London  Netherlands  Belgium & Luxembourg  Rhine & Mossel  Switzerland  France  Munich, Salzburg, Innsbruck  Denmark & England 

Hallo,

I hope life is treating you all well, and I hope you enjoy the Mossel, & Rhine Handlebar Highlight edition.

EU Impact 

My route from Luxembourg would take me into Germany and a town named Trier which is along the Mossel River.

The ride was amazing a 4 mile coast out of Luxembourg, and a gentle peddle across some beautiful country side leading me to the Mossel. Once I was on the river it was all bike path, & vineyards. WOW.

I do however need to comment on this whole EU thing. I love the EU for making my travels a little easier, but I guess I assumed there would still be some form of notification once you were about to leave or enter another country. Yes, that is right I managed to bike into Germany and not even know it. The only way I figured it out was I noticed more German signs, and the currency switched. I don't know what I expected, but at least a little sign that said "Welcome to Germany" I mean even the little state of Iowa can afford to put up a couple signs that announce your presence in the great state.

Wine & Water 

What can I say wine and water two things I love combined with each other along the Mossel.

The majority of the biking along the Mossel is on a well maintained bike path often times actually through the vineyards or along the river or both.

Post Card beautiful!

Hike to Burg Eltz 

One of my sight seeing excursions along the Mossel included Burg Eltz. To visit Burg Eltz you most do at least some walking, I however chose the route where you hike in.

The decision was awesome, I started the hike early in the morning so few people were on the trail, and the trail was great. Most of the trail was through some old forests along a creek. I even managed to capture on film the ever elusive "Brown Slug", (check the photo gallery if you don't believe). The trail did provide me a sense of what it was like for the knights (OK peasant trash) of the time to visit the Burg (Castle). The truly amazing part was viewing the castle for the first time. You have not seen anything of the castle until you emerge from the forest to see this enormous castle on top of the hill in front of you.

The castle itself is beautiful and rather than attempt to describe I would say just take a look at the pictures. Sorry there are none of the inside since this was forbidden, but it was very unique.

Pastries 

Food o'h Glorious Food; my biking has been fueled by the wonderful pastries that seem to be everywhere. I will not try to explain all of the wonderful delights I have tried, but let me try to attempt to describe my favorite so far.

Start with a danish type pastry add some creamy fresh custard, top that with a candied apple, then drizzle chocolate and vanilla icing over top. WOW!!

Rainy Rhine 

The Rhine river portion of the route was rainy, almost everyday. I am just glade the grapes already have contracts with the wine makers because they would never make it as California Raisins. I made the best of it by taking a ferry on one day up the river and then biking back the next day. I did however barely make it in to town before it started raining again. Rather than get caught in the rain I stepped into "An American Sports Bar" ??, I had some rather unique wings, and watched some of the Tour de France announced in German. The different language makes it kind of hard to keep up with the fast moving spectator sport of bike racing!.

The one positive thing I can say about all the rain is I now know what they mean when they say all those sun starved German's invade the beaches come Holiday. Bring on the SUN!!

Auf Wiedersehen,
DUKE

Date	From	To	Miles
7/14	Rain Day Luxembourg
7/15	Luxembourg	Tier	36.25
7/16	Tier	Mulheim	44.27
7/17	Mulheim	Moselkern	66.88
7/18	Moselkern	Koblenz	26.68
7/19	Koblenz Camp to Ferry	Ferry to Rudesheim	5.12
7/20	Rudesheim	Koblenz	51.27
7/21	Bike Break Down
7/22	Camp Koblenz to Train	Geneva (Walked Bike)	4

Comments or for letters to the editor email me at duke@systemscoach.com