Menno Dekhuyzen
Menno on his Santiago de Compostella trip in 2007
I was born and raised in The Netherlands. In 1982 I got Married to Rieneke, we met at nursing school in 1979. Rieneke is working as a nurse in the children's ward. She is specially trained to care for the very small ones (the incubator ward). I also studied for nurse and later followed up with a study to become Assistant Anaesthesiologist. After successfully concluding that, I started working in the operating theater and that is what I am still doing up to the present day. Rieneke and I have three children, Leontien (1982), Esther (1984) and Max (1989).
Menno at work.
Early in the 1970’s I started to like cycling during holidays. When I did start cycling, it was first on my own. Then later it was once together with my wife. That was not a success, we had 75% rain and thus the camping was also no fun. Rieneke immediately had it with cycling, No More! Since then I have cycled on my own. But again later I rode with each one of my children. This was great fun! The children enjoyed this Special attention with her/his dad: Super!
When I was in High school Tjoan and I read the Book “Wat heb ik nou aan mijn fiets hangen”, written by Wim Dussel. We were very enthusiastic and were dreaming of cycling in the USA. Tjoan did, some years later. I, however, had another kind of life, I got Married, we had Children, I bought a house, I did study and work. In 2002 I read on the internet about some possibilities of saving Extra holiday time if one was working in a hospital related job. For instance if one wants to make a long trip. I asked at work if this was applying to my job too. It was, so I started saving the overtime working hours and some holiday working hours and in doing this over the past years I accumulated all the extra months holiday time I now use to make this adventure possible!
Sport minded... Here after the half Marathon in Utrecht.
We are a sport minded family. My wife and I are running 3 to 4 times a week and are both training for the Marathon (42.195 meters) or the ½ Marathon (21,1 km.) Right now we are training for the Marathon of Barcelona, Spain which will take place on march 2nd 2008. We both ran 4 Marathons before this one. In The Netherlands, The Rotterdam Marathon twice, one in Amsterdam plus one in Paris, France. Our oldest daughter is also training for the Barcelona Marathon, it will be her first.
So, Physically, I think I am in good shape for this trip. Although I think it will get tough at times. You will read how I will get along.
I am as curious as you are!
