Nijmegen 4 Day Marches Day 3 - Netherlands 18 July 2019

Nijmegen 4 Day Marches - Day 3
Netherlands
Distance 44km Climb 260m
Thursday 18 July 2019

If you read previous years 2013, 2014 and 2017 you will see that each year I have wrote this will be my last opportunity to take part in such an amazing event. Yet I am here again to have another final opportunity to take part in this the 103rd Nijmegen Marches.

Today was the hills day.

Another early start and I was lined up ready to go, a pale looking sun not yet awake hung low in the sky, or was it the moon? The weather forecast for today was another overcast day, even so early it was still very warm. 

I marched from the camp to the band and salutes, down the forest road Beukenlaan.  On reaching the road passing under the Heumensoord sign I again crossed straight over the road onto Driehuizerweg, passed the small hospital, which was quiet. No-one was sitting out waving at me this early.

Directed left onto Kwekerijweg passed the sports fields and beach volleyball courts. 

My route was the same as Day 2 from Kwekurijweg straight across to Houtlaan, where I joined other marchers from the other routes.  

Already people were out waving flags, playing music, cheering as I marched past.  Following the road west, I was caught up with people marching the other routes, it would probably be more appropriate to say the people caught up with me. Soon I was part of what was becoming mass crowds.

Turning left and right, south and west through the streets I had walked yesterday I was starting to notice the regular supporters.

I had a short break just before the turning were the route changed from yesterdays march.

A right turn southwards, a weak watery sun was still rising but it was warm.

I was in an area called Hatert where I moved left, south west, from yesterday's route. Today instead of crossing the Maas-Waalkanaal our march was along its eastern bank. Once I had left the houses behind I was beside open fields, and you could see all the marchers ahead. Masses and masses of people.

On reaching the Maas-Waalkanaal I followed along the eastern bank for a number of kms. In an area called Malden.

After a short while I was on the Oosterkanaaldijk. I could see large barges and small boats moving up and down the canal.  

Continuing by the Maas-Waalkanaal, round the western edge of Molenhoek.

My route moved slightly away from the Maas-Waalkanaal, east for a short distance then turned south.

Passing under a railway bridge, after a few hundred meters I was at the rest stop in the field down to the right. This was where the Maas-Waalkanaal joined the River Maas for a short while.

After my rest I set off again heading south east, passing this memorial. One of many memorials on the march.

Walking up the bank to the road into Mook. As always the bands playing, bunting, people cheering, flag waving and children handing out sweets, biscuits, pieces of fruit and water. High fiving and fist pumping. It is just the sound of it all so indescribable.

On reaching St Anthony's Church the route goes around the church.

Then heads south east down Kirkstraat.

Through Mook and I crossed a bridge over the canal into an area between the Maas and the canal and continued south east. Following the canal with the Maas moving further away to my right.

In the distance to my right, west I could see the towers of the church at Cuijk. I would be walking passed this church tomorrow.

A little north of Middleaar I turned northwards onto the Witteweg. Which took me over a bridge with the south eastern end of the canal to my left and a lake called Mookerplas on my right. 

After a few hundred meters there is a camping area on the right where I stopped for a short rest.

Passed the lake I turned right, east, through Plasmolen.

Continuing east towards Milsbeek, it is usually along here I see a British Bobby but not this year. 

Passing through Milsbeek I turned north on the Zwarteweg. Again due to different marching routes, the 50km red marchers turned south west. 

A little up the road and their route re-joined ours again, after they had marched an extra few km. 

A turn north west then north east brought me onto the Bredeweg, which runs almost north for the next few km.

There he was again the Roman.

Travelling north west now. After a short while I turned left, south west, leaving my fellow marchers on different routes to continue straight ahead towards their finish. My route took me down through some woods. 

Coming out the other side I zig zagging south and west through some houses onto the eastern side of Kwekerijweg. It did not take me long to reach the junction with Driehuizerweg, a turn left, south and I was on my familiar route back to the campsite. Passed the small hospital where the guests had been brought out to share in the festival. This would be my last walk down Driehuizerweg.

The traffic was stopped to allow me to cross onto the forest road Beukenlaan. Then it was only a few hundred meters to the finish.

The distance I had covered today was 44km with 260m climb.  As tradition states it was into the beer tent to celebrate then time for dinner a shower and some admin. As always I gave my feet a good rub for luck, before going to sleep and rest for tomorrow. Another excellent day.

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 2 Wednesday 17 July 2019
Follow link to next Day - Day 4 Friday 19 July 2019