Page 18 - Shining On Newsletter - Autumn 2022

We carried on the twisty theme of our 2 weekend rides by taking
the B48 from Hauenstein towards Bad Kreuznach over the hills
and through the forests in fine, dry weather on almost empty
roads. A couple of hours later just as we approached the ferry
at Bingen to cross the Rhine to Rüdesheim we ran into a few
heavy showers and the rain falling on sun baked road surfaces
made for tricky riding in places, but our spirits weren’t
dampened and we were soon settled into a riverside cafe
tucking into schnitzel and salads for lunch.

After checking into our hotel and changing into civvy gear we
were ready to explore the delights of Rüdesheim. Fortunately
we had arrived at the beginning of the wine festival week and
although the fest wasn’t yet in full swing we did enjoy a little
wine tasting at the stand of a local winemaker in the town
square. But it was cold beer that we were really gasping for and
the speciality at our next stop was a half litre of pils served in a
glass boot - a challenge a bit like a yard of ale at home and one
that we all passed.

For dinner that evening we had booked at the
Rudesheimer Schloss, one of several large wine
restaurants on the world-famous Drosselgasse
(thrush alley!). After a sharing starter platter of
German tapas Peter and Alan shared the house
speciality - a whole roasted duck stuffed with dates
and figs brought to the table and served shredded
off the bone. We also quaffed a bottle of the
owner’s Riesling and then a local red wine,
followed by the inevitable Rudesheimer Kaffee - a
coffee made with the local Asbach brandy and
topped with whipped cream. Then, suddenly, it
was bedtime.

On Tuesday we decided to give the bikes a rest
and instead to be good tourists around the Rheingau. We started with a ride on the cable car that swings
gently above some of Rüdesheim’s most favoured vineyards and transported us up to the hill above the
town where the huge bronze statue of Germania stands on top of the impressive monument which marks
the unification of the German states
in 1871 - the Niederwald Denkmal.
A pleasant amble through the forest
brought us to a welcome cool beer
at the Jagdschloss (hunting lodge)
before descending by ski lift into
Assmannshausen, home of
Rheingau red wine, for a light lunch
and the stopping off point for our
Rhine River cruise back to
Rüdesheim. However, the unusually
low water levels in the river meant
that the schedules for cruise boats
were interrupted and we decided to make the return journey by taxi. Dinner that evening was at a local
weinstube serving traditional Hessen dishes and drinks.

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