Bike and Barge,
Europe
Friday,
Oct.
14, 2011 - Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011
On the Moselle River through France, Luxembourg and Germany from
Metz, FR to Koblenz, DE.
With an
option to spend Oct. 22 through Oct. 25 in Amsterdam, NL
Trip Leader
Al Desilet 5009 W. Springlake Dr.
Tampa, FL 33629
(813) 837-3102 E-mail me
Price: $2799.00 Per Person,
based on Double Occupancy
$529.00 Per Person for Amsterdam
extention
Trip application:
Special for This Trip Only! Special Trips require Special
Application
To pay by Credit Card contact your trip leader for instructions.
-- Credit Card Authorization Form
click here.
Trip Co-Leader
Lynda Weaver 6 Idlewilde Dr.
Safety Harbor, FL 34695
(727) 725-421-0845 E-mail me
The Mosel River Valley.
(Mosel in German, Moselle in
French). Fodor’s says “The Mosel is one of the most hauntingly
beautiful river valleys on earth. Here, as in the Rhine Valley,
forests and vines carpet steep hillsides; castles and church
spires dot the landscape; and, medieval wine villages line the
riverbanks. The river’s countless bends and loops slow its pace
and lend the region a special charm.” Rick Steves is equally
high on the Mosel; and, he adds “My favorite castle in all of
Europe (the Burg Eltz, which we’ll visit) lurks in its
mysterious forest.” But, why believe Fodor’s or Rick Steves,
what do they know about world travel.
Cathedral de Metz
Saturday, DAY 1,
Arrival in Metz:
The Merlijn and the Sailing Home will be waiting
for you in the port of Metz.
Embarkation starts at 4 pm. The crew welcomes you on board and
while you enjoy a welcome drink you will get information about
the ship, the tours and the bicycles. After dinner there is time
for a stroll through the city. The old city of Metz is
strategically positioned between the Moselle river with its
banks and the plateau of Lorraine. Metz lively university city;
it also has a medieval centre and a beautiful gothic cathedral,
with stain glassed windows from f.i. Marc Chagall. With its
twenty miles of landscaped walks along rivers, canals and along
the ramparts, you will find out that Metz is an attractive,
green garden city
The Moselle River - Metz
Sunday, DAY 2, Metz –Thionville
(40 km):
After a visit of Metz again you will start biking to Thionville.
Dinner and overnight stay on board the our boats in
Thionville. Nowadays this city is the centre for the steel
industry of the Lorraine-district, but here you will also find
its old fortifications from the 17th century.
Monday, DAY 3,
Thionville –Remich (35 km):
Today your biking tour will lead you out of the French
Lorraine-district while you bike to today’s
destination in Luxembourg, Remich. Coming from Thionville you
will pass the old citadel in Sierck-les-Bains.
The Moselle River - Metz
The Moselle River - Thionville
Countryside near Remich
Remich on the Moselle River
Tuesday, DAY 4,
Remich –Trier (42 km): Today you will bike along the German-Luxembourg border and
from Wasserbillig you will follow the beautiful meandering
Moselle river. Along the way you will pass interesting
remainders of the Roman times and you may want to visit one of
the local wine cellars. In the afternoon you’ll reach the city
of Trier. There is still time enough to stroll through this
historic place and join the guided city walk. Trier was a Roman
government-seat and is well-known for its Porta Nigra, a
gigantic city-gate. Tonight you will enjoy your dinner at your
own expense in one of the many local restaurants in Trier.
Wednesday, DAY 5: Trier
–Traben Trarbach (45 km):
Enjoy your breakfast while cruising from Trier to the holiday
resort Mehring. The Roman poet Ausonius already sang of the
beautiful landscape. The Romans fell in love with this landscape
more than 2000 years ago and built splendid country-villas here.
Later on you will bike to Bernkastel-Kues, where magnificent
framework houses line the marketplace. After your visit to this
pearl on the Moselle river we will sail to Traben Trarbach. Here
you will enjoy a wine tasting of the well-known Moselle Riesling
wines.
