To Marktheidenfeld

May 13, 2025

Moving up river

Today our breakfast was organized in the restaurant of the hotel where we were staying. Our host welcomed us and a plate with our name written on it directed us to a reserved table. Breakfast was a typical buffet style with lots of good choices including scramble eggs, sausages as well as muesli, yogurt and fruit. Easy, simple, quick and we were on our way by ten o`clock again today. We have been blessed with great riding weather and it is a good time of the day to start as the temperature is warming up and we will reach our destination by 3 pm. Our destination today is almost 60 kilometres upstream to Marktheidenfeld. We did learn its correct pronunciation: "Markt Hiesfeld" is as close as we could get.

Loading up for another beautiful day. Walls come in so handy.

Picking out something for a picnic lunch at a local bakery before leaving town. We are finding that there are a number of good sandwich choices.

Our ride today was similar to the last couple of days as we continued to follow the Main River designated cycle route. It is a well organized, longer distance cycle route that primarily follows the river. It is really quite beautiful this time of year with lots of interesting sights along the way. There are also a number of information boards along the way but unfortunately they are almost always written in German, so we often just look at the maps and pictures.

The valley narrows and the steep hillsides are terraced in some places but the hills are often left to natural vegetation.

Pat reading one the information signs. This picture provides a example of the terrain and our common views. Quite idyllic.

We passed this industrial complex that we thought was mining sand but there was no information here.

Some small towns are also part of the route. This photo was looking at Freudenberg from a bridge crossing.

We are seeing a number of cycle tourers on the route. A group of men on bikes took over this stop for their coffee break.

The men`s group soon caught up and easily passed us. We seem to be a bit slow as many of the riders zoom by. Of course they are on ebikes - or at least that is our excuse.

Our coffee stop was a restaurant behind this flag mast. We see a number of these installations at key marine stops along the river. We are guessing that once upon a time they would have provided necessary information to the barge captains travelling the river.

My contribution to the bird catalog but will leave it to the much more experienced in this subject matter to properly identify.

Barges tied to the shore lines in strategic places are a common sight.

Henneburg Castle lies on a hill on the right bank of the Main River in the town of Stadtprozelten. It was built as a border fortification around 1200 and was deserted in the 16th century and fell into disrepair over time. It was far too high up the hill for our inspection.

Our path with willow trees beside the river. Everything is very green.

Our lunch spot at one of the many rest benches along the trail.

Yet to be identified old castle. Always something to look at.

Many small power stations on the Main with locks for the water vessels to pass by.

That bike lanes in Germany are very well separated from motor vehicles is an understatement!

After a short stop at at a beer garden just before reaching Marktheindenfeld we found our lodging for the night right beside the river. We showered and explored the town seeking out a restaurant for dinner. We found a great place with tables outside where Scott enjoyed a wonderful fried fish and Mediterranean vegetable plate and Pat had the linguine. It was an easy walk back down the hill to our hotel and we called it a fairly early night.

The traditional end of the day beer at a traditional beer garden in Marktheidenfeld.

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Today's ride: 58 km (36 miles)
Total: 187 km (116 miles)

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