Monday 30th September - Tuesday 1st October

Dormagen - Wittlaer via Dusseldorf

Wittlaer - Xanten via Duisberg

Total 120 kms

I don't know about where you are, but autumn has well and truly arrived in this part of Germany. Leaves festoon road and paths alike in a carpet of bronze and yellow. Very high winds have added twigs an even small branches to the melee.

We cut short our day yesterday. We had shared a really lovely bottle of white wine with dinner the previous evening but paid for the pleasure by experiencing a very disturbed night's sleep. So not feeling all that refreshed at the start of the ride, conditions deteriorated and our resolve with them. Very, very windy and with the river, and thus our route, continually changing direction, the gusts were wobbly strong. 

So we did the only sensible thing - found a room, bought some grub from the supermarket (no wine!) munched our way through supper and collapsed into a comatosed sleep.

There is always one shite day and this was ours.

What a difference a good night's sleep can make. Bursting with energy this morning (maybe a bit of an overstatement) we even managed and earlier than normal start. The weather was already looking ominous, as in grey and drizzly, when we set off. Ten kms or so saw us on the outskirts of Duiseberg. We knew from perusing the map that this was going to be an awkward city traverse. What we hadn't banked on was the cloudburst that had us soaked through in a matter of minutes. Really, really wet - knickers, vests, everything. Still, such is life and Wales could show Duiseberg rain a thing or two so we peddaled or puddled along.

The city was as complicated as we had expected but enlightened and enlivened by an addition to our twosome into a threesome by a meeting with Jana. This young lady was completing a year of travelling alone throughout Europe with her bike and enough luggage to sink a battleship. Riding with a chatty companion relieved the angst of the navigation and proved more than useful when we met up with two German riders coming towards us who explained through our new friend, that the bridge ahead was impassable. Clearly nothing could thwart Jana and between her and Master Navigator, we were only momentarily misplaced. 

Leaving the city behind, we were now into big sky country which was also big wind country! Jana left us after about 30 kms to cross the river and continue with her journey to see her father. It had provided an enlightening interlude and her company and conversation were much appreciated. We do wish you well, Jana.

If all goes to plan, tomorrow should see us arrive at the Chalet of Hans and Bert and the end of this ride.

I hope you have enjoyed my ramblings and look forward to your company on our next trip where ever it may be.