Landhaus Beckmann (near Kalkar) to Orsoy

We started out in rolling hills near Kalkar, at the Landhaus Beckmann hotel where we'd stayed last night, reached the Rhine near Vynen, and followed it southish to the small town of Orsoy on the bank of the river.

Germany has such a wonderful network of well-signed cycle routes that it's easy to stay off roads almost all the time.  We picked up one route just outside our hotel and followed it a few km through farms to the village of Marienbaum.  There we found another path along a former rail line, but we quickly turned off that one to take another rural path to the Rhine.

First view of the Rhine! (since Koblenz)

The Rhine route stays reasonably close to the river: sometimes on the high banks overlooking the water, sometimes through farmland just inland and sometimes passing through small towns nearby.  Because this is a Sunday there were many others out enjoying the paths.

We stopped in the early afternoon for a snack in the quiet town of Rheinberg, lost the route for a while and had to do a little backtracking, and rolled into Orsoy mid-afternoon.  54 km for the day.

We didn't have any expectations for our destination other than it being the right distance for today, but we were pleasantly surprised to find a charming village.  There's a path following the old town wall all the way around, part of which faces the river and is full of well-used benches.  Also a large power plant just across the river.

One of the Caminos de Santiago (a branch of the Jacobsweg) passes through here.

This tower along the old town wall dates from the 1500s.  It's now part of a fire station.

The main street through town.

If this is the tag line for the premium dog food, I can't imagine what the off-brand stuff tastes like.  Juno: avert your eyes.