often don’t take the time for this.”

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From the crown, Joyce and Lupi visit her special high school students at home. “They love to catch up while walking.” José, who works at the Natuurmuseum Fryslân, now also trains his trainees by walking with Lupi.

Backpacks and let’s go

Last summer Joyce and José hiked a large part of the Pieterpad, “from Pieterburen to Groesbeek, approximately 25 kilometers each day”. Backpacks and let’s go. “We had a tent in the back, but also dog food for a week and a mat for Lupi.”

We had a tent in the back, but also dog food for a week and a mat for Lupi

As Lupi happily walked past them for the first few days, the last days of their journey, she struggled with difficulty. Was it too much? José smiles. “At the end of the trip, Lupi and I both had bad legs.” Fortunately, José Lupi’s mother quickly dropped out. “At home, she could fill up wonderfully.”

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