Oct 14, 2011

We had a quiet but spectacular morning on board and once the fog cleared we enjoyed gliding through the Rhine Valley looking at many different castle ruins but many more intact along with picturesque villages and countless vineyards chiselled into the sides of the valley up incredibly steep valley walls. So many picture postcard views especially with the changing autumnal tones of the foliage. Very beautiful. We have also continued to be amazed at the huge number of commercial freight barges and the sheer volume of what they carry including gravel and coal, gas, oil and heaps of other stuff covered so we couldn’t see it as well as huge numbers of containers, not to mention the freight trains which run each side of the Rhine every 4 – 5 minutes apart. We have seen bulk liquid and gas tanks, cars, flatbed trailers both full and empty, containers of all sizes and construction. Also saw a police boat stop and board one barge so interesting!



The first view along the Rhine this morning before the fog set in heavily (you can see a steeple in the background already shrouded in fog)



An idea of how large the castle is on top of the ridge is gained when you realise how large the buildings on the shore are



An example of both ancient castle (this one abandoned) and terraced hillside vineyards



Riverside village view with autumn tones in foliage and vines



The music museum at Rudesheim (started in 1969) and housed in this building dating from the 13th century. The museum was incredible and also entertaining which I hadn't expected



Rudesheim town square which we found on our trek back to the river

Bits and Bobs:



Norm at the Emergency Drill. Note the lock gate behind him. We didnt use the lock to lift us here and it was only the second we went through on the first day out. We will be entering the land of many locks tomorrow....so no one allowed on the sundeck then.