Nijmegen 4 Days Marches Day 4 - Netherlands 19 July 2013.

Nijmegen 4 Day Marches - Day 4
Netherlands
Distance 44.6km
Friday 19 July 2013

This was Day 4 of the 97th Nijmegen March 2013, the last day marching.  We were lining up early again and marching out of the camp, to the band and salute, before the sun came up.  Today we joined the walking crowds as soon as we left the camp and turned left, as we had on day 2.  We headed west and the numbers of people walking and watching were almost twice as many, if not more, as we had seen earlier in the week.

We crossed the canal.

Then one of the main roadways, as we had on Day 2.  However instead of turning right through the petting farm we continued along the road way.

There was no hanging about today, we needed to get round and meet up at a place called Charlemagne field so we could all go in together, so there was not a lot of time hanging about.  A little way down the road we turned right and headed east, between open fields.

Over the four days walking, we had passed through lots of the Nijmegen area, some ordinary and some very expensive houses.  Farm houses and there had been lots of stables. Fields of crops, sheep and llamas.  All added to the experience, but nothing like the experience of walking through the small towns.

We crossed the bridge at Grave and the memorial to British soldiers who had died in and around the bridge.  The route took us back under the bridge and along the southern bank of a canal, heading east.

Just past Grave we passed the third windmill on the march.  We had moved from the canal and were heading towards Cuijk.

The crowds that met us at Cujijk were large, loud and amazing, before we knew it we turned right and straight onto a pontoon bridge across the canal, which had been built by the Dutch army.

What an impressive church

Over the pontoon bridge we turned left and headed north.  Crossing the bridge into Mook we continued north.  Some of this route now was going back along part of this route we had taken on Day 3, to Malden.

We made it, we had arrived at Charlemagne Field in time to have a short rest before we lined up and marched the last 5km into Nijmegen.

What an experience, I do not know the words that can be used to explain what an experience.  It was amazing.  People were standing from the barriers all the way back to the houses.  There must have been three to four people standing in each window and doorway.  Everywhere someone could stand to watch us march past, someone was standing.  There were even people sitting on the roofs, amazing.  We all had gladiola's, as we marched down the festive "Via Gladiola".

Once we had passed the dais and the grandstands we turned through the town to the buses which took us back to the campsite.

Today we had covered a distance of 44.6 km, a total of 163.8km over the four days.  What an amazing experience, especially the last 5km.  If I had not seen it or lived through this myself I would not believe it, something I hope to do again and hope I will never forget.  The whole four days were a celebration to life, not just for the marchers but also the hundreds of thousand people who supported the walkers.  Amazing, all thanks to Tim for getting me the opportunity to take part.

Thanks Tim.

More to follow

Boz North

Details correct at time of walking.

If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done on The Nijmegen 4 Day Marches or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to previous Day 3 Nijmegan March 2013.