Breakfast & meeting-the 4 of us are the only ones who attend. Not sure it helps us that much. K & A left before A, J, P & P. 1st day that we never saw each other. Cold to start-60 degrees with slight head wind. Do not stop today except to take pictures of goats, ducks & chickens in the same enclosure. A little bit of everything today-shady bike paths, industrialized areas, gravel, river, town roads with traffic. Stopped 2 times to ask for help. Last biker takes us to the Rhine. See MS OLYMPIA around 12 getting close to big bridge where it’s going to dock. We stop for lunch-a candy bar and water. Get to boat at 12:30-take nap. Meet John and Amy for snacks at 4. They had a little confusion keeping their group together, but we were all successful in finding the boat and completing our adventure. We biked a total of 130 miles.

After snack go visit nearby Catholic Cathedral and stay for part of the mass. Fantastic last dinner with baked Alaska for dessert. Can’t say enough about what a fantastic job everyone did.

Give my blog cards to our new friends MOLLY & GLENN from Minnesota; MAGGIE & VIC from Brighton, UK & MINEKE & JAAP from the Netherlands. There were around 100 people on board. Very nice to make new friends.

Go back to room to pack. Breakfast is at 6:30 & luggage needs to be outside our door by 7:30. Armand is asleep.

Family breakfast-pack lunch. I put 3 chocolate muffins & a Danish in my paper bag. Asked for a 2nd pillow last night and a smaller bike seat today. Decide to bike. Our family biking groups change throughout the ride. 1st-4 & 2 (Armand and me). Then we meet up by chance. Now it’s 3 and 3 (Armand, me, Patrick-who bikes behind me so I don’t get lost) Meet up again because 1st group stops for lunch. Now Phillip, Armand & I bike away with Phillip leading the way. I stop for pictures-Phillip leaves us & joins other group. I really liked today- good bike paths but what made the difference was wind at our back & 75 degrees. We see an amazing number of really old people on bikes-electric bikes has changed the world of biking and touring. We walk into town- see statue of Beethoven & visit another beautiful Cathedral. Get back in time for snack before dinner.

Short day- bike paths go through a lot of industrialized areas. Can’t eat much for breakfast. Take sack lunch-start off biking together. Soon the 4 bike away. Catch up for lunch-4 bike away again. Slight head wind is really slowing me down-it doesn’t help that I am 76. Stop at grocery store-buy large bottle of tea. After a few twists and turns-see the OLYMPIA! It’s 12:30- need nap. Molly and Glenn tell us about getting internet at Aldi’s grocery store. Want to download my pictures. Poor Armand has to walk the 1 1/2 miles to the store. Download pictures but can’t see them on iPad when we get back to the boat. BBQ dinner on top deck tonight- not enough space-Armand & I go downstairs & eat in air-conditioning.

Get lesson from Molly about taking pictures on my phone while biking. Not sure I can do it. Go sit on bench with Armand-take bread to feed geese. Geese are not afraid-walk right up to me. Meet family from India with 3 kids. Little girl speaks English. Kids are excited when I give them bread to feed the geese. Nice family- nice way to end the day.

Armand goes to bed early. Tomorrow is going to be our longest day. Not sure I’m going to bike. A lot of people staying on boat and enjoying ride down the Rhine. IT’S 103 IN AUSTIN!!

Big breakfast-everyone packs lunch. Start together-get left behind quickly. Easy biking on trails-65-70 degrees. Stop for a snack-here come the 4- they had stopped for pastry. Eat lunch together. Huge castle on hill . GLENN & MOLLY from MN Stop and take our family pictures. Stay together until next Stop. Hear phone ringing in my basket. Someone had put their phone in my basket by mistake. Patrick figures out how to answer it. John & Amy stay behind to return phone. Group of 4 changes-Armand, Phillip, Grandma & Patrick pulling of the rear so I don’t get lost. Make it back to boat at 2:30 with only a few wrong turns. 3:00 nap, 4:00 snacks. Take walk around square- beautiful statue. Debit card doesn’t work-running out of money. Another 3 course dinner-2 desserts- I eat Armand’s ice cream.

