The walk is going really well and we actually had a rain free day
yesterday when we walked from Beesd to Kesteren. The day started with
trips on three trains to move us 20 miles! We didn't wait long at any
of the stations so were walking quite early.

 It was a day for making progress towards Minden as, ater about eleven
or twelve Km along pleasant country lanes we had a stretch of about
20km on the bike lane alongside a fairly busy road. The scenery either
side was OK and we really got going, for the first time since we've
been over here.

 The problem was that the road we were following bypassed all the
little villages where a welcome cup,of coffee might have been
available. We found one small settlement with a bar/cafe and had
coffee there as we tried to explain what we were doing. The owners,
correctly, came to the conclusion that we are mad but wished us a safe
journey anyway.

 As we walked through the village of Kesteren we had to pass a bakery,
so treated ourselves to a cake to have at the motor home. Having
enjoyed it and a cup of tea we both fell asleep in the sunshine for
about an hour.

 We escaped last evening, into Germany where there was a massive
thunderstorm with fantastic lightening. Really Wagnerian,
appropriately.

 Today is a day off in Nijmegen, the oldest city in the Netherlands,
which for four days each year becomes the centre of the walking world,
as 45000 walkers take to the streets of the city and surrounding
villages in the world's largest walking festival.

 We stood and watched them, heavily disguised as 'not walkers. We're
planning to be here, walking, next year though.