Today we left Arnhem on the new bridge at the iconic location  “the last bridge”after a very peaceful night at the Old Dutch Hotel, well yes we tried to leave Arnhem but the road we were meant to go on was being dug up, more diversions…we did figure it out eventually.Cycling or walking  navigation in Holland is by numbers.This can create quite a few problems if you havent bought all the maps with all the numbers on and are relying on a tiny guide book.with limited numbers in.So we were looking forwards to entering Germany today and navigating to places rather than numbers.

Lunch was late and we rode across the longest suspension bridge in Europe to reach Emmerich for lunch…we ventured into a restaurant by off chance specialising in local favourites.It is now asparagus season so every meal was served with 500gms of asparagus.Yes half a kg of stalks of white asparagus!,When hubby protested he didnt like asparagus he was directed to a dish where asparagus was covered with parmesan ! Huge meal and great not to be presented with all the dutch bread at lunchtime. With very full bellys we managed to get back on our bikes, the local hotel in Emmerich wasnot so tempting as it backed onto a chemical plant belching out fumes. So it was back across the suspension bridge but within 10kms we needed a siesta the large lunch was taking effect

. As we passed a little town called Grieth there was a sign to bed and breakfasts so we turned off, 2 were no longer operating but the 3rd one was just amazing a 13th century castle right next to the Rhein , huge room, huge bathroom…beautiful.Grieth turned out to be a  very historic town so nice to stroll around and stretch out the legs.

So before i chill in the bath update on the knees. My knees were so bad because we had moved my saddle back but hadnt tightened it up fully so my saddle was then pointing to the right and had sunk right down..a challenge to anyones knees, no wonder my knees had suffered oops.

The wind…….no wind today fantastic  and road surfaces so far 100% on the dutch gravelly,pot holed tracks but I may be speaking too soon.

254kms cycled, still a long way to Bodensee.

Haus Grieth, Grieth  b&b 100 euros per couple

Www.haus-grieth.de

028249763557

Room Views of Rhine, fridge,kettle,tv in room free wifi, huge bathroom with bath and shower

Best accomodation so far……and even better although a castle no glassy eyes staring out from stuffed wild animals….just a few swords in the hall way and armour…