busidee meinweg Roerdal

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

Parallel to our route is the railway line"Iron Rhine\\\", which is no longer in use. 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 boar or deer during the ride. The adder 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 -  having crossed, we drive through an area that was recently returned to nature. This area was reclaimed for agriculture in the 1920s and is now used for nature again after about 100 years. It is habitat for the dark burnt blue (butterfly species) that can only live together with the red ant and the burnt blue (protected plant species). The area needs to rewet further and that is regulated by reducing the water discharge to the Roer. The beaver likes that. 

Then we drive into the Roer valley. About 50 meters lower than the highest point of the Meinweg. In the summer day, about 25 m3 of water per second flows through the Roer to the Meuse. If a lot of snow or rainwater has fallen, this area will flood completely and sometimes up to 120 m2 of water per second will flow into the Meuse basin. Did we see a bee-eater there? A very rare bird for the Netherlands that has come to breed here again in recent years. 

The numerous pools we see here are mostly old rudder arms. The river moves regularly and is not channeled. 

The core of Herkenbosch still has many historic buildings. We drive past the"St Sebastianuskerk\\\", also the patron saint of the church and of course the local militia with flute and drum corps. Here too, the rake is still being shot.  

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