The first couple of days in Germany are through urban-industrial landscapes in humid weather. We pass through Karlsruhe to reach Mannheim, a place remarkable chiefly because it took us an hour to find our way out after an overnight halt.
From there to Worms, passing en route the vast expanse of the BASF works. From Worms back to the other bank and another lakeside camp for Debs to enjoy a swim. This sets us up well for the next days ride that sees us reach Nierstein in time for lunch before pushing on to Mainz.
Finally the hot weather breaks and we are battered by strong winds, thunder, lightening and heavy rain overnight. The storm continues the next day as we start late and manage a modest 30k heading for the Rhine Gorges. Fate smiles on us for our ride through the Gorges in good weather and a following wind, before more rain overnight. A strong headwind is the feature of the next days ride out of the Gorges through Koblenz and it is with heavy legs that we arrive at a small woodland campsite a little distance from the river where we continue our custom of celebrating the end of each days riding with a cold beer, and so to bed.
A shorter day follows, punctuated by a visit to the "peace" museum at Remagen, and on 29th July we arrive at Cologne. A rest day is called for and we much enjoy visiting the Wallraf-Richarts gallery and the Farina eau de Cologne museum. We did not enjoy discovering that our pannier bag had been pilfered in our absence with the loss of waterproofs and Debs down coat. Still, worse thing happen at sea, as they say.
This called for an unscheduled stop at TKMaxx the next morning and suitably 're-equipped we make good progress through Dusseldorf, but by-passing Duisburg, all in beautiful warm sunshine on well-signed cycle paths, with few diversions. Much to enjoy in the way of rural landscapes and villages, and a last night in Germany is a wild camp.