Düsseldorf - Oberhausen 29 June

For a few days we will be following the same route we took two years ago, though in the other direction. Quite a short trip today from Düsseldorf to Oberhausen. Düsseldorf to Diesburg on the Rhine, whoosh, but a very bumpy ride, thought we were back on the Black Sea! Waves caused by wind and so many barges, one after the other, confusing the water. Now on the RheinHerne canal. 

Decided to stop at Oberhausen again, Europe biggest shopping centre, only needed to buy a pair of flipflops ( mine landed in the Rhine this morning). But turned out to be a fantastic stop because of a fantastic exhibition, Wunder der Natur, at the Gasmeter right next to the Marina.

The exhibition is housed in an old gas tank.

Of the 100 fantastic photographs I chose this one of mayfly.

This explains why. Just too unbelievable.

And this one just for fun, family photo, but all the photographs unbelievable.

I think this is the most fantastic Nature photographic  exhibition I have ever seen.

Views of the Ruhr area from the top of the gas tank.

The Rhein-Herne canal with Carl trying to find Lellebelle in the marina.

An astronauts view of the earth.

You lie back in this enormous room with this enormous earth ballon, slowly revolving.

How's that for a perfect shot?

Voted bird of the year, 2016.

The earth of 2016!

And Lellebelle in the marina 2016.

Löf - Düsseldorf 28 June

We made it from Löf to Düsseldorf, 174 km, in one day! We have never travelled so far or so fast before. Thanks to the fast flowing Rhine. And really getting our own back after chugging up the Rhine two years ago. We made almost 3 times the distance!

The last 25 km on the Mosel. Looks like this was a Toll house.

Passed under an enormously high bridge.

A hotel ship, the Viking Odin passing us on the Mosel. We always get a wiff of food when they pass. This time it was breakfast. We stuck behind this ship through the last lock on the Mosel.

Nearly the end of our fantastic stay on the Mosel. We will most definitely return and not wait 25 years. Next time either hiking or biking. 

Through the last lock and into Koblenz. Lots of traffic and one needs a capable captain. Here we are behind the hotel ship just leaving the lock and a barge is wanting to enter the lock.

We stayed in Koblenz two years ago and although we were very impressed we decided continue our journey on the Rhine. Here the fortress we visited last time.

The point where the Mosel flows into the Rhine at Koblenz, known as the Deutche Ecke.

And into the mighty Rhine which is overflowing its banks.

We had an idea that we would stay in Neuwied but arrived far too early for a stop. This is how high the water level is. The marina would not however have been a problem because it is situated on an inlet.

The reason why we were thinking of stopping over was because this marina was recommended to us by a couple, Karl and Anna, whom we met 2 years ago in a town, Bad Essen. But I am not sure Karl and Anna want to see us again because while eating with them on a table near the water, we (Carl) accidentally tipped the table and all their food, glasses, wine and cutlery landed in the water. We could only retrieve about half of their stuff. They were very kind about it and we left on good terms, but maybe they are a bit wary of us.

Passed Brohl, a marina we stayed at two years ago. 

And passed through Köln. We stayed at the marina just under these buildings, on the other side.

Skyline Köln.

And back to our old harbour in Düsseldorf, under these amazing buildings. Still do not seem to be many occupied apartments.

Want to compare this with a photo from last time to check the water level.

We have only one mission in Düsseldorf. That is to make a visit to Zum Schiffchen, Restaurant and Brauerei since 1628. We will fill ourself with Schlösser Alt and Schwein Haxe and enjoying the atmosphere of this fantastic establishment in Düselldorf Altstadt. 

We got a table next to the corner where Napoleon and his generals had been sitting year 1811. We guess they had Alt Bier an Schwein haxe and that the stayed many days in Düsseldorf. 

They should have stayed longer this poster suggests. But Napoleon and his generals must have come up with a brilliant plan to attack Russia. That could well happen when you drink too much Alt bier.

Senheim - Löf 27 June

We have only one aim today, and that is to find Burg Eltz, or Eltz Castle. When Carl gets an idea into his head then there is no way to distract him. Somebody, he cannot remember who, either Egon, Dan or Ola, told him that there is a castle on the Mosel that has never been conquered for the 850 years it has existed. But Carl is not exactly sure where it is, and that is why we do not really know wherever we will stop.

Once again we pass through the charming towns. This one with a castle, but not Burg Eltz.

This is Cochem where we might have stayed, but the water level is way over the pontoons

So we have ended up in a little village called Löf. One little jetty with a few local boats, right in the village.