Huge breakfast- pack lunch. Armand doesn’t pack anything again and then eats my rolls. Start out together. All stop, park our bikes & walk up very steep hill to castle. Armand and I tour very impressive castle- John and family decide not to go. Once we leave, they bike ahead because I am very slow and there is a headwind. Never see them again-we get back to boat at 2:45 in time for my 3:00 nap. Other Gonsoulin’s did more hiking uphill and got back after 3. Resting now in preparation for another 2 hour huge dinner. Snack at 4. Wonderful Asían food for dinner.

Huge breakfast- they even provide bags so you can make lunch. 20 mile family bike ride along Rhine with me making lots of stops for pictures. It’s hot and I’m also going very slowly and others bike ahead and stop and wait for me. Good bike paths, follow river most of the time. Back to boat, nap, snacks at 4, 3 course dinner with dessert at 6:30-9:30. Go for walk with Patrick-Armand buys him ice cream.

Last breakfast at Hammer-enjoyed our stay in purple penthouse. Walk pulling suitcases to river. Perfect timing-John is coming from other direction pulling their luggage. They eat lunch-I go on ferris wheel with Patrick and Philip. Walk about 3 miles through crowds, rides, food stands to boat. We go on board while John and family go sightseeing. Meet Maggie and Victor from England. Now leave boat to buy some tea-see dogs wearing goggles. Briefing at 6. 3 course dinner from 7-9. All Gonsoulin’s are at the same table. Cute room-turn off air-conditioning-open windows. So nice to all be here on a boat-Bike tomorrow.

Internet on boat is not good. Can’t download pictures. Downloading pictures on our last day in Germany 7/3/23 from Hotel Maingau in FRANKFURT

Breakfast-buy all day bus passes next door for $7 each. Get on bus #58 @9:30-back at 10:45. Get on bus #56 back at 10::45. ARBNOR SYLA from Albania is our wonderful driver. Bus drivers are incredible how they maneuver narrow streets, past cars, bikes, street cars, pedestrians & other busses for 8 hr shifts. During 10 min break at 1/2 point, ARBNOR buys me an ice cream. THANK YOU. Make it back for a nap at 12:30. Armand reads.

After nap take another bus trip. Come back and walk downtown to festival. At least 500 temporary food stands, rides & people selling everything imaginable stretching over several miles.

Pick up salads and tea on way back to hotel. Take 1 more hour bus ride. Cross street to train station to greet John, Amy, Patrick and Philip as they get off train from Paris at 9:20 pm. They set a record for efficient packing-very impressive and very happy to see them. Walk mile to Super 8 hotel with them. Then follow our phone back to hotel. Door locked, no one at desk. Armand figures out our room key opens door to hotel. Now almost 11.

Breakfast together again. Walk to GUTENBERG MUSEUM.   Have trouble following audio guide just like we have trouble following directions. Before GUTENBERG invented the printing process, it took about 3 years to handwrite the Bible.  But even more astonishing, 6,000 🐐 goats had to die to produce the parchment. GUTENBERG would print 180 copies-1 of which was in the museum. I was more impressed with the Chinese exhibit. Printing started in China around year 700-600 years before GUTENBERG. Monks would mass produce books by carving words and pictures into wooden blocks which were then coated in ink and pressed to sheets of paper. Marco Polo brought Chinese print technology to Italy and then it spread to Europe. We were the only ones in that section of museum. Then went to St. Martin’s Cathedral- very impressive & very close to St. Peter’s. Back to hotel for nap while Armand took clothes to washateria-1st time to wash. Bought salad for dinner again. Thunderstorm tonight. Restful day. Jill said they had rain in Austin, but she still took Harley for a walk. Tera said it was 104 in Austin. Can’t complain-85.

Nice breakfast again- getting to like breakfast and drinking orange juice. Check out of tour room. Leave luggage and walk down to river where our next bike tour will start. John and his family are in Paris now and will join us in a few days. On river I see people go down some stairs. I go to investigate. Can’t believe it. It’s 2 floors of underground parking the length of 2 football fields. Have to discover how cars get down here. Am told there are several underground parking lots. Then discover a beautiful Catholic church-ST. PETERS-the door is open-we are the only ones in the church. THANK YOU GOD FOR GETTING US HERE. Go back to hotel for 3:00 o’clock nap. We are now on the 6th floor in a penthouse room for the 1st time in our lives. The elevator only goes to the 5th floor-have to carry luggage up 20 steps to get to your room. Go to Mexican restaurant for dinner. Back to room to finish blog. Armand is watching TV but his eyes are closed. It’s 8:15.