Nijmegen 4 Day Marches Day 3 - Netherlands 17 July 2014.

Nijmegen 4 Day Marches - Day 3
Netherlands
Distance 39.8km
Thursday 17 July 2014

Day 3 of the 98th Nijmegen March was another early start.  The announcement today said that today was the hardest of all four days as the route was very hilly.  

The band played, salutes made and we set off, marching between the boots.  Once out of the forest we crossed the road then turned left and moved onto today's walk which turned back onto a very similar route to the day 2 route, heading west.  We soon joined the other walkers and again the numbers of marchers and crowds numbered thousands. 

Once we had left the houses behind we were in open fields, and you could see all the walkers ahead and the walkers behind.  Masses and masses of people.

Today though instead of turning right then left and crossing the canal, we turned left and walked by the canal, well one of the many canals in Holland.  It soon became warm, initially there was very little shade, as we walked towards Malden. 

At Malden as always there were the local dignitaries, bands playing, bunting, people cheering, flag waving and children handing out sweets, biscuits, pieces of fruit and water. 

Then it was over a bridge that crossed the canal and we continued south east further along beside the canal.  Some of the views were stunning.

Just before Mook we crossed back to the eastern side of the canal and continued south east. Then it was a turn north over a lake.

We turned east, then moved a brief distance south east before we turned left and headed north.  We were now about half way on day 3, heading towards Groesbeek. 

Today we passed a group of British police who were doing the march, we saw them last year.  They must do it every year.

At Groesbeek I came across the first windmill of the walk.  Which reminds me of all the other typically Dutch things I had come across on the trip.  It was a proper party atmosphere with clowns and stilt walkers.

After Groesbeek we continued north and started climbing the hills.  As we started the climb we could see the crowds in front.

At the top of the first rise, we could see the route drop down slightly before climbing again.  

Coming off the hills we were back on the flat and now heading west through the last built up area Berg en Dal. 

For a short distance we continued west then turned south west back into the shade of the forest.  It was not long before we were back at the camp.

The distance we had covered today was 39.8km.  After a shower, a quick soak of my feet, some admin ready for the next day, then dinner.  I gave my feet a good rub for luck, before going to sleep and rest for tomorrow.

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 2 Nijmegan March 2014.
Follow link to next Day 4 Nijmegan March 2014.

Nijmegen 4 Day Marches Day 2 - Netherlands 16 July 2014.

Nijmegen 4 Day Marches - Day 2
Netherlands
Distance 35.4km
Wednesday 16 July 2014

Day 2 of the 98th Nijmegen March started much the same as Day 1.  We were lined up early again, before the birds started singing.  Even though early it was still nice.  We marched from the camp to the band and salutes.  On reaching the road we turned left and joined the crowds.  Unbelievable so many people walking at that time in the morning, and already people were out waving flags, playing music, cheering us as we marched past.  We followed the main road west before turning sharp right.

A left turn and we soon crossed a large canal.

We were continuing west with a few twists right and left.  The route took us over a main road then turned right through what looked like a small animal petting farm.  This was onto a dust track. The route turned right and we were heading towards Wijchen.

As yesterday many local people had moved their chairs and seats, settee's and tables into the street to watch us and the thousands of other people march past. The atmosphere as the day before was good.

As we reached the outskirts of Wijchen the bands were out a left turn then right towards the centre.

A sharp right and we were in the town centre.

Another turn, north this time and we were moving passed more dignitaries, with chains of office saluting and waving as we marched through.  Over another main road and we were travelling more north east now through open country towards Beuningen.

We crossed a narrow canal with its lock, flood gates. We were a little over half way now.

At Beunningen we turned right and headed east back towards Nijmegen.  A short distance from here we were following the river on the opposite bank to the one we had walked the day before.

We then saw the bridge we had crossed over on day 1, so only a few km to go.

A turn right, south towards the start/finish into the centre of Nijmegen. The crowds here, as last year, were a lot larger than on day 1.  We continued through Nijmegen back towards the campsite the way we had walked on day 1, passed the church and the beach volleyball courts.  Passed a care home where everyone was out to watch us march past.  Then into the cool shade of the forest where the campsite was.

Today we had covered a distance of 35.4km.  Then as on day 1 some admin, sort my kit out for tomorrow, a spot of dinner, shower, soak my feet, give my feet a rub for luck and sleep.

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 1 Nijmegan March 2014.
Follow link to next Day 3 Nijmegan March 2014.

Nijmegen 4 Day Marches Day 1 - Netherlands 15 July 2014

Nijmegen 4 Day Marches - Day 1
Netherlands
Distance 44km
Tuesday 15 July 2014

I had completed Day 1 and Day 2 of the Scottish Garelochhead Marches which was the two day qualifying march that allowed me to join my friends on this the 98th Nijmegen March.

Today we lined up early in the morning at the camp ready to move to the start.  It was still dark, we were up and ready before the birds dawn chorus.  It took some time waiting and moving slowly to the start before we marched off on day 1.

From the camp we moved down the forest road where we crossed the road then turned left beside some beach volleyball courts then right at this church onto one of the main roads into Nijmegen.

As last year and one of the reason's why I wanted to do this again was the atmosphere, there were thousands of people involved.  Many walking and as many watching.  After a couple of km we crossed the start line where everyone else started from.  Where we merged into a mass of people all walking in the same direction, a turn right and left towards Nijmegen Bridge.  It would be difficult to get lost so to speak as everyone was going the same way, however it could be so easy to lose my friends in the crowds.

The route was the same as last years, after the bridge we walked through a small housing estate, where even at such an early hour people were out sitting on the furniture they had brought from the houses to sit and watch. Bunting was tied up everywhere flags were waving and people offered us drinks, biscuits, sweets and fruit.  We would come across this all the way on every day.

After the houses we walked through a small industrial estate which at the end had a slight climb that took us around so we could see the crowds behind.

We walked behind more houses before walking by some fields towards Bemmel.  Each of the small towns or districts had flags out and bands playing, choir's singing, unbelievable.  The local dignitaries with their chains of office stood saluting and waving as we marched passed.

Not far from Bemmel we took a turn left and headed towards Elst.

It was a little overcast this year, although warm, we did not have the heat today we had last year on day 1, so much better walking conditions.

The bridge that was being built last year was completed and looked good. It was just passed this we could see the bridge we had crossed earlier in the day and this was where we would cross again.

We followed the route back the way we had come, passing through the city finish the seating was in place and the crowds were very loud.  Continuing on the way back to the campsite, we passed the church and the beach volleyball courts, over the road into the more sheltered part of the wood and back to our own finishing point. 

That was Day 1 completed, distance covered 44km. After a little admin, a meal and preparing my kit I was ready to do it all again tomorrow. Excellent.

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 next Day 2 Nijmegen March 2014