And have to find a way to Burg Eltz. Carl has been researching and eventually located Burg Eltz somewhere between Cochem and Löf. A small village with a petrol station and surprisingly 3 very good hotels. We enquired at the Hotel Traube where the friendly manager suggested that we go by train or taxi. Decided on taxi and a very informative taxi driver drove us the 15 km to the parking area near to Burg Eltz.

See how chuffed he is. The master castle finder.

The castle has been owned by the family Eltz for 30 generations. They took their family name from the Eltz river which winds its way around the castle.

The reason it has never been conquered is probably due to two reasons

- it is located in such remote location without any real strategic relevance 

- through clever diplomacy of the Eltz family heads. 

Leslie has to admit that this was really worth it. What a fantastic building on a most beautiful environment. It is one of the only castles in Europe which has not been conquered, plundered or burnt to the ground. All the different additional building styles through the years have been preserved. We walked 6 km back to a Moselkern all along the Eltz River, a tributary of the Mosel. 

The sign post with directions from the castle. Note the Camino sign. 

Back at the Mosel in the small village Moselkern we find the high water marks from the past. Only 23 years ago was the highest ever recorded flood in Moselkern.

The 1993 flood must have been about 8 meter higher than the high water we are experiencing on the Mosel. 

We took a train back to Löf, about 6 minutes and cheaper than the taxi.

Traben-Trabach. - Senheim 26 Junne

I'm Another unexpected day!

Left the wonderful little Marina in Traban to head off for either Chochem or Treis Karden.

It must have been raining somewhere because the water level has risen since yesterday.

We got behind an hotel ship, da Vinci just before the first lock and followed them through and after the lock.

Just as we were settling down to 20 km without locks, only beautiful scenery to think about.  Suddenly we noticed hot water appeared on the floor.  A miracle,  a hot water fountain on board! The water was coming from the top drawer where we have the cutlery. The hot water pipe had sprung a leak. Nearly a crisis when we had to stop the leak etc very quickly, we nearly steered the boat up a bank! 

Quite a lot of wet things have to be dried so we have stopped in another charming little place, Senheim. Now the carpet is out drying in the sun and all is well again, except in the rush I seem to have chopped off a little piece of my finger, or maybe not.

The marina with the village and church in the background

A close up of church and village. Population 660.

And the group of senior rowers we saw in Neumagen-Dhron have caught up with us.

A walk in the town

Trying to capture the atmosphere, but hard on a iPad.

The Yachthavn is part of the camping, called holländisch Hof, wonder why?

Neumagen-Dhron - Traben Trarbach 25 June

After two extremely hot days, it has cooled down and there is some rain in the air, in any case predicted for the morning. We are leaving Neumagen-Dhron today and heading for another beautiful Mosel town, but not sure which.

On the Brötchen run I saw this group of mostly senior people preparing this rowing boat for a trip.

And here they come, have not synchronised the rowing yet, but they did after a while. I suppose they are going down the Mosel? We saw them later at Traben Trarbach.

Passed the town Piesport.

We passed this town with the kids 25 years ago in a tourist boat. They had great fun about the name. They were 4 and 5 years old and thought it was very funny that a town was called Pies!

Passing beautiful towns again. This Mosel River just getting more beautiful, even though it is staring to rain.

Another one. We were planning to stay in Bernkastel but we missed the turnoff to the marina and carried on.

Once again a most amazing place, Traben Trarbach. 

Cannot believe the buildings

The marina is about two km round a bend in the river and that is where we have decided to stay.

Arrived at the little Marina just outside the town, no one here, we have to wait for the havnmeister who will come at 5 pm. And it is really raining. We follow the Norwegian weather forecast for Europe and prediction is the rain will stop at 4 pm. So we took out some food and drank some wine and relaxed till the rain stopped.

But at 5 pm it stopped raining and, Hanna, the havenmeister appeared. Happy as anything, full of life and invited us for two glasses of wine from this region. She is the agent for Nimbus, a Swedish boat and sells local wine.

They have everything at this havn, even bikes.

Biked back into town and again  just keep taking photos.

Traben taken from Trarbach.

Here we have a Buudha museum. According to Hanna is was built by a local IT-business man who became a Buddhist. I think she said he had over 1000 Buddha statues in the museum.

High cliffs, winding river, charming towns, The Mosel!

There is also a pilgrims route, part of the Camino.

It is known as the Mosel Camimo.

Crossing the bridge.

We have met this couple from the Czech Republic a few times along the way. Invited them over for a glass of wine. A few language barriers but surprisingly easy to communicate.

This dog belongs to one of the permanent boats.

She kept checking in case we had some food. A lovely dog, Weimeraner. First time I have patted one.