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It is foggy in “the Reusstal” as I leave Bremgarten around 09.00h. o'clock. I'm on my way to the source of the river “Mosell”, in Alsace (France).

The best way to Basel is through the valley of Frick. In Brugg, at the beginning of the Boetzbergs, (731 meters) the sun is already in the sky. She will be my companion for the next 5 days. In Luxembourg I will see the first clouds.

Just after Frick is the first rest at a nice decorated well. I see the Rhine on my right, which I will see again at the end of my route in Koblenz. 

Tail wind makes me so fast that I'm too early in Basel. The Alban Park is best to wait till 14.00h. That is the time I will meet my sister at the station. We will cycle together from the source of the Moselle to Koblenz where the river flow into the Rhine.

With weather like today, blue sky and (28°) we decide on camping. Our map shows a camping site in Brunstett near Mulhouse.

In Schlierbach (Alsace) we come to a farm where we fill up the water bottles. The friendly farmer told about his life. Three times he had to change his nationality. In the war he had fought on the side of the Frenchmen, his brother however on the German side, (He happened to be in Germany at that time) everything involuntarily, he stressed. This again is an example how silly a war is. Fortunately inconceivable today in Western Europe.

After we had set up our tents and taken a shower, we got ourselves on our way into the city for supper.

Sunday. 05.09.04.  Mulhouse – Bussang 64.5 kilometer.

We cycle south around Mulhouse via Reinique and Aspach to Thann. The breakfast consists of fruit we bought yesterday. Every shop and restaurant is closed on this Sunday morning. Arriving in Thann, the day is already so far advanced that the restaurants are open. We take a place on a terrace with a view of the beautiful church. Thann is a typical village of the Alsace and famous for asparagus. Unfortunately they haven't got a car-free centre.

In the afternoon we continue to Urbès. Here the upward gradient over the Col du Bussang begins. From 400m. up to 731 meters is not strenuous. The road is well developed however there is no cycle path, so you have to be careful. We find the well on the north site of the summit. 8 kilometers downward, on the camping site, the source has already grown into a little river.

With a blue sky we leave Bussang. After 20 km. we find a restaurant which is open. It looks like the owners of restaurants like to sleep a little longer on Monday morning.

On the Col du Bussang, a board shows a walking path from Luxembourg to Basel. (route Bénélux - Basle). We meet a group of hikers on this route, and have a little chat.

Fortunately the large shopping centers are open on Monday. So we can cover ourselves with fruit, beverages and sweets.

In Epinal a channel begins alongside the Moselle which is navigable and we see the first boats. Between canal and river runs a cycle track.

The camping owner in Carmes sur Moselle is a Dutch speaking Belgian, so we don't have trouble with the language. She recommends a very good restaurant. Important to satisfy our hungry stomachs.

Tuesday. 07.09.04. Charm - Liverdun 84 kilometer.

The owner of the camping made us a good breakfast. Our goal for today is Toul. We cycle through small sleepy villages along the Moselle. In Flavigny we took a coffee break and attended to the daily shopping. The camping site in Toul doesn't exist any longer, but the next one in Liverdun is open.

Yesterday we rode the last 15 km on an asphalt cycle track along the Moselle and it continues to Pompey in that way. In Pont – Mousson is a very large market place. Today isn't market day. I have to adjust the gears, an excellent opportunity on this circuit. When all gears work perfectly again, we take a seat at one of the many terraces. We arrive very early at the camping Municipale in Metz, plenty of time for a city-stroll and supper

Thursday. 09.09.04 Metz – Schwebsingen (Luxembourg) 60 kilometer.

It is not the most beautiful stretch of our journey, Metz to Tionville. The closer the area the more traffic on the roads.

The weather forecast says it will be changing this coming weekend. Before Apach (last village in France) we see thick smoke. Driving past we see a car ablaze.

On the boards written in the German language we realize that we have left France. Left turn over the Moselle-bridge and we are in the village that, in Switzerland, is the topic for discussion "Schengen". (Luxembourg) The Swiss soon will vote on joining the “Shengen Treaty”. Here on the 14.06.1985 the first Schengener agreement was signed. It is, an agreement between the Benelux states, Germany and France. The start of a united Europe.

Back to the tour. The Moselle has now grown into a river were we find the first yacht harbour in Schwebsange. Beside the harbour is a campsite and restaurant, ideal to set up our tent.

It is pleasant riding through Luxemburg, all the bikelanes are of asphalt. In Grevenmacher we cross the bridge, turn left and arrive Germany again. We enter the camping site in Trier by noon and decide to stay in Trier (one of the oldest cities in Germany) for another day.

The Porta Nigra is probably the most interesting sight in the city. Next to this Roman building is the information office, we get a city plan of Trier with all its places of interest. On a terrace by a cup of coffee we plan what is to be seen in those 1½ days. Just behind the information building are boxes for bicycles. In the box there is room for 2 bikes and luggage. One Euro, 24 hours, so that problem is settled.

First we visited the cathedral. We hear, there is a concert and demonstration of the 30 year old Kleis organ on Saturday 11.30h. A "little devil" is built into the organ. A window opens and out comes a little devil who plays on his panpipe. If you want to know more about the organ, concerts or cathedral click here on www.trierer orgelpunkt.de.

To round the day off, we visit the district of “Zurlaubener Ufer”. Many restaurants with a special ambience along the Moselle banks. I can recommend this area.

Saturday. 11.09.04. Day of rest in Trier

The weather forecasts proved to be true. It must have been raining last night, everything is wet. Fortunately it isn't raining any more. Not bad for a city visit.

Trier has many relics from Roman times. Amphitheater and Thermalspring of the Roman emperor are outside of the city. In the old town, “Porta Nigra” is the symbol of the city.

Time is going so quick today, when we cycle back, we have to turn on the bike lights.

In the morning it was still cloudy, however increasingly sunnier in the afternoon. The Moselle now is a broad river with many tourist boats. The cycle tracks are excellent both left and right of the river. The area is very varied in terms of scenery. The hills are planted with grapes, the villages have many half-timbered houses and the river winds in many turns. A fantastic area. That's the reason it is so nice to ride along the Moselle. Memories from 1996 as I cycled the Danube from Passau to Vienna come back to me. Also a route you can make with the whole family. Good cycle tracks and nearly always flat.

A pity that it's getting more and more the character of a holidays industry; touring buses in hordes. Cycling here is very popular. Many Caravans have bikes on the backside. Particularly with Dutch number plates. They are used to cycling.

We stayed in the new youth hostel of Cochem. very modernly furnished and pleasant to stay at.

Early in the afternoon we reach our goal,”seeing the Moselle mixing up with the Rhine”. At the station we buy the train tickets for tomorrow 07.45h.

We ordered bed reservations in the youth hostel in advance, so we can spend the rest of the day in the city. To get there is very strenuous as most youth hostels are on top of a hill. And this time it is very steep, at least 17%.

The river Moselle is 550 km. My cycle-computer shows 597 when we arrive at the Rhine. It was one of the shortest however most beautiful cycle tours I've made, and the first time we had no rain on the whole tour (apart from the night in Trier) and I slept well then and didn't notice the rain.

A link for more information to the river Moselle