Cochem – You are My Sunshine

Mosel Bike-Barge Day 1 – Sat 27th August 2016 – Boarding the barge in Cochem

Weather: 20⁰C min – 31⁰C max, fine and clear

Town PhotosReichsburgVideoBike Planet
 

“Like dogs, bicycles are social catalysts that attract a superior category of people” ~ Chip Brown

Breakfast on the terrace at Gästezimmer Christine Höhn started the day well, gazing down at the pretty town of Cochem below while working my way through an amazing array of breads, cheeses, processed meats, boiled eggs, yoghurt, cereal and fresh fruit. There was a double serving of everything because they had catered for a honeymoon couple! I could have lingered there longer sipping English breakfast tea and admiring the spectacular scenery, but the sunshine was beckoning me to seize the day.

The first thing I did after checking out of the honeymoon suite, was to go for a bike ride along the wonderful riverside path. The crew of the Iris were busy loading provisions and checking the bikes lined upon the bank of the river, so I stopped and introduced myself and left my pannier bags there so I could be free to wander the town unencumbered.

My lasting impression of Cochem will be the brass bands beefing out oompah music to an enthusiastic street crowd, beer and wine flowing freely in the noisy bars. It reminds me of the raucous good times we used to have at Hofbräuhaus in Melbourne in the 60’s and 70’s! What a way to spend a Saturday morning, wandering around the fun-filled streets of Cochem being entertained by great street musicians.

One particular group that captured my attention (and coinage) was a jazz band with the lovely name Street-Fair Hobblers. They were just starting to swing into an old favourite of mine called “You Are My Sunshine” (quite an appropriate tune for a hot sunny day in Cochem) when a waitress from the nearby bar laid a tray of beer and wine on the ground in front of them. They stopped playing as if they had been shot! Ten minutes later I came back just as they were resuming the song where they left off. I captured the rendition on video, but you will have to wait until next week to hear it because wi-fi on the Iris is too limited to upload videos.

For lunch I chose a quiet, shady, outdoor café in a side street far away from the madding crowd. By this time it was two o’clock, time to board the Iris and meet my riding friends from Sydney who I had not seen for four months. Altogether there are 23 people doing the bike-barge, 19 from Sydney (most of whom I already knew) and 4 Canadians (who are our new friends now). Then there are seven crew members … Jysbert (ship captain), Bas (top class chef), Xander (ship’s mate), Tako (host), Ilse and Francien (wonderful tour guides), and Lenny (owner). After the crew introduction and welcome speech we were treated to a tour of Reichsburg Castle, the magnificent mediaeval fortresses you can see perched high on top of the hill.

On arrival back at the Iris we enjoyed welcoming drinks followed by a gourmet three course meal as good as you would get at a top class restaurant.

Great company, good friendly crew, top class food, comfortable and roomy boat, perfect weather … what a week we have ahead of us!