2011-05-27 Trier-Wehlen 71.5 kmMay 27, 2011
The route out of Trier was quick and easy and not a lot of narrow, busy streets to navigate. We hit the bike path and set out along the river route for another day. Weather forecast was iffy again.
As we ride along the river path it continues to improve. Once in awhile we miss a signpost and a turn and have to correct. Trixie still wants to take us on the main highway, so we just ignore her,
We are seeing more and more cyclists now. Most of the groups seem to be family
groups, with kids, mom and dad, and grandma and grandpa riding together. We also saw some very large organized groups of mostly older people. Don says at least 70% needed air in their tires. Several of the riders had motorized electric assists on their bikes, although, as long as you stay along the river there are few hills to navigate.
The scenery continues to be pretty, with green grapevines all along the route. In fact, the vineyards are carved way up the canyon side, several hundred feet of almost straight up and down terrain, and all planted in vines. Just about every spare piece of ground has a grapevine on it.
This day our ride was very long. We had made a reservation for a room with kitchen in Wehlen, so we couldn‘t stop early, even though I was very tired. We had been warned that rooms could be hard to come by on weekends, so we made arrangements for two nights here.
But, as we ar
e riding along the route now we are beginning to see many more ads and billboards for restaurants and zimmers. The whole atmosphere has become more welcoming to bicyclists, since we left Trier.
We were running late for our reservation and worried that they would give our room away, so we stopped and called again to reconfirm that we would be coming for sure and to save our room.
The ride went on and on and on and I was really getting tired. We had promised to be there by 5, and yet, when we ran into another couple on Bike Fridays,
we HAD to stop and talk. John and Danielle, from Seattle, were very well traveled and interesting to talk to. They were currently just finishing up a 9 week trip in France, Italy and Germany. It was hard to pull away from the conversation, but we finally did and continued along the route,
Finally we arrived in Bernkastel and our lodging was just on the other side of this town. By now I was so tired that I didn’t think I could ride back, even the two miles from Wehlan to Bernkastel to go to the grocery store, so we stopped at the Aldi and I told Don I was going to make soup and salad for dinner, so not to expect much.
While I went into the very busy store to pick up breakfast and dinner items, Don waited outside with the bikes. He went over to talk to the group of motorcyclists that had passed us coming into town and then went back by the bikes. A fellow came out of the store and was having trouble loading all of his purchases on his bike rack and almost rode off without his beer. Don called to him and as a thank you the fellow gave Don a nice cold beer. When I came out he gave me one too. What a nice gesture.
We made it the last few miles into Wehlan and asked the local policeman for directions. Down the hill and turn right and we rolled into the driveway of the Wein and Gastehaus Halfenhof. We were gustily greeted by a large group in the side yard who were drinking wine and preparing barbeque. Our host shook hands and showed us where to put our bikes, took us upstairs and let us into our room.
What a nice surprise our lodging is. We have two spacious rooms, a kitchen-sitting room overlooking the river, and a large bedroom with ensuite bathroom. The kitchen is well equipped and spotless. We will be very comfortable here.
After our shower we went back down to visit with the barbeque gang. They had invited us to join them for some meat and wine and conversation. We had a wonderful time talking to our hostess, Pat, who is Arkansas born, and her husband, Ernst, and some of the guests who spoke English. The wine is made by the host, and we tried middle-sweet and sweet white, and they were both delicious. The meat turned out to be delicious crispy sausages, then beef, then turkey. The food kept coming and so did the wine. We finished with watermelon. Finally around 9 we said goodnight and went upstairs to a good bed and a good night’s sleep.
In the morning we evaluated our travel schedule and decided we are very far ahead of our plan, so we are going to lay over here for 4 nights if we can arrange the room.
