Along the Mosel valley

As we have visited the Rhine and seen some of that in its splendour we felt it necessary to do the same with the Mosel valley as we are camped between the two rivers. After a fairly lazy start to the day and after a rainy night we decided to drive the route this time as we are not really wet weather cyclists. Also there is not a circular route to this area so it would have been both arduous and possibly a wet ride - so we chickened out and went by car.

We first saw the Mosel when we turned a corner from the wooded road and screeched to a halt to capture the beautiful view before us - see the picture. Then we descended the valley to enter Cochem which was an absolute delight. Although touristy it maintained its charm and character - the beer kellers start now according to Steve.

After a roam around Cochem and the customary beer at a riverside cafe we did some shopping and sightseeing and were both impressed by the lovely narrow streets, squares and well maintained timberframed buildings of a bygone era. Afterwards we sat in a riverside park and ate a packed lunch before moving on to drive further along the Mosel. Town after town, village after village full of wine tasting opportunities - vines as far as the eye could see alongside the banks of the river. Wonderful valleys and castles appearing on hilltops, cobbled streets in Zell and meandering roads with a view to die for around every corner.

After a headspinning tour of the Mosel we returned to the caravan and Steve attended to some odd jobs while I did the laundry - life does go on even on holiday. The weather had brightened up again after a dodgy start and the early evening turned into an al fresco apperitif session.

Although this camp site is beautiful the short term residents keep themselves to themselves and only say hello in passing (in whatever language). After our last campsite where everyone was so friendly and got involved this one seemed rather distant to say the least. Our immediate neighbours were difficult to locate and we wondered if there was any life there at all. This evening though we saw both husband and wife return from an outing and we can catagorically state that Vera Duckworth is alive and living in Pfalzfelt (at the moment at least). We of course did not interrupt her privacy or ask for an autograph - but we know where she is!!

Tomorrow we are on the road again to our next caravan site - still in Germany but travelling many miles away from where we are now.