FRIDAY, 25th AUGUST : SULZFELD to WIPFELD

After last night's rain, we were a little apprehensive about the weather this morning, so dug out the raincoats to put on the top of bags, just in case.  We were spoilt for choices at breakfast, there was a wide selection of cereals, breads, eggs, cold meats, cheeses, fruit, yoghurts etc. on offer so there was no way we would leave feeling hungry.

We left Sulzfeld at 8.30a.m.

 and stopped at a nearby Norma supermarket to buy some mints, not liking the look of the sky

 

and on arriving in Kitzingen 20 minutes later, felt the first drops

but opted not to stop as we'd been there before and thought we'd go as far as we could before the rain became serious, not stopping at the first bridge

 but were forced to at the second, with now heavy rain, thunder and lightning

 

and a wave from the bargee

Only a few minutes after we arrived, we were joined by a couple from near Frankfurt, riding in the opposite direction and seeking shelter from the weather.  We must have chatted for an hour or more, a very pleasant way to wait out the rain, which eventually eased sufficiently for us to continue on our respective journeys.  

 

We stopped briefly at Mainslockheim to take a nostalgic look and a photo of the little ferry crossing the river to Albertshofen, where we spent a couple of nights in 2013, with Boris our motorhome.  It was extremely hot at that time, we went swimming in the river and were amused by 4 young men twho sat at a folding table in the water, played cards and drank beer....what a way to keep cool!

From there we rode past vineyards to Dettelbach

found a cafe and had a slice of plum tart and a jam doughnut washed down with good coffee

These luscious cakes appeared in the cabinet after we'd sat down and ordered - too late!

We'd decided to cross the river again by little ferry but the ferry man was on a lunch break, which entailed an hour's wait so of two options (waiting the hour or taking another path) we chose the ferry, 

and found a lovely little garden to sit in to while away the time.  

The ferry was right on time and we were on our way again.  The path took us away from the river 

      and led us past this house - the old and the new -

a field of geese

The Benedictine Monastery at Schwarzach

     back to and across the river again

These goats come rushing up to the fence when we appeared and were very vocal, seemingly telling us off!

Just after riding through lovely Sommerach we passed vineyards galore

with black grapes and white grapes

Between Sommerach and Nordheim we were surrounded by grape vines as far as the eye could see, so although we lost sight of the river for a time, it was still a lovely ride.  Because the river winds so much, we completely lost our bearings and it felt as if we were going in the wrong direction

but by following the bicycle signs and the green arrow signs we managed to find our way

to lovely Volkach where we stopped for cold drinks and a stroll around

before riding along the river to take another ferry ride across

followed by a ride to Wipfeld, our overnight stop.

It was a long day, made longer by our taking the ferry and longer route from Dettelbach rather than the shorter, crosss country route, but it was a good day.  

The view from our room

Intending to have a meal in our hotel's beer garden, when we went down stairs a little after 6p.m. it was closed!  Looking for another option, we walked through the small, hilly town, not finding anything until we were back at the hotel and there, staring us in the face from across the road, was the Anker Stube so we were saved from starvation!!  It must have been the tiredness affecting our sight and senses.  (That's my excuse).