Helen’s Diary

Bacharach to Mainz Up at six again. Got an early start – a beautiful ride up hill and down – along the Rhein. Some of the group stopped to go through another old castle while the rest of us rode on to Bingen. After trying three different banks, got my Reichmarks cashed. Different banks take care of different things I guess. When it began to rain I put on my rain cape and went back to the edge of town to meet Ruth and the others. George, Dot and Harold went on ahead and Ruth and I waited for one and one half hours. When the others arrived, in starting up, got caught in my rain- cape and took a spill – no injuries. Thanks to the low gear, I was able to get up all the hills without stopping. We stopped in a small village part way up a long, long hill for lunch which was the best meal yet – rump steak, potatoes, lettuce and peaches for dessert. Reached the hostel which was slightly off the beaten path, early. Showered washed and went into town where we poked around and had our pictures taken for our French visa at a charge of 20 pfennig. Back to the hostel for supper. Met some boys from Canada with whom we talked for a long time.