I went to visit my favourite Kleve: it was too long ago already that I’d been there. From there I cycled along the Rhine, and then back into the Netherlands along the Oude IJssel to Doesburg. I crossed the Veluwe to get home again. This time I planned less with the wind in mind – instead for the destination!
Some observations: 1) In Germany, it”s more common for road cyclists to greet each other. In the Netherlands, this depends. 2) Between Wesel and Isselburg I planned for smaller roads, because I wanted to avoid traffic. In fact the cycle paths along the main roads I did take were very good, and there wasn’t much traffic. The smaller roads were often not so good. 3) The Veluwe can be kind of boring. There are some beautiful lanes though with the sunlight being filtered by the trees.
My train trip started at Utrecht Centraal about 18km from home. The fields east of Wyler (south-west). The fields east of Wyler (south-east). The fields east of Wyler (north-east). Along the Tiergartenstrasse in Kleve. The bridge over the Rhine to Emmerich. Everywhere truck horns were sounding, and there was a convoy on the bridge. Was today national Truckers’ Day? On the Griether Straße heading south along the Rhine. In the distance: the former nuclear power plant of Kalkar. On the Greilack heading for Obermörmter. The St. Viktor church of Xanten. Well worth visiting there is the Roman archeological park. Sender Wesel. Behind it the Rhine bridge to Wesel. I was meandering through quiet byroads to get to the Wesel Rhine bridge. Waiting for a red light in Wesel with a view on the citadel. Wesel industry next to the Rhine. The RheinStübchen has known better times just like the Rheinpromenade in Wesel. I took a gravel road to cross the Diersfordter Wald. Looking at the bridge that the Diersfordter Straße takes to cross the railway. I had planned a route off the main roads, were the landscape was nice and green. The patched-up roads though called for a gravel bike. Time for a break. Wind turbines close to the A3 motorway. The ramshackle side of Isselburg. The DRU Cultuurfabriek in the former DRU iron factories in Ulft, along the Oude IJssel. The Oude IJssel south of Hoog-Keppel. The Oude IJssel south of Hoog-Keppel. The IJssel near Doesburg just a bit after the point where the Oude IJssel ends. The IJssel bridge at Doesburg: heading for Dieren. On the Valkseweg heading for Barneveld. Sitting down to adjust my shoes. This year I have been feeling pain in my right foot sole after 150km and more. Crossing the Valleikanaal in Leusden.
