Day 10 - Tue 9 Jun: Schweinfurt to Bamberg

June 08, 2015

Estimated km: 65; Actual km: 62; Total km: 392; Ride time: 3h30m; Start time: 8am; End time: 1pm; Av speed: 17.7 kph

14-18 deg C (felt like 12 due to the wind), cloudy and windy but fine.

A feast for brekkie this morning at our rather nice 4* hotel right in the city started a great day. We rode away at 8am, through cobbled lanes/streets and it wasn't long before we were back on the Main River. Apart from the occasional reprieve, the headwind was cool and relentless. So, in no time at all we were looking for our caffeine fix (except Mick who is drug-free) for mornos. And we found it at Hassfurt; a great bakery/deli/coffee shop that met everyone's needs and tastes.

We rode though several medieval villages today with picture perfect half wooden houses and more flower boxes than the Chelsea Flower Show. Zeal am Main, Sand am Main and Eltmann warranted a look, even if it was only a ride-by. It is estimated that Cycle Tourism is worth 240 billion Euros a year to Europe and judging by the number of tourers we saw today, that might be a conservative estimate.

It was such a great ride today and to top it off the hotel (Hotel am Dom) at Bamberg had real coffee, cakes, choccies and donuts waiting for us in the foyer. The donuts (coated even) were courtesy of the receptionist (owner?) who had brought them in for her staff on account of it being her birthday. How nice of her to share. (The Germans are really nice people; of course you get the odd ratbag in any country.) Now we wouldn't normally partake of such fare but we did, just to be polite, of course! As we were very early (1pm arrival) our rooms weren't ready immediately, so another excuse to indulge; to kill a bit of time, as if we needed one? Two rooms were available after a short wait (Ali and Stew and Y+G) so together with Mick and Kate, we waited for our rooms. Kate, unbeknownst to Wendy, had asked that the next available room be given to us. So after a short while, we were given our room. M&K had to wait, again, for another 30 mins before their room was ready (thank you M&K for your generosity).

After a shower and change we hit the streets of Bamberg. It is a World Heritage City, so needless to say it pretty stunning, with its 11-17th Century houses, shops, bridges and public buildings. First stop was the Cathedral of St Peter and St George a massive structure overlooking the city. The burial place for a whole raft of saints, bishops and other hangers-on. We only got to see the "church" bits, what went on below decks would have been much more interesting.

"Little Venice" is a row of medieval houses (right on the canal) which are dressed up with flowers and appropriate exterior colours to look pretty. The other sights are too numerous to mention. The Bamberg Rathaus (Town Hall) had an interesting feature; part of the art work is a leg sticking out of the wall to simulate a 3D effect.

Unfortunately (ha ha) we just happened to walk past an ice-cream shop and not everyone was strong enough to keep walking. Gunther then took us to a famous pub which served smoked black beer. They (Gunther and Yvonne) had visited this pub on a previous trip, and we tried the local brew, straight from an oak keg. Flavorsome is a word that springs to mind; tasted kind of like salami. Around about this time, especially after the beer, most of us were hanging out for a nap so it was back to our rooms to catch some z's.

Dinner was at the Smoked-Black-Beer-Pub, traditional German food, sauerkraut, bratwurst, boiled pork-belly, and roast pork shoulder etc, all very yummo!! No one had any more smoked black beer; one per day is plenty; wine was taken with dinner. A short wander, and another ice-cream, dessert for some, capped off a very satisfying and enjoyable day.

Gute nacht.