We purposely have the shortest ride of our trip today. Both Bonn and Cologne are worth spending some time in so we don’t want to shortchange either by riding on through. Cologne is an amazing city. The cathedral is immense. It’s the tallest twin-spired church in the world and the third tallest church of any kind in the world. Total miles to date 529.8.
The chocolate museum is about more than just the free samples. We learn what it takes to get from cocoa bean to chocolate and it is staggering. We’ll never take another chocolate chip for granted ever again!
Cologne is a surprise. It is swarming with people shopping, eating, drinking, walking, cycling, and sightseeing.Cologne, which in German is Köln, is the original home of the Kölsch style of beer. We do a walking tour of three breweries and learn a fascinating amount about Kölsch culture. We are heading to Düsseldorf next and we learn that there is an ancient beer rivalry between Köln and Düsseldorf, which is where Alt-Bier originated.
Day 2: Cologne to Düsseldorf, 34.5 miles
With good weather and little wind, we have an easy ride today. It’s hard to believe we only have six more days of riding left. Total MTD 564.3.
We’re finally getting better about hitting the sidewalk cafes during coffee time, which is great for people watching. It has been pointed out to us that it’s a good thing we’re getting exercise on this trip because most of our pix involve eating or drinking. This is most definitely true. We find that brewery tours not only give you a chance to taste what the locals are drinking but you learn a lot of fascinating city history. In this case, we’re delving deeper into the beer rivalry between Köln and Düsseldorf by doing an Alt-Bier walking tour.Düsseldorf is apparently a popular spot for partying so this public toilet serves an important purpose.
Day 2: Düsseldorf to Wesel, 49.3 miles
We have a bit of a tougher ride today. On the way there are several detours that add on about five more miles than we are expecting. Wesel is our last stop in Germany. Next is The Netherlands. Total MTD 613.6.
On much of this trip we’ve seen fields and fields of poppies. Apparently, late spring is the perfect time to see them in bloom.
Tougher days on the road make us appreciate the many hotel breakfasts we have along the way that keep us fueled. In Germany, our hotels generally have a well-stocked assortment of food and drink. They also have plenty of coffee options.
Krause Travels 
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