I am a believer in early starts and early finishes. 0730 breakfast, a couple of coffee breaks, over half the daily mileage before lunch then stop by 3pm. This way means the day does not get way from you. Today we only had about 35km planned. There was some lying-in by one member of our team( ? SANDY PROBABLY), we then were delayed by chatting to our Auzzie pals who had some gadget problems. Breakfast was bought in the supermarket, we cycled maybe 5 or 6km and had breakfast. We set off after breakfast and it was already gone 11 o'clock! Mmmmm where did the time go?
Cold this morning - no sun and cold wind, I put my fleece on for the first time. A few spots of rain but nothing to write home about. Some pleasant cycling but a little distant from the river. However, we still got to Emmerich before the rain.
I mentioned a couple of days ago about a structure made from a redundant power station - forget what I said as we saw the real thing today. A fast breeder reactor was built in the 70's but never commissioned because Chernobal Power Station went kaput. The Government having spent over 4billion on the project mothballed it. It has now been converted into an ammusment park.
We crossed the longest suspension bridge in Germany today, it spans the Rhine at Emmerich. Our route took us up the left bank crossing to the right bank to reach Emmerich. We are here to have supper with John's (Gilly's brother) ex-wife Gill and new man Johno. 'Tis almost time to go for a beer! We are going to sus out a restaurant.
Emmerich Distance 33.15 Odo 1227.5km
Tuesday 19th September - day 25
We ate at the Rheinblick restaurant on the waterfront - great location and Gill, Johno plus Willma and Geof (Gill's brother and his wife) came too. A good gathering and good fun. The food was very good but when it came to paying the landlord was most peculiar. He said that he could not take a card as he had put the bill in his system in a certain way plus there was something to do with the German finacial system. Willma and Geoff live in Holland and were a bit miffed as they rarely carry money - I had to loan them and they had to find a cash machine before departing home. There is a possibility that there was some sort of scam going on - this was the second time we have had this happen in Germany.
We woke to fog and light drizzle - cold again and I needed a fleece. A pleasant ride in rural countryside mainly along the polders and dykes. We crossed to the left bank just before Arnham by ferry. It was a vehicle ferry but held against the flow of the river by wire rope. It was secured up stream, held above water by a few boats and secured at both ends of the ferry and in the middle. All the skipper had to do was controll the engines, no steering involved. Ingenious.
We are in Arnhem in an appartment not far from the town centre, very nice and only €59. We spent the afternoon sunning ourselves in a cafe - the skys cleared and it was a great afternoon. The forecast is good for the next few days.
Arnhem Distance 43.01 Odo 1270.5km
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