Mainz!

Eleven days after leaving Melissa’s house in Switzerland, we have arrived in Mainz. We are all set to take the train to Gesa and Christoph’s house in Bayreuth tomorrow afternoon for the weekend. We’ll store the bikes and much of our gear here in Mainz.

We left our campsite early this morning (8:30) to stay ahead of the rain. We breakfasted in a nearby bakery, took a ferry across the Rhine —

and then pedaled north along the river for our usual 30 miles. 

The valley narrowed as we rode, with hills, vineyards and villages appearing to the west. Maybe we’re done with the boring, broad valley we’ve been experiencing for the past many days!

Around noon, the bike route took us down a narrow cobblestone alley in Oppenheim where we happened upon a 16-bell carillon on the front of a house. Luckily for us, it was chiming a noontime song. 

As we neared Mainz the rain began to pour, and by the time we were downtown we were soaked. Off to lunch in hopes of drying out and warming up the kids —

After four nights in noisy, no-frills, crowded German campgrounds (that are actually not cheap), the allure of a damp afternoon and night with that snoring British lady was waning. Dave braved the pouring rain to find a basic, clean, warm hotel with hot showers and room for the bikes. Yay!

We had a long afternoon rest (I in the laundromat) and then took an evening stroll around town. This is a vibrant, international, university town — fun to see. 

— Liv