The bus trip to our base camp is already so beautiful that I can’t resist taking pictures of the continuously changing landscape through the tinted windows. I lean across to take pictures through the window on the other side of the aisle – skewed, blurry and partially obscured by a hawthorn. For a second, I am jealous of the hawthorn that can enjoy this view throughout its existence. I send the picture to my family: look where I am! They reply with a thumbs-up emoji. Nice, sweetheart.
A week of camping, hiking and kayaking. The diverse group of people who are my travel companions consists of the stereotypical solo travellers and couples from all over the Netherlands and Flandres. Cheerful Limburgers, a yuppie from Amsterdam, an insecure flemish person, a father, and his son. ‘So, where are you from?’. I answer the question: ‘From Drenthe, but studying in Wageningen’. The person from Amsterdam looks up and comments that I sound nothing like someone from Drenthe, unlike the farmers in the other kayaking group. I reveal that about half of my family are farmers, upon which the group decides that my role in the group will be that of game ranger (to avert further incidents). That is an easy role because the (trained, alert) eye can see many animals in the fjords. And I am the only one who notices. Seals are my favourite. When they poke their noses above the water line, I try to call the group over, but they mostly disappear rapidly. With flailing humans nearby, they prefer to dive under the water as quickly as possible.
The diverse group of people who are my travel companions consists of the stereotypical solo travellers and couples from all over the Netherlands and Flandres
The rift between our lives, which would normally prevent us from ever meeting, is irrelevant during this week. Our guide stresses that we must all help each other during our first meeting. You help your neighbour stuff his sleeping bag into his pack, you move over to make room for someone’s kayak, and the group sticks together. In the laughter around the campfire, treaties are even made to remove each other’s ticks from unsavoury places should the need arise.
Suddenly, a grey head and large, round eyes
On the last day, the lady from Amsterdam and I take the lead in kayaking so that I may show her seal, as she has not yet seen one all week. I scan the surface. Suddenly, a grey head and large, round eyes. It breathes warm air over the water, turns to face us and appears to be observing us as much as we are observing it. We wave. And while the rest of the group is distracted by other things, the seal waves back at us. Then, it dives down.
Ilja Bouwknegt (24)is master’s student Forest and Nature Conservation. She is an active member of the study association WSBV Sylvatica and sometimes does bat research at night.
