Koblenz

In the short space of time we had been in Koblenz, we had learnt our way around the city centre, and also learned to appreciate the attraction of living in a modest sized city of 115.000 inhabitants. It would have been nice to spend some more time there, however the biggest challenge we faced was the uncomfortably hot weather.

Each day, by the middle of the afternoon, it was a challenge to be outside in the sun. Even though it was not so hot by Australian standards, it was apparently a little unusual to experience such hot weather in Germany this late in the season. At least we did not have to worry about getting wet.

We did not have an ambitious schedule for the day, as we all knew that we would be boarding our boat at 3 pm. Hearing that some of the others had discovered a bike shop of biblical proportions, not far from our hotel, that seemed like a pretty good place to have a look around.

The shop certainly was impressive, both in its dimensions, and in the quality and number of its bikes and accessories. It is worth noting that although there was a huge range of ebikes, touring bikes and mountain bikes, I could not even find a single light weight road bike ! Maybe this says a lot about the difference between cycling in Europe and Australia.

The bike shop even had a test track, where prospective bike buyers could take bikes for a test ride. Now, I haven't seen that in Australia.

Maggie experienced something of an epiphany at that moment, when she saw a lovely green Cube ebike, and experienced love at first sight. Although she loves her Gazelle bike back in Australia, in Europe I think she could be tempted to be unfaithful. I remembered back to the old days (over 50 years ago) when she used to gaze at me with that look in her eyes.

After enjoying a nice coffee and a cool rest in the cafe in the magnificent new library building, we wandered back to the hotel to wait for the rest of the group. While some had decided that 400 metres downhill was definitely too far to walk, there were several of us who were made of stronger stuff.

At about 2.30pm we gathered our luggage and set off on the 10 minute walk down to the docks where the MS Olympia was moored. This boat will be our home for the next week as we make our way along the Moselle River to Saarburg.

While David and I found our way to the boat, when we turned around the women had gone missing in action. We could have gone back looking for them, but it was hot outside, and the boat WAS air conditioned. It did not take us long to decide that they would probably eventually make it (they usually do). David and Iq settled down in airconditioned comfort.

The MS Olympia is certainly larger and more luxurious than any other vessel we have used on our previous bike and barge adventures. Not only does it accommodate 96 passengers and 21 crew members, all the cabins feature full air-conditioning, TVs and fridges. You can even fit in the bathroom in reasonable comfort. It was almost a genuine "pyjama boat".

While the comfort was very welcome, it was a little difficult to share our boat with so many other people, many of whom were chain smokers. Although they are not allowed to smoke indoors, they waste no time lighting up as soon as they take the first step out the door. Maybe I will bring my own gas mask on the next voyage.

After a welcome and introductions of the various crew members, we were subjected to an almost interminable briefing session, which would have been a great cure for anyone's insomnia. It seemed to go on for hours.

Then we moved downstairs to the impressive dining room. The service and food was excellent, but it was amazing just how much noise 96 passengers can make when they have had too much to drink and have too much to say. In fact the noise level was so high that I struggled to hear anything that was being discussed at our table.

It had been a long day, and we were all very keen to finish the final course and retreat to the quiet of the upper desk. Too late, the smokers had already polluted the air up there with clouds of noxious smoke. Perhaps the best place to be is sleeping in our own cabin after all.

Tomorrow we get on the bikes for the first time. The weather forecast ? Another day with a temperature in the low 30s.Read more