June 24 - Bicycle from Werbach to Wertheim, Germany

Wednesday
After a fantastic breakfast at the hotel, we decided to ride out and back and leave our bags at the hotel, so we went east along the Main River (because it flows west and we wanted the downhill for the way back when we were tired.) It was a beautiful morning and an easy ride along the river, and it was so much easier riding without our bags that we especially enjoyed this bike ride. We rode 30 miles in less than 4 hours (with quite a few stops.)











We got back to Wertheim, picked up our bags from the hotel, and walked our bikes with the bags to the train station. A German couple was waiting for the train with their bikes. He goes to Denver often representing his company working with HP. He helped Verle purchase tickets because the station isn't open and tickets could only be purchased in the automatic machines. They also helped us get our bikes on and off the train. It was another example of the many people who have helped us along the way.
We arrived in Bad Mergentheim in the early afternoon. We got schedules for taking the train to Elsa's in Switzerland tomorrow and another train schedule for going from Elsa's to our time share in St. Johann-im-Pongau, Austria Sunday. We checked about tickets for the castles at Fussen and decided to consider visiting them after our Austria stay, because we would arrive at Elsa's so late if we try to go tomorrow. We realized that we have been able to do almost everything that we have planned and rejoiced that things have gone so well overall.
While we were at the train station, it started to blow and rain hard. We rode in the rain to Jergen's to leave off our bags and rode our bikes in light rain for the mile back to the rental company. When we got there, Jergen was waiting in his car to drive us home. What a guy he is!! We have never met a kinder host.
After awhile the skies cleared and Verle realized that he had not turned in the key to the bicycle lock, so we walked back to Mott's to give them the key. On the way home, we picked up some food for the evening and the train ride tomorrow at a grocery store.
The semi-finals of Europe's soccer tournament were held this evening. We watched on TV with all of Germany that wasn't in Basal, as Germany defeated Turkey 3-2, with the final goal very near to the end of the game. Shortly afterwards, cars honking their horns and people marching, playing drums, singing, and celebrating filled the streets. We went to sleep to their "music," and were excited with them!