Rüdesheim to Mainz

Today's ride took us back to our starting point in Mainz.  Mostly easy riding on cycle paths alongside the Rhine, with a couple of detours around construction that put us along town streets.  In Schierstein we stopped for a bit by a boat harbor; just sat a on a park bench and watched the world go by.

We crossed the bridge back to Mainz about 1:30, and then had a fairly straight shot up city streets to our hotel.  32 km for the day.

We retrieved our backpacks (which arrived about a week after we started biking, and had been sitting in the hotel ever since), took a quick shower, and then got to work disassembling and packing the bike and gear.  Finished in an hour and half, which I think is a new record time.  Rather than drag the two heavy suitcases around for the non-cycling remainder of our trip, we've arranged for them to be picked up at the hotel and shipped home.

Some fellow cycle tourers from Switzerland, who we had seen that morning at our hotel in Rudesheim, arrived while we were working on the bike to bring their own bikes into the cycle room.  They were fascinated to see the tandem fitting into two suitcases: one of them chased after his wife and another friend to bring them back to see it.

After packing the bike I needed another shower (it's hot and dirty work), then off into Mainz for a couple of errands and dinner.