Mosel or Moselle?

Mon 21^st

Back into Germany to the Mosel. We drove to Trier and found the very large stellplatz by the river. Unfortunately it was also by  2 very busy roads! Weather was a bit damp so we walked into the town to see it’s famous buildings and fountain. Following Lillian’s directions we also found a street full of sex shops!!! Lots of them. Moving on……….. the town was much bigger than we expected with lots of new shops and buildings alongside the historical ones. The Porta Nigra  was very impressive as was the central market square. The fountain of St. Peter was very ornate and pristine.

fountain of st Peter

Porta Nigra - Roman

Tues 22^nd

We moved along the Mosel to Minheim and one of the Top Platz sites. It was right on the river and well laid out but again had a road right behind it that proved full of commuter traffic from 6am. We cycled into nearby Piersport and stopped at a lovely café for a beer.

our pitches with river views

passing traffic

Weds 23^rd

Cycle ride again into Bernkastel Kues for the obligatory café und kuchen – yummy! It was very hot and sunny so we returned on the other river bank. We passed a nice shady stellplatz in Wintrich and decided to move here. The girls stayed to keep our spots whilist Chris and myself cycled back to return with the vans. Lots of trees, free wifi and much less traffic noise. Sorted. We spent the afternoon relaxing and updating our blogs in the shade.

Thurs 24^th

I cycled high above Piersport in the morning on my road bike. Short steep climb than return via the panoramic strasse. Lovely views and well worth the effort. 

short but steep!

Piersport below

We then moved to nearby Neumagen and the yacht marina. Bit cramped on our pitches but we had an appointment that evening at Gerd Siebert’s (local wine producer and father of a pharmacist who happens to be a colleague of Tina’s!)  

What a great evening. We were very warmly greeted and spent 3 ½ hours sampling many bottles of his fine mosel wines.  We got back to the vans at 10.30pm to grab a quick bite to eat – then had a very good night’s sleep!

Friday 25^th

We returned as arranged to meet Gerd  to buy some wine. We were treated to a tour of the cellars and to learn about how the wine is produced. Neumagen is the oldest wine producing town on the Mosel and is steeped in history. Gerd was very patient and answered our many questions. He will also deliver 21 bottles to the UK for €16 p&p – bargain.

guided tour from Gerd

recovering........

Our next stop was on a huge stellplatz in Enkirch. It is a big, open grassy place right on the river with the biggest collection of monster motorhomes we have seen yet. But we also noticed that quite a few of the owners were also, ahem, on the large side. Note to selves – do not buy a  bigger van.

Sat 26^th

We woke up to a mist filled valley which looked very moody. Our destination was Vianden in Luxembourg a small town packed full of medieval buildings and a beautiful Chateau high above the river. 

Chateau in the background

by the river again

The roads we chose were very twisty and beautifully surfaced – perfect for our motorbikes (again). We arrived in Vianden down a very narrow road and headed for a campsite by the river. Rejected – too busy, small cramped pitches and staff who didn’t have a clue which ones were free. The next one close by was much better with large grassy pitches right by the river. Chris really confused the lady in the office when she short changed him by an euro. Her possible dementia probably didn’t help her do the simple maths to rectify this! I explained the calculation on my phone which seemed to make her even more confused…………