Marilyn Koolstra

Different set of circumstances, too. something that Eric had experienced before and would not have been doing himself.

Different set of circumstances, too. something that Eric had experienced before and would not have been doing himself.

Marilyn wasn't so sure. She had just endured having her husband go missing, followed by the death of his closest trekking buddy.

Marilyn wasn't so sure. She had just endured having her husband go missing, followed by the death of his closest trekking buddy.

We then started talking about strategies of, you know, what you would do, but preferably, Eric, not walking by yourself.

We then started talking about strategies of, you know, what you would do, but preferably, Eric, not walking by yourself.

As the initial shock of Alan's death started to fade, Eric settled back into his routine. But he soon found retirement left him with too much idle energy

As the initial shock of Alan's death started to fade, Eric settled back into his routine. But he soon found retirement left him with too much idle energy

Every day he would walk up to the post office and along to the bakery, fresh bread, milk, and then back down again. So he had his cardio exercise, you know, just doing daily things. But he did get a little bit bored and ended up being a maintenance man at my school and a gardener.

Every day he would walk up to the post office and along to the bakery, fresh bread, milk, and then back down again. So he had his cardio exercise, you know, just doing daily things. But he did get a little bit bored and ended up being a maintenance man at my school and a gardener.

Marilyn's kids joked about Eric turning into groundskeeper Willie, the cantankerous bald-headed Scottish school gardener from The Simpsons.

Marilyn's kids joked about Eric turning into groundskeeper Willie, the cantankerous bald-headed Scottish school gardener from The Simpsons.

But unlike Willie, Eric relished his role at the school. He accompanied Marilyn on school camps. She shared a video from one where a grade five student interviewed groundskeeper Eric.

But unlike Willie, Eric relished his role at the school. He accompanied Marilyn on school camps. She shared a video from one where a grade five student interviewed groundskeeper Eric.

Eric had matured, so much so, I tend to forget the stories I've heard about how he struggled with fatherhood as a younger man.

Eric had matured, so much so, I tend to forget the stories I've heard about how he struggled with fatherhood as a younger man.

Marilyn's kids were by this point raising children of their own. They called him Granddad Eric. Many other men in Eric's place would start settling down in retirement, trading in their hiking boots for golf shoes. But Eric wasn't like many other men. He was an ordinary chap, sure, but a furnace of motivation still burned within him. Hiking had become his core drive.

Marilyn's kids were by this point raising children of their own. They called him Granddad Eric. Many other men in Eric's place would start settling down in retirement, trading in their hiking boots for golf shoes. But Eric wasn't like many other men. He was an ordinary chap, sure, but a furnace of motivation still burned within him. Hiking had become his core drive.

The experience in New Zealand didn't change that. But Alan's death meant Eric lost the chance to reconcile with the partner he had come to depend on for those grand adventures.

The experience in New Zealand didn't change that. But Alan's death meant Eric lost the chance to reconcile with the partner he had come to depend on for those grand adventures.