Ludinghausen

Travelled: 318km

Visited: Ludinghausen

Stay: Oedt -free dedicated Motorhome parking area near town and park. 51.32327 6.37655

The day started with heavy rain and so we thought it would be a good driving day.  After stopping to do a quick shop in Lidl we stopped to have a look at some Hymer Motorhomes, but it was too wet. We then travelled in a south-westerly direction and made our way to Ludinghausen, in the North Rhine-Westphalia area to see Burg Vischering. This is one of the oldest and best-preserved castles in Munsterland. It is still privately owned but leased to the council who usually has it opened with art exhibits. Unfortunately it was closed for renovation. 

We didn't waste our journey and enjoyed a local delicacy! 

We then had a look at the Ludinghausen castle which is now used as a community school. 

We then travelled on autobahns to our next destination. On our journey we crisscrossed many canals, went over the Rhine and bypassed the heavy industrial areas of Essen and Duisburg. We only have a few more days left and 450km to Bluey's resting place, so we can slow the pace down a little..

Rees (Germany), Arnhem (Holland)

Travelled : 118km
Stay: Holland-Vianen Stellplatz- free parking, no service point. N51.99815 E5.09036
Visited : Rees (Germany), Arnhem (Holland)

As our walk around Rees last night was cut short due to dinner and then it being too cold, we decided to finish what we started and wnt another stroll seeking out more statues.  

After we felt we had seen them all we returned to Bluey and did a bit of cleaning before hitting the road to Holland.  Our destination was Arnhem. 

We parked in the designated motorhome spot on the river's edge and went to have a quick look at the John Frost Bridge named after a commander in the WWII battle the 1944 Market Garden Airbourne Operation. The town was nearly completely destroyed which was reflected in all the modern buildings. The main square was also under renovation.

 As it was still early in the day we decided to keep going towards Amsterdam but stopped 50km short just near Utrecht in Vianen on one of the canals. Unfortunately on the way we were lucky enough to get a nasty chip on our windscreen!  Never a dull moment.

Remagen, Wesel, Rees Germany

Travelled : 188km
Stay: Rees- Stellplatz €8/24hrs incl services N51.76422 E6.38885
Visit:Remagen Bridge, Wesel on the Rhine

It was just a short drive to the famous remains of the railway bridge in Remagen. It was built during the first world war in order to supply troops on the Western Front. In WWII it was the last bridge standing over the Rhine as all others had been successfully destroyed by the retreating Germans. This enabled the American army to use the bridge to continue their advanced attacks. Hitler was furious and sentenced the 5 officers to death believing it was treason. Unfortunately 10 days later the bridge did suddenly collapse, killing 30 American soldiers. The bridge was immortalised in an American movie made in 1968. 

After our visit to the museum in the remaining stone towers we took the motorway past Cologne and Dusseldorf. Our next stop was on the Rhine at Wesel. There is a Stellplatz here for an overnight stay but we just parked in the free day area and had some lunch waiting for the downpour to subside. We then ventured to the river to watch some very big barges from the remains of another bridge tower.

 As the rain had not eased we thought we may as well drive further down river to a Stellplatz in Rees. 

When the sun came out we set off the explore the old quarter and walked along the old defensive walls that were still standing on the river side. 

On our travels we saw a few of the 60 scuptures that are scattered throughout the town depicting their way of life. 

We then had dinner in a nice a restaurant on the waters edge. There was no English menu here, Mark had his favourite - schnitzel and I had to make a quick decision of a chicken dish! Not bad.

St.Goar, Koblenz

Travelled : 95km
Stay: Bad Bodendorf- Stellplatz €6/24hrs, € water & electricity,  with dump point 500m over the river. N50.54990 E7.21741
Visited: St.Goar,  Koblenz

With the rain spatering on our windscreen we set off down river to St.Goar.

Pfalz castle it's in on island. Used to collect tolls by stretching a chain across the river.

The worlds largest free hanging handcrafted cuckoo clock !

The company who made this bear was the maker of the first brown bear.

  Having visited 2 years ago we only stopped briefly and then continued on to Koblenz.  

Cruise boat on the Rhine

The famous vineyards on the Rhine.

Marksburg Castle.

We parked in a free stop about 2km from the centre of town (N50.36569 E7.57383). We got the bikes off for the first time and road along the Mosel into town to the Duetsches Eck - the 'German corner'. This is where the Mosel flows into the Rhine and there is an enormous equestrian statue of Emperor Wihlem I. 

We walked along the Rhine and then towards the old quarter. The streets were full of people from the cruise boats and bus tours. 

A very different fountain where the spitting boy can catch you unawares!

Another fountain depicting the towns history.

An interesting statue.

We made our way to have a look at the Liebfrauenkirche. 

Then it was to the funny face under the clock at Florinsmarket whose eyes move to the seconds and pokes it's tongue out on the half hour. 

We also took photos of the famous street corner, Am Plan, with the ornate facades on its 17th century buildings. 

We then passed the once fortified residence of the Alte Burg on our way back to the bikes.

 We weren't in the mood to sit out the rest of the afternoon,  so we got Bluey fired up and continued northwards, having  a look at a couple of possible overnight stops on the way before ending up here in Bad Bodendorf near the thermal baths and sporting complexes.  We went for a stroll into the village which did have a few lovely half timbered houses, before cooking dinner.