Heidelberg – Trier

Today's Route


A good start to the day. We didn't have to check out until 2pm which meant that we could leave the van on site and cycle into Heidelberg for a look – avoiding the usual driving around for 2 hours, arguing like cat and dog, trying (and often failing) to find somewhere to park!

It was about 5 miles to town – a long way on Top Bike I can tell you – and then Jon decided he wanted to cycle up to the castle (what's wrong with walking like everyone else?), so that's what we did. Jon burned off on the blue bike, and I laboured away on Top Bike. I made it though – slowly but surely – buns of steel though if this carried on though I can tell you!

The castle was alright – although, it has to be said, that the we enjoyed the walk around the outside bits better (including the worst statue/fountain we have ever seen) than the 'main' paid for bit.

It's a really impressive looking place – lots of bits added on through the years – but most of it just isn't accessible to tourists. Which is quite disappointing. Still, were were there for an hour and the weather was good and it was nice. And then going back down the hill on Top Bike – also nice, although I don't really like going down hill (too scared) so I don't really get the return on investment that I made in going up!

Once at the bottom though we found the newer bit of town and the shops – tethered the bikes and went looking for food. We found this place – half fish shop, half fish fast food shop! Excellent idea, and really great place. We had a couple of lovely fishy sandwiches which were perfect and something a bit different from our usual ham & cheese combos!

A further stroll down the high street to admire the town square and the big church, and then – time for tea and cake. This is a tradition I have definitely grown to love – and it seems to be a pretty common theme across all the countries we have been to. The lovely waitress at the place we stopped at (sitting outside in the sun) was very patient with my hopeless german, but didn't speak to me in English – which was great. We had a massive piece of cake each and coffee and then we were stuffed. Mmmmmmm.

After that, time to collect the bikes and cycle back to the van – extra fast to try and burn off those cake calories.

We intended to drive from Heidelberg to Trier – or try and get as close as possible. This would leave us very close to Luxembourg (our next destination) and also, a chap in the next door van last night had told us about a cheap motorhome parking arrangement that sounded pretty good (excellent showers he told us), so that's what we were aiming for.

After about 5 minutes on the motorway Jon was bored of driving, so I took over and he sat in the passenger seat programming. This is not very interesting for me – although when I am co-pilot I mainly don't do anything – like reading or anything (I thought I would) – I just look out of the window, and point things out to Jon now and then. It's very relaxing. Still, Jon can't talk if he is programming, so I had to talk to myself for a bit, and play a game I used to do when I was a kid in Germany – guessing where the cars are from from their numberplates. I know, it's sad – but when needs must right?

So, time passed quite well, we were on the motorway and just 30km from Trier – but I didn't want to go just on the motorway, I wanted to cut off it and down to the Mosel valley road for a bit – so that we didn't miss out entirely on the scenic route. Naturally the map I had chosen the other day was woefully inadequate for the sort of small roads that I wanted to go on (the turn off couldn't be found) – and as Jon was in the navigator's chair, I got it in the neck. The upshot was stopping for petrol and buying a complete road atlas of Germany which did the job much better.

A run down a beautiful (but windy and narrow) little road lead us to the river, the grapevine lined valley sides and a nice wide road along the bottom. Very nice. It started to rain a bit though – which was a shame – but the sceneries were lovely, and after a while we just had to stop for a cup of tea and half a schneeball each to soak it up. Marvellous.

It wasn't far to Trier from there – and we did find (we think) the camping place that the chap was talking about – just as the heavens opened and a massive thunderstorm started up. Of course I was desperate for the loo – so sprinted off through the rain to the next door campsite where we were supposed to be able to use the facilities (according to the bloke from next door that was). You clearly needed a key to get into the facilities, and I didn't have one – and it was raining, hard, and I REALLY needed to get in – like right now. Luckily, just as I was contemplating the nearest bush – someone came out of the toilets, so I snuck in through the opened door! Lucky.

Back at the van: we were parked up, plugged into the electric and waiting for the rain to stop so we could try and figure out what the score was. When it did I went out to look at the sign. Very confusing - €5 / night + €2 / night electric + €6/night/person for toilet key + €10 deposit per key........... it all looked a bit much really. Jon went out to check the situation in the campsite next door. No-one on reception. We didn't know what else to do – about paying or anything, so we did nothing. What else can you do?