August 18 to 22  Gorssel to Druten Between the Maas and the Waal

From our comfortable home and fair weather in Gorssel we changed direction from general east to generally southwest toward Breda where we will meet friends for the Zundert Corso.  We encountered several days of rain and ferry-related detours through Gelderland – the largest Dutch province and by far the most rural and forested wilderness.  We must have crossed a hundred wildroosters (like cattleguards but for wildlife) and see dozens of highland shaggy coos and also cross dozens of veeroosters  (livestock grids) and plenty of cattle, sheep and goats in our travels.  We also experienced a lot of history following the WWII Libertation Trail where the Allies liberated the Dutch from German occupation. We didn’t hit too much rain, but some fearsome winds.

The first stop was Ottorlo again near de Hoge Veluwe (literally uncultivated high ground) but we didn’t reenter the national park just enjoyed the small town. There we had a lovely tiny but efficient cabin.

Then on to Druten Between the Maas and Waal Rivers again through beautiful hilly woodlands. The ferry across the Mass was running but the Waal was not… forcing us into a 12 km detour to cross  on  the A50 major north-south freeway which was under construction.  So the cyclepath was inoperable for improvements but in proper Dutch priorities they simply took a bite out of the vehicle lane and put up a concrete barrier.  So it was scary but not really dangerous.  However the detour took us 6 km east so at the end of the makeshift cycleway we had to turn directly west into the teeth of a 20knot wind.   We arrived at our stay weary and worn and happy to put down our burdens.