Bus idea Meinweg Roerdal

We drive through 2 European protected nature reserves. National Park"De Meinweg\\\" and Natura 2000 Roerdal.

Parallel to our route is the disused railway line "Iron Rhine". This railway line is a point of contention that we have with our southern neighbors"The Belgians\\\".

There is a chance that we will see wild boars or deer during the ride. The viper and the nightjar are also rare species that live here.  The wolf has not yet been spotted here. The highest point of the Meinweg is 78m above Nap.  

If we take the N 570 - the road between Roermond and nearby Wassenberg in Germany -  have been crossed, we drive through an area that was recently returned to nature. This area was developed for agriculture in the 1920s and is now intended for nature again after about 100 years. It is a habitat for the dark burnet blue (butterfly species) that can only live together with the red ant and the burnet (protected plant species). The area needs to be further rehydrated and this is controlled by reducing the water discharge to the Rur. The beaver likes that. 

Then we drive into the Roer Valley. About 50 meters lower than the highest point of the Meinweg. During the summer day, approximately 25 m3 of water per second flows through the Rur to the Maas. If a lot of snow or rainwater has fallen, this area will be completely flooded and sometimes up to 120 m2 of water per second will flow into the Meuse catchment area. Did we see a bee-eater there? A very rare bird in the Netherlands that has started breeding here again in recent years. 

The frequent pools we see here are usually old rudder arms. The river moves regularly and is not canalised. 

The center of Herkenbosch still has many historic buildings. We drive past the"St Sebastianus Church\\\", also the patron saint of the church and of course the local militia with flute and drum corps. Shots are still being fired here too.  

The rear part of the church is a monument. This section was significantly destroyed in the earthquake of April 13, 1992 and is still being propped up. We cross the N 570 again and pass the Flinke Ven - which has also been returned to nature - and the Oudenhof area (Aaje Hoaf) behind the Huttopia campsite back to our starting point "de Boshut".