Our first site on the river Rhine was at Oberwesel and it was small and a little a bit basic. The toilets were in one of those building you see on some building sites but spotlessly clean, plus all the red hot water you could possibly need. The site was packed and they said we can only offer you space six. Well it looked fine to us, the only problem was there was a huge sign with a number on it that was used for navigation purposes which stopped us having a perfect view of the river. I should explain that the back of the van was about 20 feet from the Rhine, and everybody wanted an uninterrupted view, but we didn’t care.
On one side were a German couple and a couple from Stoke-on-Trent on the other. Today we did our washing and you may well say, so what? Joan had been warned by the girl next door to get it in early as there was only one machine and a lot of campers, so she did. On every campsite we’ve ever used the washing takes 35 to 40 minutes but she spent the next 2½ hours nipping back and forth to the bloomin washer until it finally finished! However the clothes were apparently the cleanest we have ever had from a campsite washer, so she has decided to do the sheets and towels tomorrow.
As to us, it was so hot that apart from nipping to the shops for a few bottles of water we stayed in the shade by the van. Next day we knew the score, so having set the washing going we went to see the castle overlooking the site as we heard there was a footpath up the side of the cliff.
On our return we hung the washing out and promptly got told off because apparently the pleasure cruise ships passing by want to take photos. Oops! Actually it is very impressive the way the Germans use their rivers with huge barges going up and down plus pleasure craft. They have special sort of breakwaters that direct the water into the main shipping channel which ensures they always have enough water but at the same time makes little bays with very little current on this side so you can swim in it, very clever.
Wednesday 30th June
We are moving off today and making our way to a stellplatz on the Mosel river. There are lots of really nice places right on the river for vans to stop and by 12.30 we are at Urzig. This is a magic spot right on the river side. There are about four vans here when we arrive but I am sure that by tomorrow there will be many more. The chap next door has a little inflatable power boat and just puts it straight into the river and he and his wife nip into town, about 2 miles away.
The cost of staying here is only about 8€ and we are tempted to stay a few days it is so peaceful. K&K who have kept us up to date as to where they are, are now behind us somehow. They have been going somewhere and then cycling in both directions along the river and visiting all the villages and bars apparently! They head off home in a couple of weeks and we head for Normandy to see our grandchildren, Joe & Eleanor.
Thursday 1st July
Wow another scorcher and a text from K&K to suggest meeting and having a last few days together. This seems like a good idea and we all head for a stellplatz only about 23 miles away. Suddenly we get a text with entirely different co-ordinates on it! As it turns out the one we thought they were heading to was pretty ropey. They had visited this one just a couple of miles further on while cycling along the river. When we finally got there they were all set up and had a space for us next to them. This turned out to be a godsend as when both awnings were out we managed to create a fairly large area of shade between us.
It was lovely to see K&K again and swop stories of the romantic road, and some of their bike rides. Just before we got there we had stocked up on booze which was a good thing as we seem to consume far more than when we are alone? It being necessary to get to a cash point we set off on our bikes along the river bank for about 3 miles and by the time we returned we were exhausted it was so hot. The temperatures were now getting silly so we did not move very far from the shade, and sleeping at night is not that easy either. This weekend is a wine fest so somebody must have told them Joan and Kathleen were coming.
This place was more like a campsite and for 7€ including electricity and a beer garden on site, it was one of the best places we’ve been to. Well this is a turn up for the book, the showers cost 1€ and are big enough for two people so couples have been going in together. Ken and I have been accused of loitering near them with a euro in our hand but it is NOT true! We had a standing joke between us as to what went on in the shower so when Joan and I were in and we heard Kathleen outside saying, what are you two up to, we started making all sorts of lewd noises. Imagine our faces when we opened the door to find K&K nowhere to be seen and a Dutch couple at the door waiting to use the shower. How do you explain to people that you were just kidding when they don’t speak English?
Friday 2nd July
Up fairly early and it is already soaring past 30° so rather than waste our day just sitting about drinking, Joan and I decided to set off to ride to Trier as we had been told it was along the river bank in pleasant shade for about 8 miles. In the event it was a round journey of 22 miles and only about a third of that was along the river bank! T
rier is a very nice place with loads of shops and a huge cathedral plus Joan managed to buy a couple of tops so she was very happy.Here is a picture for the mathematicians among you, it gave me a headache, even the price had to be worked out!
On the way back Joan got a bit dehydrated and felt really ill. Fortunately I saw a supermarket and I left her sitting under some trees and bought water and a Fanta for her. Suitably rehydrated and refreshed we returned to the van. I am constantly on to her to drink more water but she never learns. Kathleen must be pretty pleased, she has three times brought her guitar out and got a good reception every time. One woman wanted her to go with their crowd and play and sing at the bar. This annoyed her a bit because as she says, I play for pleasure and a little singing with my friends.
Hey how about that, Holland have just beaten Brazil! Well we will all be up pretty late tonight then I think. We are joined by a young Welsh couple Phil & Lynne who have a van and are riding around on a tandem which has been the source of much hilarity and K&K even had a go on it.
Saturday 3rd July
Yep I wasn’t wrong, we were all chatting until past midnight but then who can sleep in 30+ temperatures? Today Germany play Argentina so it should be quite lively here plus this wine fest thing is on. We all four go cycling along the river bank in the opposite direction to yesterday and after 7½ miles and a Radler (shandy), Joan and I return so as not to overdo it again while K&K carried on a bit further.
At a natural waterfall we met a German couple and agreed to take each other’s photos. When he gave me his camera I could not help asking him if it was “the same procedure as last year?” To which he instantly replied “the same procedure as every year James!” and along with some others who had arrived by then we all roared with laughter. Germans really do have a brilliant sense of humour.
There has to be a thunderstorm soon God only knows what the temperature is but the slightest exertion brings us out in a sweat. Suddenly everybody was putting things away and awnings were being wound in, the wind got up and it was like a blast furnace, then the storm broke! We had one hell of a downpour with thunder and lightning but it did not improve the temperature much although there was now a slight breeze.
Germany won. Oh good Joe & Ingrid will be pleased, this lot here are naturally going around cheering and laughing. This is the signal for the wine fest to start and we enjoyed some genuine German local food and a couple of bottles of their wine. We were joined by Phil & Lynne. He works for BT and she is a dietician but as she says “we don’t take our work home”, so she tucks in as well. Along with everybody else we all stay up until the early hours. We are moving into Luxembourg tomorrow but only have about 47 miles to do. This stellplatz is so good we have all vowed to come here again, perhaps a little earlier in the year when it’s not quite so HOT!
Lots of love
Joan & Bryan XXXXXX
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