A Short Ride in Bonn: Public Book Box and New Logos at Sign Posts of the NRW Bicycle Trails Net

Among international touring bikers, a trip along the river Rhine is well known  as one of the most beautiful cycling experiences in the world:  a wonderful scenery with castles and famous historic places, and of course, my city, the over 2000 year old city of Bonn.


Enough of these words of praise which might as well come from one of the flyers by the local tourist industry. 
But today, a splendid mid October day attracted me more than ever to a quick ride into the Rhine valley, not for a long tour, though.  My purose was to take a couple of no longer needed books to be donated in Bonn-Beuel.  I wanted to put them into a public reading box located there on the banks of the river.

Photo:  This friendly reader I met at the public reading box when I arrived at this fine library of good will and charity.
The idea of the book box  library is this:  You donate a book for the reading pleasure of others, which in turn entitles you to take a book out for yourself.  Citizens in charge of these boxes around Bonn have just had self closing heavy glass doors put to the boxes, thus making them function even better. -  So much to my purpose of riding to Beuel that day.

I had just reached the bicycle lane on the banks of the river near Kennedy bridge, when I saw the following works in operation:  


Two workers from the company "City-Design GmbH Verkehrstechnik Köln" were standing on a ladder putting some new extra emblems to an already existing bicycle lane post with three indicators.

Herr Camp and Herr Issouhabi  were adding new logos to the road signs for cyclists.  They explained to me that all over the state of North Rhine Westphalia the main long distance bicycle trails were being given specific logos so that it would be easier for cyclists to find their ways. 

As can be seen in this picture, Herr Camp explained how each sign post can be located by its identification lable.

This sign post (picture above) of the North Rhine Westphalia  network of biking lanes reads:  "Is the sign post damaged or is it missing? Call toll free (..) Please give the identificationnnumber below when reporting." 

In case you want to check out this network of bicycle lanes in NRW, which is available as yet only in German, as far as I can see, you can go to this site:  Radverkehrsnetz NRW

 

A Tour in Nancy: From Remicourt to Stanislas Square

Life style: Jumping on stilts or riding a folding bike

On a wonderful Sunday in April we went on a bicycle tour
from the youth hostel of Nancy (France) to the ancient town center and to the famous Stanislas Square where people either sit in street cafes  to relax or walk past impressive 18th century buildings like the opera house and the city hall admiring the square`s fancy golden gates in the baroque style.  Many eyes were on the Brompton bike, and then came the question: "Vous-etes content avec ce velo pliable?"  At the end of this post I`ll try to answer that question.  First a few words about the trip.

Youth Hostel
The youth hostel is located west of Nancy in a suburb  called Villers.
It is located in  a small  18th century  castle with a large park  of  old trees.  In the reception office you get free access to the internet on a computer with a French language keyboard -  not  so much fun for people from the anglo-saxon and Germanic computer world.

The trip
Once you have left the park of Remicourt, you enter the road and are guided by a large green mark on the pavement for cyclists to follow.A  city map shows a large network of bicycle paths, and I would surmise that riders of  a  Brompton folding bike will possess sufficient orientation power and a good amount of inspiration to find the path`s continuation at any major  crossing.  The bicycle path down into the valley and into the old city center is certainly a good idea, if its realisation were more to the needs of the average cyclist, for example, if the trail was marked with a number and with one particular colour, you  would be able to appreciate the sights along the road much more.


How easily does it fold?
On the Stanislas square, right next to the opera house and in front of a restaurant`s crowded street cafe, we were approached by a French couple who were also pushing their folding bikes wondering how I was faring with the Brompton and what my experiences were and how easily it would fold.

There is the plastic hook which broke off

French girl dancing her freedom in front of her girl friends one week before getting married

Not a Street Artist
My answer was a quick demonstration on the spot. There was a good crowd of spectators in the street cafe, and I was already in the limelight anyway. Are we not all in the back of our minds street artists or performers when  we may sport our favourite vehicle?  So I went to work. My bike folded quickly, as it should, but after I had hooked the front wheel to the frame bar, it  came off, swivelled back - no way, I could  not get it into place.  Some onlookers seemed to smile generously, others did not  notice my sweat and shame.  The reason for my failure was the plastic hook on the front wheel`s left side wire holding the fender.  Its tip had broken off, probably during the transport in the trunk of my car.  Another case of warranty, I hope.  Obviously not the strongest material.  Do you  remember the comment of a fellow Brompton rider which I reported in one of my recent postings?  "Forget the appliances!"

Embarrassed, but still a fan
And yet, as a true Brompton fan still, I finish this by saying, we had a wonderful ride through the city of Nancy and the folding performance was enjoyable.

 

Gargoyle - called water spewer in German - at one of the golden gates of Stanislas Square

Bicycle Tour Bonn: Crossing the Rheinsteig (2 hours)

View from the Rheinsteig trail over the vinyards of Oberdollendorf down to the river Rhine

Starting at Gielgen-Bonn (bus stop) we take the road to Oberholtorf where archaeologists excavated the founding stones of what was once a large Romanesque church.  At the site, conservationists have set up a bee hive with solitary bees.


Then we ride into the forest where we turn left on the hiking trail "Rheinhöhenweg", past the highest elevation point of the city territory of Bonn and to a car park with a show case where the hikin trails in the Siebengebirge are indicated.


Next we turn right twice, after a short ride one very small and bumpy trail we leave the fores and stop right on the famous "Rheinsteig" trail.  Here we turn left and find a bench to rest a little and to overlook the Rhine valley above Oberdollendorf.


Our view goes over the vinyards and roofs of Oberdollendorf down to the river Rhine where we will arrive at the Niederdollendorf ferry boat after an easy downhill ride through the vineyards and then past timbered houses, the oldest of which date from the 17th century.


Once at the Rhine ferry at Niederdollendorf, we turn into the direction Bonn-Cologne, right on another trail with many spectacular sights.  The trip takes us to Oberkassel, past the restaurant "Rohmühle" and the grand hotel Kameh from where we find our way to the subway and bus  station Ramersdorf.  From here the bus takes us either to Gielgen where we started, or we take the subway, if we want to go to the centre of Bonn. -  Here are some photos of the trip.

The sign reads:  "Historic site, please do not use as playground; please keep dogs on a leash."

The scarce information available of a former church of which no documents are known.

Based on the mural remains,  the exact outline of the former church has been marked with new masonary work.. The slate in the church`s choir covers a children`s tomb.

Conservations have set up this home for wild bees.

On the trail "Rheinhöhenweg" this stone mark`s the highest elevation of  Bonn.

Stone and map along the trail for the biker`s  orientation

This is the small trail connecting with the Rheinsteig.

The trail symbol of the Rheinsteig

Upon entering the Rheinsteig, turn to your left and find this nice place to rest.

Signs at the vinyards.

Entrance gate to the popular wine restaurant Sülz.

In front of the church at Oberdollendorf

A sight in the historic part of the village

Complimentary service:  Use the air pump in front of this shop.

Sight in the old part of Niederdollendorf, shortly before reaching the river Rhine.

Ferry for cars and persons at Niederdollendorf

It reads:  "Get out to the Rhine!  You are now on the adventure trail Rhineway between Bonn and Duisburg.  The trail offers you two times 160 kilometeres of  cycling enjoyment up and down the river. You may start your tour at any point on the trail and define it individually thanks to information boards and trail markers.

One of the many barges on the international waterway Rhine


All photos copyright by g. miklitz 2011