Black Forest to The Netherlands

Clips and pics from our stays in Freiburg, Triberg and Mehring on the Mosel River.

We left the Black Forest in southern Germany after attending TandemTreffen 24 there in Gengenbach then staying another six nights, first in Freiburg, then in Triberg. Leaving Triberg we headed north, first for the Mosel River.

Mehring – our first two nights in a B&B which is also a working winery – Gästehaus Sabastiani

On our free day at Mehring we wanted to cycle into Trier, about 11 miles up river. The river was still high and many of the cycle paths were either under water or covered in wet, ankle deep silt from being under water. At this point we had been on the road but decided to take a look at the riverside path. We went back to the road… I ended up covered in mud but Karon, sat on the bike escaped unmarked.
The morning started a little misty and dull, but as we neared Trier it improved.
The Portal Nigra. What remains of the Roman gateway into the city. It had been added to for other uses but around 1800 the medieval parts were removed to ‘restore’ it to the remaining Roman elements.
We left the bike locked up near the Portal Nigra and wandered into the old part of the city, eventually stopping for a drink in one of the squares.
On our route in to Trier we crossed the river early, by way of a rail bridge with cycle path. Leaving Trier I wanted to see the Roman Bridge – at the most southerly point of our ride.
Back at our hotel we first popped down to the river for a meal in a riverside hotel/restaurant then walked back into the B&B courtyard. There sat a German couple, enjoying some of the Sebastiani wines and they invited us to join them. We spent the rest of the evening sat, chatting as best we could and enjoying a few glasses of fine, white wines.

Bonn – Our next two nights were in the Prizeotel Bonn City.

The hotel is by the river but an easy walk into the city centre and old part.

After a couple of weeks of conventional food, we fancied something different and booked a table in a Sushi Restaurant not far from the hotel.

The following day we left the bike in the car and walked into the centre. I had bought online tickets for the Beethoven House, so we first found a café then turned up at the House for our time-slot.

If you visit, the ticket office is opposite the House. Rucksacks and anything bigger than a bumbag has to be left in lockers for which you need a € coin deposit. Once in the House, be sure to download the app using the barcode near the entrance. It has much more information in various languages.
After the Beethoven House we made our way to the market square and sat under the shades in the corner, next to the town hall. Later the rain came and we moved inside.
‘Built in 1389 as a hostel ‘Zur Blomen’, it was destroyed and rebuilt in 1967′. We liked it here and the waitress, in traditional beerkeller dress looked after us well.

In the evening we decided to eat in ‘Ahoi’, which was under our hotel. Again, I booked in advance which is always worth doing as many of the food places in more touristy areas fill up quickly.

By evening the wet weather had cleared and after our meal we wandered a short way along the riverbank.
Here a chap with a music deck and speakers, all towed by a bike had set up for an impromptu mini-rave. People had turned up with drinks and sat in little groups, a few making some moves in front of the DJ. We sat for an hour or so enjoying the tunes – mostly jazz-funk from the 70s with overlaid heavy bass.

Eindhoven – Our B&B, Lyle Blue, was in the small village of Riethoven, near the city.

The day we arrived, the weather was ok so I sat in the garden and sketched in the afternoon while Karon rested. In the evening we had booked the restaurant just across the road. I didn’t realise quite how expensive it would be, and we could have made it less expensive by choosing fewer course – we did leave one out – but the food was exquisitely prepared, presented and was so good. It was the most we paid anywhere for a meal, but at the end of it we were both impressed and content – very content.

Lyle Blue. Not a cheap B&B but a little special.

Next day the plan was to ride into Eindhoven but the weather had other ideas. In the end we drove in but nothing appealed so we came back to nearby Westerhoven (there’s a CentreParqs there), found a cafe and had a coffee before going back to the hotel. I left Karon at the B&B while I walked around the corner to a clinic to see a doctor then collected a prescription from a Pharmacy in another village.

Later in the evening we drove to Veldhoven Dorp on the outskirts of Eindhoven for a meal. Next day we set off for Kamperland and the International Tandem Rally.