Tholen

6 May 2015:  I was unlucky to lose my glasses yesterday, but VERY lucky to arrive shortly afterward at the B&B in Herkingen!  We did not merely receive a warm welcome from Jeroen, the host, and enjoy a convivial dinner with his family.  Jeroen also leapt into action to help me replace the lost glasses.  He drove me this morning to an optician in a nearby town, where I had my vision checked and then ordered new glasses (with helpful advice from Jeroen and the salesman regarding my choice of frame).  The new glasses will be ready next week, after our departure, so Jeroen will pick them up and mail them to me in Liège, where we will spend a day in a couple of weeks.  Or maybe we can lure Jeroen and his wonderful family to Liège for a good meal in one of that city's fine restaurants.

And there's more: After the outing to buy glasses and lunch in our room at the B&B while the first (but not the last!) rainstorm of the day passed over us, we departed for a truncated hike (ca. 9 km) from Herkingen to the spectacular dam and locks crossing the Eastern Scheldt.  Jeroen met us at that point and drove us on the our next destination: Tholen.

In short, the B&B Herkingen is not merely a pleasant place to stay when hiking through the area, but a great destination in its own right!  This is a beautiful area and Jeroen's B&B is a great place to stay here!

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We enjoyed a hearty, delicious breakfast outside, under sunny skies:

  

Mary and Jeroen, as we departed for our afternoon hike:

Farewell to the B&B Herkingen:

Walking along the dike from Herkingen; notice the clouds forming...

It's time to put on the backpack rain cover, Carroll!

After an intense storm with hail and heavy wind, we walked on to the observation tower at the dam & locks:

A windy day!

Our hotel in Tholen: