Trier

Some days are just good days. And this was one. 

Anticipating heat and buoyed on by my neighbours 6am start I headed off before nine. I stopped at a bakery and then set off on my merry way through the vineyards of Luxembourg. 

I stopped at a quiet spot to eat my bakery breakfast and then stopped later at Grevenmacher intending to have brunch. Despite it being market day cafes were mainly closed and those that were open only had tables in the by now too warm sunshine. I opted instead for a rather nice supermarket pizza and sat watching the water while I ate it. 

That was over half the ride, and 2 meals done well before noon. 

My next stop was Igel where I stopped to see a 23m tall funerary tower. Its stood in the same place for 1,800 years. Its builders were cloth merchants who made the Roman equivalent of waterproof fabric. I can only imagine the durability of their wears. 

Heading back to the river I paused at the foot bath - which I don't have much information about - but decided to stay dry footed and verruca free.

I crossed the Sauer river and back into Germany heading for my final waypoint, the Basilica Saint Matthias. There I found a deserted ornate abbey silent and open to visitors. I found my way down to the crypt that houses the remains of Saints Eucharius and Valerius. It also holds the remains of the apostle St Matthias.  Apparently Matthias replaced Judas, gaining his place through the casting of lots. Ending as these things do he was stoned almost to death before being beheaded. Interestingly his bones were discovered in 1127 when a new basilica was being built.  They had originally been bought to Trier 700 years earlier by Helen - mother of Constantine the Great.  

After that little sojourn I decided to chance my arm and try checking into the hotel early. Which worked. I've been charging power packs and devices but due to the hot weather (good drying time mean I can wash overnight - it's this technical information I know you come here to find) I've hardly had to do any washing. 

Now I'm opening a bottle of sparkling dry Riesling, because when in Trier...