Through the Ruhr into Big Sky country..

Sunday 18th September - Day 23

A great days cycling. It had been suggested that we train past Dusseldorf and Duisburg but it has been good cycling and full of interst. The cycle into Duisburg was difficult with unhelpful signage but the cycle out was good. Down through the centre of the city - no cars as it is Sunday - across an old swing bridge over the inner harbour then across the Rhur and then the Ruhr basin. The Ruhr seems controled by a weir and the factories are serviced by basins, some with dock/lock gates. The skyline on the right bank of the Rhine was filled with steel works and other stuff belching out hugh volumes of steam but very little smoke. Quite dramatic on the skyline.

Our route was along the left bank was, as the guide book said, big sky country. A few trees but mainly an agricultural plain and long views of the Rhine and hinterland. The track was good, some times on top of the dyke and sometimes on the bottom. There are now just a few touring cyclists and we met a couple of Auzzies when we were having a brew by a lake full of birds. They, like us, started in Switzerland and are finishing in Rotterdam. They shipped their bikes in proper bike containers having established that they could be posted from Zurich to Amsterdam only to find on arrival that it would only get as far as the Dutch border as it was 1inch too big for the Dutch postal service. They ended up hiring a car to get them to the end, cheaper than DHL, the train or any other means. So much for an integrated Europe eh! Perhaps Brexit is the way forward? Who knows?

We are in Xanten in the Xotel. A hotel without a reception - checkin via a machine, once in, everything is opened by your door card - secure bike stowage -all pretty good. The Auzzies are staying at the same place and we are off to supper with them shortly.

It has been cold these last couple of days but it has been sunny with a tail wind. I notice the wind may swing round to the north in a couple of days - we are now fit and honed so I am sure we can make some hard yards.

Xanten Distance 49.87 Odo 1194.4