People here are
so friendly, generous and open and fun. We feel very comfortable and welcome. High recommendations for Wein und Gastehaus Halfenhof, halfenhof @gmx.de, www.halfenhof.com
The route out of Trier was quick and easy and not a lot of narrow, busy streets to navigate. We hit the bike path and set out along the river route for another day. Weather forecast was iffy again.
As we ride along the river path it continues to improve. Once in awhile we miss a signpost and a turn and have to correct. Trixie still wants to take us on the main highway, so we just ignore her,
We are seeing more and more cyclists now. Most of the groups seem to be family
groups, with kids, mom and dad, and grandma and grandpa riding together. We also saw some very large organized groups of mostly older people. Don says at least 70% needed air in their tires. Several of the riders had motorized electric assists on their bikes, although, as long as you stay along the river there are few hills to navigate.
The scenery continues to be pretty, with green grapevines all along the route. In fact, the vineyards are carved way up the canyon side, several hundred feet of almost straight up and down terrain, and all planted in vines. Just about every spare piece of ground has a grapevine on it.This day our ride was very long. We had made a reservation for a room with kitchen in Wehlen, so we couldn‘t stop early, even though I was very tired. We had been warned that rooms could be hard to come by on weekends, so we made arrangements for two nights here.
But, as we ar
e riding along the route now we are beginning to see many more ads and billboards for restaurants and zimmers. The whole atmosphere has become more welcoming to bicyclists, since we left Trier.We were running late for our reservation and worried that they would give our room away, so we stopped and called again to reconfirm that we would be coming for sure and to save our room.
The ride went on and on and on and I was really getting tired. We had promised to be there by 5, and yet, when we ran into another couple on Bike Fridays,
we HAD to stop and talk. John and Danielle, from Seattle, were very well traveled and interesting to talk to. They were currently just finishing up a 9 week trip in France, Italy and Germany. It was hard to pull away from the conversation, but we finally did and continued along the route,
Finally we arrived in Bernkastel and our lodging was just on the other side of this town. By now I was so tired that I didn’t think I could ride back, even the two miles from Wehlan to Bernkastel to go to the grocery store, so we stopped at the Aldi and I told Don I was going to make soup and salad for dinner, so not to expect much.While I went into the very busy store to pick up breakfast and dinner items, Don waited outside with the bikes. He went over to talk to the group of motorcyclists that had passed us coming into town and then went back by the bikes. A fellow came out of the store and was having trouble loading all of his purchases on his bike rack and almost rode off without his beer. Don called to him and as a thank you the fellow gave Don a nice cold beer. When I came out he gave me one too. What a nice gesture.
We made it the last few miles into Wehlan and asked the local policeman for directions. Down the hill and turn right and we rolled into the driveway of the Wein and Gastehaus Halfenhof. We were gustily greeted by a large group in the side yard who were drinking wine and preparing barbeque. Our host shook hands and showed us where to put our bikes, took us upstairs and let us into our room.
What a nice surprise our lodging is. We have two spacious rooms, a kitchen-sitting room overlooking the river, and a large bedroom with ensuite bathroom. The kitchen is well equipped and spotless. We will be very comfortable here.
After our shower we went back down to visit with the barbeque gang. They had invited us to join them for some meat and wine and conversation. We had a wonderful time talking to our hostess, Pat, who is Arkansas born, and her husband, Ernst, and some of the guests who spoke English. The wine is made by the host, and we tried middle-sweet and sweet white, and they were both delicious. The meat turned out to be delicious crispy sausages, then beef, then turkey. The food kept coming and so did the wine. We finished with watermelon. Finally around 9 we said goodnight and went upstairs to a good bed and a good night’s sleep.
In the morning we evaluated our travel schedule and decided we are very far ahead of our plan, so we are going to lay over here for 4 nights if we can arrange the room.
People here are
so friendly, generous and open and fun. We feel very comfortable and welcome. High recommendations for Wein und Gastehaus Halfenhof, halfenhof @gmx.de, www.halfenhof.com
No comments:
Post a Comment