120 miles for a view worth a million miles

Tonight we find ourselves on the shores of the Rhine looking at a view of a hilltop castle across the river and a statue of a chap on a horse down the river. The sun has just set and the cream walls of the castle start to glow as it is picked out amongst the tress on the hill. The
river barges float down the river, many carrying their loads from The
Netherlands.

We have arrived here having driven across from the Ardennes in Belgium where we spent yesterday in a town called Durbuy. It proclaims to be the smallest town in the world, but regardless was very pretty medieval town. We happened to be there on the weekend of the local cheese, bread and beer festival so spent a lovely morning tasting and buying as one would expect. The girls found a local
delicacy, battered apple slices, deep fried and dusted in icing sugar. The cheese was excellent, we found a hard cheese that was very similar to the one that Gitti and Dad found in Normandy and lovely soft goats cheese. The local breads are full grain and many have nuts, really yummy. And of course all washed down with a great Belgium beer (I could got into detail on the Belgium beers, probably save that for a blog entry all of it’s own).

In the afternoon we went kayaking down the local river. Little rapids and (not really surprised) Tasha found herself falling out of the kayak after perching preciously on the bow for much of the ride.

That night we camped by the river.

The drive to the Rhine was through the Ardennes countryside having instructed Fiona (that’s the GPS in case you had forgotten) to take the quickest NOT the shortest route. This meant forest roads and virtually across farm lands, but some pretty countryside and small towns on the way.

Tomorrow we
begin our journey down the Rhine.