The best ride ever. We had breakfast and departed on time. For the first time, we were able to join the route without any hick ups. The journey from Anderlach to Bonn was the best ever ride. It was along the river and the cycling path was excellent. It drizzled throughout the passage.

The first stage - as the gorge widens, the Rhine continues through a narrow valley, with mountains never far away. This area has been subject to volcanic activity in the past, as can be seen at an active geyser close to Andernach. This stage of the route follows cycle tracks, usually close to the river.

The second stage (from Remagen) - continuing along the west bank, this flat stage follows the river past Bonn, former capital of West Germany. Between Bonn and Köln, although the landscape is basically industrial with a number of large chemical works, there is plenty of open counties. Entry to Cologne is along old quays that have been modernised to form attractive new offices, shops and apartments. The terrain is mostly flat.

Andernach city centre is surrounded by the remnants of medieval city walls, with a number of restored towers and gates. In Namedyer Werth, 1.5km downstream from Andernach but reached by boat from a visitor center on the riverside promenade, is the world’s highest cold-water geyser.

From Andernach, we headed towards Neuwied then to Bad Breisig crossing the river. It was along the Rhine River and it was beautiful. Then we continued to Remagen passing the Ludendorff bridge. We understand that the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen (built 1916) was the only Rhine bridge captured intact by advancing Allied forces in March 1945. Attempts to demolish it by German sappers failed and four officers were subsequently court-martialled and shot. However, the bridge had been weakened, and 10 days later it collapsed suddenly, killing 28 American army engineers. During this period a substantial bridgehead was established on the east bank and pontoons across the river enabled the Allied advance to continue despite the bridge’s collapse. Bridge towers remain on both banks, the one on the west bank containing a peace museum and memorial.

Then we headed to Bonn. At Bonn, we visited Beethoven’s house. Beethoven's house is located at 20 Bonngasse street, which is one of the best-known monuments in Bonn. It hosts the largest selection of Beethoven archives, and became an institute for scientific research in 1927, on the hundredth anniversary of the death of the famous composer of the "Ninth Symphony", born in December 1770 in this three-story house. These archives are a central repository of documents on the life of Beethoven, his work, and his intellectual circle. Soon after, we departed Bonn at 3.30 pm. All of a sudden Yoges’s bike rear tire became flat. We spent almost 1.5 hours getting the tyre repaired. Fortunately, this time a young angel was keen to assist us with the repair and his father came along to assist with us an air pump. As it was getting late, we skipped Bhrul and proceeded to Cologne, and arrived about 8 pm. The last 3 km was through a small forest. Our Airbnb host suggested that we try a local German meal and Weisen bier, Pork knuckle, and Veal. The German meals are huge portions.