August 13, 2014
To Wurzburg: Our last day on the Main
Today was our last day along the Main. We will miss it as we have enjoyed watching the barges and passenger cruisers go up the river. It is lucky that we haven't been going down stream as we can beat those that are coming up stream but would have no hope at all if we were going the other way. It was particularly interesting to see how families were living on the barges - what an amazing nomadic way of life but the family we were able to observe clearly looked as if they were having a relaxed family time and there was even an outside play area complete with paddling pool for the children.
We like to get started early, around 8, then just poke along and have an early finish. It isn't until around 10 when we are thinking of a coffee stop that we start seeing other cycling tourists in any numbers. Todays coffee stop was in the glorious little town of Karlstadt. There was a big cruiser stopped there too and the passengers were being loaded into buses no doubt to see some near by sights. There seem to be mainly 2 sorts of cycle tourists here. The ones we usually talk to are in pairs or foursomes (most often German) coming for a week's tour, they stay in guest houses and usually are pre-booked. Europeans are so lucky to have such a wonderful resource right on their doorstep. The other sort are the huge groups on an escorted tour, they descend on you like a swarm of bees. They are very lightly laden as they are having their luggage taken from guest house to guest house. Because of their numbers we have spoken to these people less but they seem to be from all over the world.
All along the Main in what would in many countries be waste ares there are the most productive looking gardens often with their owners working away in them. At this time of the year the vegetables look delicious with ripe tomatoes hanging on the vines. Many have flowers too and one was completely devoted to flowers. As we got close to Wurzberg these were replaced by a park with fantastic looking play areas. Crossing over the bridge takes you to the old town. It seems particularly sad to me that in the last few weeks of World War 2 Wurzberg was bombed by allied bombers and it is said that in seven and a half minutes and the resulting fire storm most of the old town was destroyed
Today's ride: 63 km (39 miles)
Total: 587 km (365 miles)
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