Fourth part of the Graafschapspad
Lochem – Ruurlo
This section is really beautiful. The path meanders through the fields and then up the Lochemer Berg. It is a small hill, but for the Netherlands it is nearly an alpine situation. (LOL) The softly rolling hill walk continues over the Kalen Berg en then descends into Barchem where we had a break at the local café. We had some nice views over the countryside, passed beautiful houses and former farms. The weather was sunny but there was cold wind. Luckily I took my Berghaus –windbreaker, so I was comfortable.
Later in the week my husband and I finished this walk. We had a splendid day. The weather was sunny and warm and the route was very divers. It was sooo peaceful. It was the first chance to try our new GPS – a Satmap- and it was really easy to use. We passed a couple of fine farms where the cows watched us curiously. It is lambing season and we had some wonderful impressions of lambs that must have been born the night or day before.
The route of the Graafschapspad has been changed at one point and now differs from the description of the latest edition of the Graafschapspad from 2000. Later the old and the new route come together again. I think the route has become more interesting, because now you come along an algae-farm, something you do not see very often in the Netherlands.
All of a sudden we came along an ancient building from around 1450. It is called the Lebbenbrugge and is a museum for agricultural history since 1934. It is really interesting and the voluntary stuff was so friendly and keen to answer all our questions although there was a big group coming along, waiting for a guided tour. But the sun kept them outside enjoying their refreshments.
After we finished our day, Butch and I enjoyed a lovely meal at the Hotel BonApart, situated near the Lochemer Berg.
We are a bit anxious about the next sections. Planning it on the map it seems pretty dull, but I hope I’m wrong…
Third part of the Graafschapspad
Laren- Lochem
What could be better than going for a walk on your birthday?
It is certainly much better than talking to people on the phone who ring only one time of the year: on my birthday. Of course they expect that I am incredibly happy and grateful that they have remembered my birthday and want me to give them a complete summary of the last year. I don’t think so!
Although there was a 85-90% chance of rain, Butch and I took off. We walked the third part of the Graafschapspad today. It is a really beautiful walk along farmland, lovely and colourful farm buildings, through forests and along stately homes. The first signs of spring were everywhere. Daffodiles, snowbells, and blooming willows. The smell of pines and firs was great.
The surface was changing from small b-roads, to sandy paths (called ‘aardappeldijk’ – transl. ‘potatoe dyke) ,then forest paths and finally landscaped paths along a stately home. ‘Landgoed Ampsen’ dates back from 1650 and was finally finished in 1760.
We had lunch at the Exelse Molen, where Butch had a 12 o’clockje. This is a large plate of bread covered with layers of thin ham and topped with a mountain of fried mushrooms, onions and dices of bacon with some salad and a sauce tartar.
We were extremely lucky with the weather: sunny spells, wind and cloudy periods changed along the way. The last 200 yrds it started to rain. As soon as we went into the car it came down in buckets for the next 2 hours.
Hopefully we will be able to continue the Graafschapspad soon.
