Rüdesheim am Rhein

The view from our car on the ferry.

We keep driving towards the destination Bingen. Then we see a nice town over the Rhine river, and head for there instead. We would have stopped at other places, but it's hard to read the tourist signs in German at 130km/h. Had Chinese for dinner, pretty terrible. The camping ground is superb! Thick mown grass (we're used to dirt in France), and blue skies. The toilet block which is nicer than 95% of the hotels I've ever stayed in. At the top of the stairs on the way in, there is a little fountain. Inside there's 3 colours of paint, and it's always immaculate. Not sure how it's possible.

Kids playground entry right behind in the shot

We are the only car in the place with French plates. No-one is saying hello to us much. Is there something about us, or is this normal? One Dutchie from Rotterdam thinks French are so arrogant; they think they have the best food, best language, etc.

The oldies soak up the sun, moving their chairs around while the shadows move. We stay in the shade, stuff that. We went to the pool just up the road. It has 2 slides in the kids pool. In the big pool, there's a slide you can swing into for more speed, a whirl pool, various spouts to get a massage and diving boards. The best day ever, followed by more time in the playground, 5m from our tent.

Main street.

I went over to take some snaps of the mini-caravan, towed by a Smart car, shaped like a tear drop. The owner, Rina, is too happy to show us the amazing little kitchen in the back, with cabinets, a dishwasher, fridge, and it has solar panels on top. We stay for a beer while the boys play. We can't see them, but Louis's laughter is loud. They made a friend from Scotland and ask if they can visit, no probs. After Rina, and then Frank who arrives after an 800km trip to get some Smart parts (that's her business), we sit down with Yvonne and Christian. She's Scottish and the two live up there. He's from this area, missed the place and would like to come back. She's a tour guide, and wants independence for Scotland. Apparently it was 20-22 in Scotland, the first time they've ever had a real summer. They're loving the heat, shame about all the weird weather though. They had a tour bus in 30 degree heat in Ireland, and didn't know what to do. The bus had no a/c. They'd never needed it before. They thought about smashing out a window even. In Rudesheim, it never used to rain here in summer, but now it's raining at odd times all the time. Global warming is happening now.

Average homes in town.

This morning the boys are off to play with their Scots mate. Ollie has the Uno cards in the sandpit. The Belgians next door won't say hello. Is it because of our French plates? Eventually they hear enough english that they pop over and ask, so where are you guys from? We don't find out what they're thinking, as they speak Flemish, like German with a weird accent.

The grass cutting man pushes the industrial mower around with a bottle of either coke or fanta. He swigs all day but is still skinny, amazing. It's rained a bit. The tourist office says that it never rains for long. If it goes for more than 2 hours, they push the clouds off to France. More negativity for the Frogs? Poor Froggies.

Scotland vs Australia.

We're surrounded by 90% caravans. Pretty much everyone has a bike packed on. The park has a gate leading straight onto the bike path that rolls along the river. It's lined with trees and is a dream in any season. It's 100% away from the cars, shady, and sealed all the way to Mainz. The Rhine river route rolls right across Europe. What a nice place to stay.

Went to the pool for the second time. Even going with the kids in the kiddies pool is fun. Another thunder storm at 16.00 had everyone ordered out of the pool. Left, had a shower to warm up and got cold again on the way to the tent. The temperature keeps going from 15 to 30 and back again. not sure which I prefer. I have a total of one long sleeved top, so it is going to stink for sure. The boys do school puzzle books in the tent while waiting out the rain. The fly is criss crossed with lines and holes but mostly waterproof.

On holidays with 2 Bullitts, 2 kids, 2 trailers, 1 tent.

Spoke to the couple touring with 2 Bullitt cargo bikes, 2 trailers and 2 kids. They're living the dream. Living in Frankfurt they're doing about 150km along the Rhine river, about 30km per day. The biking is good as you can talk to the kids as you go. They get to see everything as well. They've now done 2 camping trips by bike, and all works fine. Turns out you can go on holidays without a car, provided you are in a country that solves problems. CO2 screwing the climate? Simply switch the whole country to renewable energy. Screw the expense; there is a problem to fix. Super. They want to go to Croatia next, but I have to tell them that it's not the best cycling. I can't remember there being any paths at all, and the drivers don't care much.

All our stuff fits in the car -  a miracle! Time to be regular tourists again. Oh well that is still syupa fun.