Left the very nice Venzia Hotel with no real idea of how to get back to the Neckar and the bike path, remarkably by following various bike hills downhill we found ourselves on the banks of the Neckar under a Neckar radweg sign.Impressive or fluke!

Cycling again varied from good bitumen tracks to potholed gravel tracks with probably about 12kms on paths adjacent to roads. We enjoyed those shady paths amidst tbe trees as the humidity is back and the temperature is starting to rise again.Scenery wise mainly farmland and industry starting to creep in as we head towards Stuttgart. Morning tea we made the effort of diverting 1.6kms to the town of Nurtingen, We actually thought it would only be half a kilometre before we found a cafe but no it was the full 1.5kms and up a hill aswell.

 

The cafe we stopped at had a Lebanese air and on the way to tne toilets at the back of tne cafe  there was a table with 12 large hashish pipes on them. Perhaps we should have asked to participate might not have noticed the humidity. Nurtingen looked a bit run down and had a few historic buildings mixed in amongst the modern buildings.

Yes we did need to consult our bikeline guide book yesterday when signs disappeared and today again some serious consultation when we went over a very long bridge and ended up on the wrong side of the Neckar and totally disorientated.So maybe you do need it!The german cycling club produce a slimline version which may be adequate.

 

On we cycled stopping for lunch at  the architecturally unusual town of Plochingen where the architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser (he died recently but has transformed many run down buildings) has created a facade and prominent tower (Im not sure about the gold baubles) to an appartment and business building. Other blocks of appartments were covered with green roofs and the bridge was ultra modern curves.From the Neckars point of view this is the end of the navigable canal system and some of the river has been diverted off by locks to be used in industry as cooling water. From my point of view this was a lovely lunch spot just off the Neckar and with fountains in the gardens plus a great menu.

We continued along the Neckar to just before Esslingen where we turned in to find the hotel Id booked. We didnt want the stress of finding accomodation in a busy town again.The hotel is about a 10minute walk into the old town so a great location.Esslingen is also a university town. So I was expecting a similar experience to Tubingen with hordes of students blocking pavements totally unaware of anyone else (normal I know at this age I think Im starting to sound like a grumpy old lady…) and grafitti defaced buildings everywhere. Esslingen is totally stunning and quiet and no grafitti and no students on the streets.

 

The town church St Dionys was built in the 1200s and is protestant and somehow survived not having its glorious paintings and altar getting removed during the reformation. The interrogator who charged Martin Luther with heresy was buried here.The twin towers are held together by a bridge which is looking a little shakey.History buffs could immerse themselves here for days we only had a few hours.

 

The reason we stopped in Esslingen is for easy access to the Daimler-mercedes museum tomorrow so it was a bonus to find such a great town.There are a few good hotels in the old town but all were full up clearly we are in peak season, so lets hope we get some sleep tonight…We have a large room with settee, fridge etc but I think there are quite a few triple rooms which means noise…This hotel is also full so clearly you do need to book in July.

Hotel am Charlottenplatz Does have laundrette if you need to wash everything

Plochinger strasse

Essenlingen