Oh for a Room

The ride from Speyer to Heidelberg isn't really on the Rhine Route, but it's a great, short side trip, and mostly through the forest. There were some cherry trees beside the fields en-route, and we harvested plenty. They were ripe and ready for eating.

We got our first real hills since Basel today, and had a nice view back over the countryside that we had covered in the past few stages. In the distance we could see the spires of Speyer.

If there is a city in heaven, Heidelburg might be it. Pretty as a picture, and packed to the gills with young people - tourists, university students, and yanks (nice ones!) on posting- all having fun.

Chris struck up a conversation with a local woman called Sabine, who had ridden through NZ back in the day, and was drawn to our bikes. She worked for the city, so put us straight on some of the interesting historical and planning aspects of the town, while we enjoyed lunch at the Marktplatz. Sabine also gave us the lowdown on where the young peeps go to hang out (and watch the football, when it is on). So the evening's entertainment was sorted - at the Marstallhoff.

We pitched camp by the river (mistake one) and headed into town to enjoy some of the atmosphere of the Germany - Croatia Euro 2008 football game at the aforementioned Marstallfoff. Then the heavens opened. Back at the camp, we found that the site was right by a busy road (mistake two) and a rail line (mistake three).

If the weather stays nasty overnight, we might take the train to Mainz, where a friend's mum, Bärbel, has offered us a room. Oh! - for a dry room tonight. . .