Bikepacking Rheinradweg, von Arnhem gehts nach Deutschland

Arnhem, the city on the Lower Rhine whose bridge gained importance during World War II, was practically the starting point of my day. First, I wandered through the city center sightseeing before crossing the aforementioned bridge. Shortly after, I crossed back to the other side, this time by ferry for €1.30 (have your debit card ready). The route has its charms. If only it weren't so cold (5 degrees Celsius) and the headwind didn't feel like winter. It gets warmer later, but the perceived temperature is "cold." During the short stretches with a tailwind, I couldn't open my jackets fast enough. I really liked the route through the Netherlands. Then came the ferry, and after a few turns of the pedals, I reached Germany on the other side. Problem: even after waiting for 10 minutes, I couldn't find the ferry anywhere, not even at the ferry landing on the other side. So I continued on this side towards Germany. The route wasn't particularly scenic, but the Rhine, with its heavy traffic, certainly was. About 12 km later, I reach the first German town. This is the end point of my route, and I've missed Kleve. The route crosses the Rhine and continues through flat countryside against the wind. The path mostly runs away from the Rhine, and when it isn't, the Rhine is hidden behind the dike. The wind is now really blowing in. My battery is draining relatively quickly. Without it, I would have turned around and headed for the next train station. At some point, I stop following the river bends and take a shortcut straight ahead. Ironically, I'm often closer to the river than I was in all my days in the Netherlands. 😎 The agricultural landscape is occasionally interrupted by houses or clusters of trees over the last 50 km. Eventually, I'm riding with my head down and not looking too closely anymore. My route choice aligns with the local bus line. The bus shelters often offer me the opportunity for a wind-protected break. My sluggish cycling style almost caused me to miss my accommodation, a hotel not listed on booking.com. I braked sharply and checked in; my second battery was already almost depleted. That means I used more power today than on any other day of my Lake Constance-Königssee cycle route! I fell asleep quickly and easily and only finished this report the following morning.