The Gelderland hills offer an unexpected challenge on this 24km stage. After an illegal part of Germany we arrive at the Rhine Valley. We continue to have the weather with us, the sun is shining exuberantly and only later in the afternoon does a wind pick up.
We leave Braamt early, have breakfast at 8 am and start hiking at 9 am, we have a long stage ahead of us.
The hills on the horizon are getting closer and soon we start our first climb.
The Bergherbos lives up to its name, the moraine from the last ice age is quite steep. Yet the walk through the quiet forest also gives us a peaceful feeling.
It’s a little less quiet in this gnome house, Snow White is visiting and that’s why it’s party time.
Despite the warning that we must have a recent corona test (we don’t have one), we take the risk of taking the original Pieterpad through Germany. It is a beautiful route over the hills of Montferland with beautiful landscapes and views.
So we cross the border illegally, at border post 700, where the Dutch guardrail changes into the German one.
Here the German highway runs right along the border.
The forest is unchanged beautiful and quiet,
and here too small altars and woodland decorations have been made.
The village of Elten is quiet.
When we walk down the mountain again, we are suddenly back in the Netherlands after the railway tunnel.
The road to Spijk continues on the border.
We take a break here and eat our sandwich for lunch.
Proud Spijk welcomes us in its own way.
We are even offered a soda, nice and refreshing.
When we look back from the Rijndijk, we can see the church of Elten, where we passed earlier.
The road along the river is long and a lot of traffic passes by. Fortunately, the passing inland vessels still offer some distraction.
Lying in the grass we catch our breath.
And can then continue along the dike with new energy.
At the end of the day we arrive at Christina in Pannerden. We are warmly welcomed and share our travel stories with great enthusiasm. Christina cooks a delicious meal for us and we can retreat to our own part of her house.
