Day 33 - Thu 2 Jul: Sinsheim to Heidelberg

Estimated km: 36; Actual km: 38; Total km: 1376; Ride time: 2h32m; Av speed: 15.1 kph 

24-35 deg, fine, clear and hot.  

A very steamy night in our room, min of about 24deg, with no fan or aircon. The first night we weren't able to find a hotel with aircon and it turns out to be the hottest, with no breeze.  As Europe gets warmer in summer the hotels need fans, it's just so still and oppressive without them.  The locals say that this period is called "the 10 days of summer".  Lucky for most of us we prefer the heat to the cold, but also enjoy an aircon to sleep when the heat is really on. 

As it was a short day (again!!) today, everyone was able to sleep in.  After a self-catered brekkie of bacon, eggs, fruit and coffee we pedaled away at 9am. The temperature was already up around 25deg, but pleasant just the same as there was a breeze and we were in the shade for most of the first 10km or so.  

We headed North on a well signed, smooth bike path.  We had two options today, NW route then go N to Heidelberg, or straight N then go W.  We decided on the North route as it looked the best for available bike paths and signage. The navigator didn't want to stretch the friendship too far by getting lost or going on busy roads.  It was the nicest ride for a while, the surrounding mountains, the streams, the locals dressing up their houses with flowers, birds singing and perfect crops made for a great scene.  Our first stop was at a bakery at Bammental where the staff and other customers were so friendly.  So much so that everyone wanted to stay put, relax, drink coffee and chat.  But alas we had a schedule to stick to.  Not long afterwards we needed the fuel we had just taken onboard to get up a short and not so sweet climb out of the valley.  The climb was worth it as we found ourselves in a lovely peaceful forest.  The light in these forests is fantastic, just perfect for photography.  

It wasn't long before we were looking for a lunch stop.  A shady spot beside the river 7km out of Heidelberg was perfect to consume our prepared lunch. As we could not check-in until at least 2pm, we had a little nana nap beside the river after eating. We then kept to the river all the way to Heidelberg and then headed off a few kms to our hotel, The Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg. 

As it was so hot most of us found an excuse to stay in our aircon rooms for a couple of hours. We (Greg and Wendy) then walked to the local REWE, via an ice-cream shop for Greg, to purchase dinner.  Greg had smoked salmon and sauerkraut with a nice French red, whilst Wendy had cold tuna/pasta dish with 2 minute chicken noodles, washed down with a South African SSB!!  

It was then bed time in our lovely environmentally controlled room (a cool 20 deg C).


#314 Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg




Early morning Sinsheim

Walking trhough some roadworks


Bakery at our mornos stop

Nice

Mornos stop - Stew, Ali, Kate and Mick

Some art at our mornos stop

BBQ/picnic hut in the forest

A tight squeeze on the forest track

Beside the Neckar River

After lunch LLD beside the Neckar River


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