Nijmegen 4 Day Marches Day 4 - Netherlands 21 July 2017.

Nijmegen 4 Day Marches - Day 4
Netherlands
Distance 47.5km Climb 38m
Friday 21 July 2017

Today was Day 4 of the 101st Nijmegen Marches 2017, the last day marching. As in 2013 and 2014 it was an early start, even before the birds started singing.

We were lined up and marched out of the camp, to the band and salutes, before the sun came up. Down the forest road Beukenlaan.  On reaching the road passing under the Heumensoord sign we again crossed straight over the road onto Driehuizerweg, passed the care home, which was quiet, no-one was up this early. This would be our last walk up this road.

Turning left onto Kwekerijweg passed the sports fields and beach volleyball courts. As we had on Day 2 and Day 3. To the junction where we joined the other walkers, however today with us being so early we only saw a few and they all wore the red bands showing they were on the 50km a day March.

We followed the same route as on Day 2, people were starting to gather. We crossed the Maas-Waalkanaal and took the bridge over a main road. However today instead of turning right through the petting farm we continued along the road, south. Passing through parkland an area of small lakes just as the sun was starting to rise.

Over the last three days walking, we had passed through lots of the Nijmegen areas. Areas of ordinary houses,flats and some areas of very expensive looking houses.  Factory areas, farm houses, fields and woods, rivers, canals and lakes. All added to the experience, everywhere we went people greeted us.

Passing through a small wooded area we stopped at a cafe for a short break, we had walked fast to get as far as we could before the sun came up and it became too warm. The other walkers were starting to catch us up. 

We were in an area called Valenberg. This was where we took a different route to the other walkers. They continued south on Kasteelsestraat towards Overasselt, we turned right, west onto a narrow lane called Spellingsestraat.

Our lane twisted and turns gently westerly towards Nederasselt, through fields of corn. It is along here we pass the house with the golden pig as its weather sign.

In Nederasselt after passing some houses we take a sharp turn left, south, before the church.

At the top of the street we turned right, west, and rejoined the other walkers. We continued west as the road dropped down to run beside the Maas, leading us towards the bridge at Grave.

We had a short rest below the bridge and large flocks of geese where flying all over the area. Unfortunately this was the best picture I could get.

The road took us under the bridge before turning back up the bank onto the bridge. Crossing the bridge over the Maas a plaque shows it is the John S Thompsonbrug, which was taken in part of Operation Market Garden. A number of pill boxes can be seen in the area.

On the western side of the bridge there is a memorial to the soldiers who had died in and around the bridge during WWII.  

The route took us back under the bridge and along the southern bank of the Maas we were now heading south east into Grave.

We had moved from the Maas and were continuing south east. At Gassel we had a short rest.

We were now heading east towards Cuijk. Strange who you pass on the road.

The crowds that met us at Cujijk were large, loud and amazing. After twisting through the town, before we knew it we turned left, north, onto the Maas riverside, a sharp right, east, took us straight onto a pontoon bridge across the Maas. Over the pontoon bridge we turned left into a rest area.

Leaving the rest area we headed north on Cuijksesteeg.  This took us over the bridge we had used on Day 3 in crossing the Mookerplas into Mook we continued north.  Some of this route was now taking us back along part of the Day 3 March passing Molenhoek.

We were now on the Rijksweg which took us straight into Nijmegen. The crowds were getting louder and bigger. It looked like everyone in the Netherlands was out here today.

We arrived at Charlemagne field in plenty of time for a short rest before we lined up and marched the last 5km into Nijmegen with the band playing, and leading us in.

Today the distance we had covered was 47.5km with 38m climb, which made a total of 171.8km over the four days.  What an amazing experience.

I am not sure if I will do this again but it is something I hope I will never forget. People come from all over the World to take part. I have said it before but it is true that the whole four days are a celebration to life, not just for the marchers but also the hundreds of thousand people who supported the walkers.

Well done Nijmegen.
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 - Day 3 Thursday 20 July 2017