A late summer bike trip

It certainly is beautiful weather today! We are blessed with a very warm and sunny late summer week which has brought me the unexpected opportunity to take the bike for a spin. Closeby is the upper middle rhine valley which is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites and a very enjoyable place to ride a motorcycle.

After I returned from living in the USA many years ago I had the opportunity to travel the scenic route along the river by car and was stunned by the view of so many castles and fortresses. If you grow up in Europe, a medieval fortress is not a strange sight but if you return from other parts of the world, you feel like thrown into another century.

Segment 1: The Wisper valley (Bad Schwalbach to Lorch)

I need to share the secret of my favourite route in the area which has three distinct segments which all three have a different characteristic. It takes off with a long and winding road through a forest along a little river called "Wisper". The road twists and turns for some 30 kilometers and is very popular with local riders (unfortunately). Best opportunity to visit is on a weekday where everyone is off to work.

There are a couple of biker hangouts along the road, none of which I have sampled. To the right and left there are various opportunities to let your feet cool in the water of the little river.


Größere Kartenansicht

Segment 2: Lorch to Lahneck (along the Rhine)

The route hits the Rhine river at a small village called Lorch and from there follows route 42 in northward direction. It leads through several small villages  and provides for a scenic view at the hills to the left and right of the river. At least one stop should be made here in order to get a better view. The number one tourist spot here is usually the Loreley rock but I decided to head for the small village of Kaub as I have already been up the Loreley many times.

Kaub.JPG
The town is small but of a charming simplicity, probably having seen it's best days in the 50s. Behind the village is a hill with a vineyard which can be climbed. Halfway up (carrying the Motorcycle gear and cursing at its weight) I complained that I did not take a camera but then realized that I have the cell phone with me so I took a couple of pictures.


Segment 3: Lahneck to Diez (along the Lahn)

Route 42 is then followed along the river up to the point where the river Lahn meets the Rhine south of Koblenz and then the third segment of the trip is started which first goes to the town of Bad Ems. 

Who has never been there should under all circumstances take the small detour into the city center and stroll along the river, immersing into the crowd of surprisingly diverse visitors. Bad Ems has been host to multiple royal visits of the Russian Tsar and has since retained a beautiful and exotic flair recalling memories of a more elegant and stylish time in the beginning of the previous century.

Bad Ems has multiple natural springs which produce an evil tasting but supposedly healthy water which can be sampled for free in several places.

The trip continues along the Lahn which slowly winds higher and higher up the plateau of the Taunus range. It ends in Diez, close to Limburg, from where the area becomes more industrialized and unattractive.

Although the overall distance is not extreme (100 something kilometers), an entire day should be planned for in order to leave room for small expeditions to attractions along the road or the occasional fresh brewed cappucino in one of the street cafes along the river.