July 8 – We had an early breakfast and hit the road for our penultimate hiking day. The weather continues cool and cloudy. 15.5 miles planned.
Navigating out of the city – here’s our trail signWe were immediately climbing a shady, quiet road that featured the stations of the cross on both sidesAnd then it was back out to the farm fields. Who knew Holland grew so much wheat?…and potatoes and beets?Now, here’s a crop we haven’t seen – cabbages!Oh my goodness – an animal carved out of a fallen tree trunk. What do you think it is? A boar? A badger?And here’s another – a large chipmunk, or perhaps a small bear?I guess you figured out that I love sunflowers That church spire means we’re passing the town of Puth – we won’t actually go through it, but it lets us know we’ve gone 4 milesLovely view We walked beside a busy highway for a while…then back to the fields. More wheat!I like the stripey effect of this houseHmmm… a dead tree, filled with……witches!A shady lane…then back into the woods A larger than Harvey sized rabbit in a field of potatoes. Thanks to whoever took the time to carve these along the roadside for our amusement!The little mayor welcomed us back to Valkenburg…home of pretty canals…and lots of wall artI’ll tell you more tomorrow…
July 7 – Happy 85th birthday, Ringo Starr – peace and love! We said goodbye to Marijke and Ruud, and Ruud drove us back to the little Lourdes chapel so we could pick up right where we left off yesterday. Seven miles planned for today.
Same chapel, different day. It may rain later, but right now, the weather is cooperating. The high today will be in the low 60s. We’re wearing our long pants today!Sunflowers Interesting sky – will it rain on us?Beware – wild boar area!More interesting skyDoesn’t this tree look like it should have Keebler elves?These cows ran rushing toward us – maybe they thought we would feed them?And then these chickens rushed toward us – we are feeling very popular today!A little stand offered snacks and souvenirs to hikers, and a bench to rest on. On the Appalachian Trail back home, townspeople often set out treats for hikers, called Trail Magic. This stuff is for sale, so it’s not quite as magical.And now the sky is blue – no rain for us after all!We looked at a Pieterpad bench detailing distance traveled and distance yet to go, and I realized it is in German, not Dutch…For one block, we are walking in Germany, then we turn the corner and are back in the Netherlands Approaching SittardWall art – my kind of place!Roses above We are staying at de Limburg Hotel, an historic place on the main squareRight next door is St. Michaels church, so we peeked insideSt Michael graces the main altarMuch of the signage has to do with St. Rose of Lima, the patron Saint of SittardThis little lion near the entrance commemorates the day in 1938 when an escaped circus lion entered the church and strode boldly up to the altarPretty buildings Many of the statues here are music relatedDoor art – St. Rose of LimaHappy to be here, but tired – tomorrow will be our penultimate hiking day
Taking Our Time 