Mannheim to Stuttgart

We have decided to leave the Rhine and follow the Neckar River up towards the Danube.   The cycle path closely follows the River with the occasional trip through these gorgeous towns - the history is amazing.

Ancient Castle at Heidelburg - we walked up to find out later there is a cable car to take you up. Our legs still hurting from the bike riding, have still not forgiven us.

Views from the castle……...

Back on the road again ……..

Through fields of wheat …...

Barb loving the 'downhill".

Bikes having a well earned rest.

Grapes growing on terraced hillsides.

Me having a well earned rest.

Mannheim - really lovely area in a central city park.

Potato harvesting near Kerchheim

Kerchheim

With Jurgen our hoste at the Goden Gan Guesthouse in Mannheim.

Old drinking trough for horses back in the days when horses were used instead of bikes - thinking about changing except I can't ride a horse either.

More castleling

More steps ….

Selfie - Heidelberg Castle

Caught Bob off his bike…….

not like me always on task - riding off into the Sunset.

Camping at Gundelsheim on the Neckar River

These are the river views we love to cycle through ……. alone, silent, and peaceful.

Bob is fascinated by the grapes growing along the terraces - we got to cycle through some parts to see how they have been walled up by large stones over the centuries.

The Neckar River Valley is a must see for anyone visiting this part of Germany.

We next head for the Danube by train from Stuttgart, a one hour journey to avoid some serious up-hill cycling.

Bonn to Mannheim

Our legs and that area that you perch on are still managing to get us down the Rhine.  We don't deviate too much from the river unless the cycle track takes us away from it, as we are limited in our leg power to go sight seeing in other areas (that will be another trip - with a car yeh!)  What we are seeing is amazing and now that we are following close to the river (if I lost balance I would fall in) it is just as we imagined and wanted it to be.  Very historic and picturesque and meeting lovely people.

Seeing lots of beautiful castles on the way and we wonder at how they ever managed to get them built where they did.

Eyeing the cruise ship off - sigh!!!!!

Typical of what we cycle through - and we feel blessed to be doing what we are doing and what we are seeing.

Barb under the largest hand carved cuckoo clock in the world (St Goar) - what was inside this shop truly amazed us (no photos allowed inside) One clock was available for approx $7000 unfortunately we did not have room on the bikes.

In view of some vineyards on the hillside - how they pick the grapes is anyones guess.

Church bells ring everyday - beautiful sound.

Lunch stop.

Lunch over - back to work.

Big annual bikie convention in Rudesheim (thousands of Harleys).  We crossed on the full ferry with them and then got caught in the crowds as they cruised through the streets.  We were quite a source of amusement and someone suggested we have brought the wrong bikes as we rode along with the rumble of Harleys and tattooed riders.

Take a look …..

Crossing the bridge in the city of Mainz.

"Love Locks" all the way across the bridges.

Not dated but been there for awhile - bet they did not think they would be on some Aussies Blog when they pledged their love as they closed the lock - how romantic.

Overnight camping and Leeheim.

Remains of the bridge at Remargen - made famous from the 1970's film 'Bridge at Remargen"

Couple of Pommie boys Mathias and Jonas - 2 weeks away from being home in the UK after approx 4000km pedalling from England to the Black Sea and back.  Had a good chat, few laughs and swapped maps.  Bob is the skinny one in the middle.