Wednesday, May 7, 2014 - Bernkastle-Keus, Germany

After a 67 km trip I arrived in Bernkastle-Kues. The highlight of the ride was seeing at least 100 million grape vines. I am sure that is a low estimate. The lowlight of the ride was putting on and taking off rain clothes three times. All in all, a good ride. I am in a very tourist type town. I arrived at the town dock to see river boats docked and nine tour buses in the central parking area. This is what Helen, Georgia would love to look like.  Pictures from the ride and the town without much comment are to be found below.

There were so many vineyards it would be impossible to know the actual number of grapevines. My guess is at least 100 million. Probably low.

The path today was a mixture of asphalt (75%) , hard pack (15%), and concrete (19%). it was mostly smooth asphalt. I made good time with a tail wind but as the river switched back and forth, that same wind would become a head wind and not so good time. If you notice the clouds in the pictures you know that rain was a part of the day. I put on my rain clothes three times and then had to take them off again in the direct sun.

I stopped and had a lunch time snack at this road side stand. I saw a number of these. There were also a very large number of bike path bars and restaurants. as there were also many zimmer frei (room for rent) signs, more than any other place I have been to ride. That tells me that the Mosel River bike path is very popular during the holiday season.

I went through many vineyards that were small and privately owned and the fragrance of fermentation was strong in many places. I also wondered how they bottled their products. When I passed a mobile bottling operation, I knew. I would guess it moved from vineyard to vineyard. Click on the picture, it was interesting.

A very impressive building across the river near Bernkastle-Kues. I do not know the propose or use of the building, official or private. I just thought it was interesting. There was an equally impressive church just to the right of this building. There are many more pictures from today's ride. This is just a sampling. It was a very scenic ride.

The town of Bernkastle-Kues has a lot of old buildings, which makes it a major tourist attraction. The picture on the left is my hotel for the evening. I believe the building is suppose be about 400 years old. The rooms inside at quite modern.I have at least six plug ins. They are important with all the electronics with which we travel today.

These are three pictures of the multiple block area of the central market. Lots of shops, restaurants, and hotels. However most everything was closed on Wednesday evening. Of course I arrived on Wednesday evening. All was not lost as I did find a glass of wine and a meal.

 

A glass of trocken (dry) white wine from the Mosel wine country and Rhamschnitzel with Champignons.







Tomorrow, with good weather, I will ride about 75 to 80 km further north toward the Rhein river -Mosel river intersection at Koblenz. With bad weather there are other options.