A last day of riding the Rhine - the patter of the rain in the early morning has convinced the less committed to abstain from riding and convinced the more committed that they must ride.
The travellers emerge - they seek respite from their tired eyes through coffee and tea - it is the committed who are rewarded - the weather gods admire their dedication and persistence - the sun is permitted to shine.
Today "everything is possible" says Gottfried - "we shall see" says Gottfried - the travellers cringe - they understand - this means Gottfried has absolutely no idea which paths are open and which paths are closed!
The boat leaves for Koblenz at 1.00pm says Gottfried - only 40 kilometres says Gottfried - you must not be late!
The left side? - nothing to see says Gottfried - just nature he says - the right side? - nice says Gottfried - easy - R6 signs - easy - I will follow! - do not be late!
The Royal Family and their entourage lack the requisite faith in Gottfried - we will take the left side!
Out of Mainz - along commuter bike paths - along the river - through factory site - along the rail corridor - into the countryside - back to the river - through woodlands along smooth paths recovering from the recent visitation of the Rhine - into community garden estates - small personal plots assigned to the local green fingered apartment dwellers - their plots raise vegetables - raise flowers - raise orchard species.
We proceed - perhaps the Rhine has truly retreated - perhaps the paths have been returned to the cyclists!
Onward - along levee bank - past crops of barley - past cherry - past barley - more barley - past wild daisy in competition with wild oat - the riders are greeted by german poppies that use their height and colour to stand apart from their competition in this extensive display of feral flora - this is peaceful! - delightful! - relaxing! -this is why we do it!
Morgen! - a nod of the head - morgen! - the German walkers and cyclists greet the foreign interlopers - into a village - a glockenspiel rings out - Sam search it out - photographs it - we join the locals in coffee and cake! - the Germans do it well!
Onwards - levee bank - crop - crop - poppy - daisy - barley - wheat - cherry - a local waves - points - storks nesting! - eagles soaring! - nothing just nature! - Gottfried you don't understand your clients!
Stop - look at the helicopter distributing dry ice - the German mosquitoes will not be allowed to profit from the misbehavior of the Rhine.
This is easy - we have plenty of time! - on past the helicopter - the Rhine is yet to cede its dominion over its adjacent cycle path - we divert in search of an alternate thoroughfare - a bridge over the freeway - look down - tremble a little - fast cars - fast trucks - no verge - armco railings - feel for those caught on this road's relation on Wednesday - no need to give voice to our thoughts - avoid the freeway at all costs
Onward and onward on the diversion - start to look with concern at watches - the speed of the entourage increases - its chatter decreases - eventually the alternate village is reached - turn onto the village cycle path towards Bingen - maintain a steady pace through crop - through orchard - through vineyard - into Bingen - pause to assess direction - local guidance provided without request - with cheerfulness - with generously.
Patria is boarded with 30 minutes to spare!
Where are the right bankers? - R6 not so easy to follow - diversions to R6a - a little steeper - a little longer - village after village - some of the right bankers wish they had been left bankers - they are relieved to have made the boat before the gang plank disappeared from shore to rest upon the decks of Patria.
Off steams Patria towards the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle at Koblenz - the travellers gather on the upper deck - cameras exhausted, recharged and exhausted again - castle after castle after castle - vineyards on impossible slopes - vineyards on stonewalled terraces that must have exhausted those who through desire or necessity were driven to construct them and to nurture the vines that were planted on them - this is the Rhine - the home of Rhine Riesling - realise these tiny vineyards form part of one of the great wine regions of the world.
Onward - marvel at this amazing waterway - share our transit with small barge - with large barge - with the super barges that are the B doubles of the Rhine - with cruise boat after cruise boat.
Pass Lorreley Rock - no sign of the siren on the face - a little further - there she is cast in bronze - Onward to Koblenz - pass the huge statue on the point - come around into the Moselle.
Patria docks - the travellers frequent the bar - they talk of their day - they talk of their week - stories are told - stories are retold - the stories follow the theories of Darwin - they evolve with each telling - the fittest amongst them survive to be told and retold.
Dinner is served - the chef again delivers faire that would be more at home in a Michelin Restaurant than aboard Patria.
The travellers adjourn to the saloon - Ann sings - she is called for encore and encore - the music is amplified - Knud and Erica dance - applause - others join - the little dance floor is overwhelmed - the strollers along the promenard stop - look - smile! - Andrew! - where are you? - come and dance with me! - Andrew obliges - the crowd or the dance floor part - they dance - their dancing partners applaud.
The dance floor is vacated - people sit - relax- the bartender is occupied and occupied - the music changes - Abba rings out - Bernie and Erika are or the dance floor in an instant - they point their fingers - the sway to the beat- they smile - suddenly the dance floor is filled with females reliving their salad days.
On and on goes the right - a fitting end to ride. 