We covered the last 220km of the Main cycle path in three days. That meant we pretty much had to get on with cycling. However, we also managed to stop off at a number of lovely towns. Mildenberg was the best.

After my initial gripe with the Main cycle path, there was a clear improvement, as in fewer noisy roads next to the path, more river and more nature. Still not as good as the Danube.

As we approached Frankfurt medieval towns were replace by modern ones.

What is at the end of the Main? A city called Mainz and the Rhine. The cycle path along the Rhine will be a Eurovelo route again, which may mean it is more attractive.

Shortly after joining the Rhine Graham mused that we might have seen some of the water already, in the stretch of the Danube that is upriver from the sink holes. That would be too much of a lucky coincidence of course, but the thought made me smile.

By some stroke of luck Mainz is also where our good friend Adnan lives. He could not meet us today, so we spent the day lingering in the city. The 2 museums we wanted to visit were closed on Monday (Places close in Germany, for lunch, for Sunday, and also a weekday – we still have not quite got used to it). We did manage to see St Stephen’s church with the stained glass windows designed by Chagal, and the Dom, which is oppressive and unloving.