Post #10

Rerun of the Rhine: 09/22/25

Yesterday, we planned to take the whole day off—lazing about, sipping coffee and just doing nothing. But, as luck would have it, the universe had other ideas. I headed to the garage to give our bike chains some TLC, only to discover—lo and behold—a flat tire. The silver lining? It was the front tire, which is marginally less of a hassle. I popped it off and hauled it back to our room for a patch job. Just as I finished, my trusty pump decided it was time to retire with a dramatic final wheeze. RIP, old friend. Thankfully, I borrowed Craig's pump and our tire was back in business.

After a night of rain, we woke to... more rain. Surprise, surprise! At 68, I like to think I’m practical, so I turned to Sarah and said, “Forget camping tonight—let’s book a room.” Riding in the rain? No biggie. Camping in the rain? Manageable. But packing up a soggy tent at 48°F when you’re no spring chicken? That’s a hard pass, my friends.

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel we braved the drizzle to hunt down a Decathlon sporting goods store. Our mission? A new bike pump. We grabbed a budget-friendly one and treated Sarah to a pair of waterproof cycling gloves, because wet and cold hands are the worst.

For the first 10 miles, we pedaled through a gentle rain, the temperature hovering in the low 50s. I was rocking my cycling sandals with rain socks and shorts—yes, shorts—and, shockingly, I stayed toasty. Two years ago, when we rode the Rhine, it poured for, what seemed like, three to four weeks straight. This time, we’re planning to detour along the Roer River, hoping—fingers crossed—for kinder skies.

The rain eventually eased, and the sun made a half-hearted cameo, never quite stealing the show. We cruised past a parade of castles, each one looking like it was plucked from a fairy tale, and made a pit stop at a bakery because, well, pastries are just what we do every day. With just a few miles to go, a ferocious headwind tried to blow us back to square one, but we powered through, reaching our riverside hotel by 2:30 PM.

That early arrival gave us ample time to kick back with a drink on our balcony, watching ships glide along the Rhine like they had nowhere better to be. Dinner at the hotel restaurant was a delightful surprise—seriously tasty grub! As I write this, it’s cold and rainy outside, but we’re snug as bugs in our cozy room. Booking that hotel? Best decision ever!

Rode 37 miles

Keep on rolling,

Scott and Sarah

Thankful for Heat: 09/23/25

Brr, it was chilly this morning (45 degrees), but we woke up snug as bugs in a nice, warm bed. For thousands of years, folks had to wrestle with flint and kindling just to thaw their toes at dawn. I bet that’s still the case in some corners of the world, so I’m sending a big thank-you to the genius who invented central heating—truly living the dream!

We piled on every layer we could find, and I even rocked my water socks with sandals (fashion icon, I know). We pedaled past castle after castle, each one perched on the hills overlooking the Rhine. The sun played peek-a-boo, but Sarah still managed to snap some good shots.

The ride was a nostalgic joyride down memory lane, as we’d cycled this stretch of the river two years ago. It felt oddly familiar, yet fresher this time with clearer skies. Last time, we slogged through three weeks of relentless rain—talk about a soggy, joy-dampening adventure!

We’re both hitting travel overload, though. You know, that moment when you’ve soaked up so much scenery and history that your brain waves the white flag? Over the last 1,300 miles, we’ve checked off museums, castles, cathedrals, abbeys, bakeries (mmm, pastries), hotels, campsites, ice cream shops, restaurants, and a dazzling mix of nature and city vibes. I’m probably forgetting a few things, but that’s a good start.

Tomorrow, the four of us are choosing different routes but we are planning to reunite in a week in the Netherlands. Craig and Susie are sticking to the Rhine, but Sarah and I are craving a fresh adventure along the Ruhr River. Fingers crossed it’s a good choice—here’s to new adventures and hopefully fewer clouds!

Rode 47 miles

Keep on rolling,

Scott and Sarah

A Little Climb: 09/24/25

Last night, we pitched our tent near Bad Breisig on the Rhine, and let me tell you, the temperature dropped when nighttime fell! For the first time, I layered on every stitch of clothing I’d packed to fend off the cold. I even wore my skullcap and doubled up on socks to snuggle into bed. Come morning, the sun was nowhere to be found (rude!), but a steaming cup of coffee worked its magic, warming my soul one sip at a time.

We bid a fond momentary farewell to Craig and Susie, then hit the trail. Sarah and I, feeling the chill, decided to grab coffee at the seven-mile mark to thaw out a bit. A quick glance at the map revealed a 1,000-foot elevation gain waiting for us in the next mile. Those cups of joe? Absolute lifesavers, giving us the caffeine-fueled boost we needed to tackle the climb. It was just a couple of miles, but with 12% grades rearing their ugly heads, we had to hop off our bike and hoof it. Legs burning, spirits high—such is the cyclist’s life!

Climbs can be challenging but they always deliver a reward, and this one did not disappoint. At the top, we were greeted by a vista of orchards and tree farms stretching out for miles, like nature’s own quilt. And the best part? Glorious coasting—yahoo! The apples in those orchards were unlike any we’d ever seen, practically glowing with the reddest hue imaginable. I swear, I mistook them for pomegranates at first! Then Sarah piped up, “Do you smell that?” The air was drenched in the sweetest apple fragrance, like Mother Nature had spritzed the world’s fanciest perfume. It was a unique, intoxicating scent you’d miss entirely if you were zipping by in a car. 

Soon, we rolled into another town. I was craving a burger I could sink my teeth into, and Google delivered the goods, pointing us to a restaurant called Burger Bra. Let me tell you, those burgers were the size of frisbees, and we devoured every last morsel. No photos, sadly—we were to busy eating!

After lunch, we pedaled to our hotel in Euskirchen, Germany, where a warm room was a welcome escape from the cold. We ventured out for some Italian food, then called it a night. Tomorrow, we’re treating ourselves to a glorious sleep-in and a day off to avoid the weather apps prediction of rain.

Rode 34 miles

Keep on rolling,

Scott and Sarah

Room and Bored: 09/25/25

Today, we spent our time waiting out the rain. It felt like a slow, perhaps even dull day as we wandered from shop to shop with no intention of buying anything. Still, we made the most of it by planning the rest of our trip.

We’re just five days away from completing our ride to Amsterdam, and once again, we find ourselves with more time than road ahead. So, what’s next?

We’ve decided to rent a car and embark on a nine-day car camping trip through Belgium. We’ll ride to Wim and Lydia's house in Ede, Netherlands, to pick up the rental car. From there, they’ll join us, traveling in their campervan, and we’ll return to their house together. Depending on the weather when we get back, we’ll either ride a day to Amsterdam or have them drive us.

That’s the plan for now, but as always, things could change.

Keep on rolling,

Scott and Sarah