Days 8-12
Will have to keep this short as the internet wants to drop out.
Day 8 Ophoven - Sittard 26km
Walking along side the Maas. A gaggle of geese swimming in the river, cows grazing in the meadows, brightly coloured Lycra clad cyclists whizzing by in packs, social cyclists meandering along on their Sunday ride, walkers in groups and also alone, gardens abloom with Summer flowers, horses in the fields with foals on their spindly legs. There are beets growing in the fields, beautiful bloemen (flowers), birds, butterflies, bumble bees & bright blue beetles beetling along. Limbricht with its castle & adjacent church with beautiful frescoes ( Salviuskerkje). Overnight in Hotel de Prins in Sittard. Tonight dinner at the Australian Down Under restaurant.
Day 9- Sittard -Heerlen 27.3km +
First climb the Kollenburg hill past stations of the cross. Sunny right from the start. Through fields if barley, wheat, beets & maize. Mostly forest paths and a few ups and downs. Finished with the flat lands. Lots of wrought iron crosses along the wayside. Cute little wood sculptures appear surreptitiously in the forest. A talented local artist making his mark. I drop my glasses unknowingly and have to retrace my steps for 800m or so. I finally make it into Heerlen where the accommodation is 1.8km off the trail. Looks like a grand mansion from the front but accommodation is tucked out the back with shared bathroom, at the end of the passage & I have to use my own sheet, pillowcase & towel.  Only 2 other guests for dinner. They don't get many Australians in this part if the world.

Day 10- Heerlen - Schin op Geul 19.3km
Across the fields to Ubachsberg. The fields are filled with flowering grasses waving pink in the breeze. The path is so overgrown I have to walk in the adjoining field. Into the forest with picturesque landscapes visible thru windows in the trees. I see a group if motorcyclists passing on the road below. Soft oak leaf litter underfoot, turn the corner and on my right is the magnificently restored Molen op de Vrouwheide, which a family enjoy as their modern home. (It's a windmill). Through more fields and past black lambs   Here there are turnstiles rather than gates between fields. The houses have bright glossy paintwork. Across farmland then steep steps to the shady beech forest with its quirky tree trunks. Then, would you believe I am handed a tract from. Jehovah's Witness!!!  I pass a couple of senior gentlemen out for a walk then pass the Kasteel (Castle) Cartils which is undergoing extensive renovation. A huge task. Up the very steep and long Dodermanweg then turn right thru the fields to arrive at B&B Keutenberg. A real treasure. The end if a wonderful, wonderful day. I feel truly blessed.
Day 11- Schin op Geul - Maastricht 16km
Today I make the decision to follow the Google route as heavy rain is forecast. Rain jacket in and off a few times during the walk but nothing serious. Through fields if blue/green wheat, potatoes, beets and barley turning gold, horses with foals at door, through small villages of Valkenburg, Ijzeren, Sibbe & Bermelen and on into Maastricht. Some steep hills, mostly on unpaved roads.
I meet up with Max at the Youth Hostel where we are staying for 2 nights. We tour the town and take it easy.
Day 12 In Maastricht - rest day 2 km
We take a boat ride upstream to St Pietersberg where we take a guided tour of the man made caves from where limestone was carved centuries ago. Here also the people if Maastricht took refuge from bombing during the WW 2.