Vineyards near Trier along the
Moselle
Trier on the Moselle River
Traben Trarbach on the River
Traben Trarbach
Thursday, DAY 6: Traben
Trarbach –Cochem (35 km): Today starts with a relaxing sailing breakfast, cruising up
to Zell - famous for its vineyard Zeller Schwarze Katz. Here
your bike tour starts and you will bike along the meandering
Moselle and visit many charming villages, such as Alf, Sankt
Aldegund –here you can visit a cellar with lots of liquers,
wines and Mosel-mustards –Bremm and finally Beilstein. After
exploring this interesting medieval village, that has never been
destroyed so far, you will bike to Cochem, where the our
boats
will await you.
Friday, DAY 7: Cochem
–Koblenz (35 km) Today’s final trip takes you into the Eltztal and the castle
Eltz. Lying romantically on a cliff, the castle is one of the
very few that has never been destroyed during its long history.
Our boats will sail with you to Moselkern, here your
tour to the castle starts and afterwards you will bike to
Koblenz, where the boats await you.
Cochem on the Moselle River
Beautiful Koblenz
Saturday, DAY 8,
Departure from Koblenz:
Disembarkation at 9 am after breakfast.
MS Merlijn
and MS
Sailing Home both have
excellent reputations for superior hotel ship comfort and service.
They both have chefs, maids and bar service. They’ll be waiting
for us in Metz France. We spend the evening there; and then we’ll
cruise, bike and stop during the afternoon/evening in a different
village like –Thionville France, Remich Luxemburg, Trier,
Traben-Trarbach, Cochem, and Koblenz Germany. We might find a few
old wine cellars along the way; if you like that sort of thing.
Fun! Fun!
Some of the amenities on board a
Comfort Class River Vessels include:
Air-conditioning
in all cabins
Flat twin beds in
all cabins - Double beds on request
A separate
bar/saloon
Daily maid
service for cabin cleaning
More spacious
cabins
Hearty breakfast
buffets
Fully equipped
private bathrooms
Excellent
4-course dinners!!
Well-equipped
private shower/toilet in each cabin
A large sundeck
separate from the bicycle deck with deck chairs and an awning
A larger and more
comfortable dining room
Knowledgeable
tour guide and crew members on board
Round trip air from Tampa, private motor coach
from Frankfurt Germany to Metz France, seven nights aboard the MS Merlijn
or MS Sailing Home cruising and biking down the Mosel River to
Koblenz on the Rhine, double occupancy cabins with flat twin beds, fully
equipped private bath, daily breakfast buffet, a packed bag lunch, four
course dinner in a large and comfortable dinning room, use of a seven speed
hybrid bike including bike bag, water, and helmet, daily maid service, daily
bike tour guide, guided tour of villages, wineries, castles, fortresses, a
cocktail party most every night, private motor coach from Koblenz Germany to
Amsterdam airport, and more.
The Amsterdam option:
private motor transfers, hotel, double occupancy with breakfast and a
cocktail party daily, a walk and water tour of Amsterdam, a very interesting
city.
LODGING:
We will be living aboard the Comfort Plus Class
River Vessel Merlijn or Sailing Home. The Comfort Plus Class ships are the
most luxurious and spacious of all the ships we use. They are generally all
recently renovated or built, and offer more comfort than the other class
ships. See Accommodations above for more details
TRIP SIZE:
48 Persons
DEPOSIT:
$1000.00 per person with a completed trip application.
Copy of the photo page of a
current passport required for each traveler on the application.
BALANCE DUE:
June 15th, 2011
CANCELLATION DATE:
All cancellations must be received in writing by
June 15th, 2011. See cancellation policy on the 2nd page of the trip application.
PAYMENT:
Make checks payable to "TAMPA BAY SNOW SKIERS and BOARDERS"
and mail to:
Al Desilet, 5009 W. Spring Lake Dr. Tampa, FL 33629
Deposit and balance of trip costs may be
paid with a major credit card.
You will be billed later for the final payment. At that time you
will be able to order lift tickets.
To pay by Credit Card contact your trip leader for instructions.
Credit Card Authorization Form
click here.
A
charge of 3% will be made for credit card convenience
TRIP
PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO ANY NEW TAXES OR FEES IMPOSED BY EITHER THE GOVERNMENT,
AIRPORT, AIRLINES OR AGENCIES INVOLVED.
