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Although the title of this blog is Tours, it should really be "Frustrqtion City" To all of you who are still looking for news from me, well done for sticking it out!!!!!

In fact,  the tale Im about to relate may result in you shedding tears of laughter or despair, so grab a handful of tissues, settle back and read on........

We started paddling on 10 July and within the first hundred metres had found our first ancient bridge, and a little later a castle built into the river. My kayak is very light and easy to paddle and I've got used to not having a rudder. The slightest wind or turbulance and it does it's own thing, but a few sweep strokes soon have it going well again. We even found some small rapids on the second day, and the kayak handled them with ease. Perhaps the most stable boat I've paddled It has one drawback though, and that is that the back rest is made of thin padding which attacks my back with a vengeance! I bought a cushion to help, but find I can't paddle for more than two hours a day. Not that that's a problem as Helmut collects me and Markus decides whether to paddle on or not.

We'd decided early on that we wouldn't paddle the entire river, so have already made  it to Tours by bypassing a lot of the river. As the river becomes busier we'll paddle more as there are more castles to see.

My tale of woe regarding internet access started early on when two camping grounds had internet access but both were out of order. I wasn't too phased by that, just thought I'd find more access in the towns. WRONG!!!

Days later we found a Cybernet sign and in I went......dark inside and the keyboard's keys were worn from a lot of use. Imagine if you will trying to log into a computer when keys are in different positions, but you can't work out where they really are! I gave up§

So far we've seen some beautiful towns as we are travelling the quieter roads and not the autobahns. Visited Chambord castle yesterday. it was huge!!!!

Living in a tent is working well; the camping grounds are nice and clean and inexpensive. Markus has assumed the role of cook, and is doing a wonderful job of keeping us fed.

The weather in the first week was a bit damp but is now fine and sunny!

Must away

Markus and Murray 

I'm baaaack!!!!!!!!

And I'm sitting in a Cybercafe in Feurs a smallish town on the Loire. And I have a different keyboard to confront as well ...... this time the A and Q are in different spots, so bear with me. I should just type and let you know the difficulties I face.

I have so much to tell you, and so little time that q lot of this may be in point form.

The drive down the Aurobahn was fine and we reached Basel in the late evening. Markus had to visit his mother, so Helmut and I had pizza. The appartment we are using is lovely so we are very cofortable. Trucks aren't allowed on the motorways over the weekend so they line up in the truckstops waiting until Sunday evening. We've amuzed ourelves with trying to decide the worst jobs we've come across and at first couldn't decide between the train driver at Dragon Rock who goes up and down the hill all day, or the orgqn grinder with toy monkey at Koblenz. So far, the winner is the man at the truck stop where we bought a coffee who sits outside the toilets and directs people to the appropriate one. After one has spent a penny, he takes 20cents from you!

Telstra's globql roaming didn't work, so we ducked into France (as you do) to buy a French SIM card. We needed an address in France, but the lady who served us wouldn't accept my suggestion of Moulin Rouge, Monmartre Paris, so gave me q fictitious one!!!

It was nice to be able to phone Sue briefly after days of being off air.

I've strolled around the old part of Basel and was able to converse in a bookshop, because they sold books in English and spoke it!!!! In fact although I can work out a request in French, I can't understand the answer. But at least I'm used to looking dumb and both Markus and Helmut can speak enough French to get by.

Yesterday we left Switzerland for France via the smaller roads. Use of the motorway in Germany is free; in France and Switzerland it is heavily tolled. Plus we were able to see stunning scenery; I have no idea how I'll load photographs at this stage; you'll have to put up with the description. Sorry!

Last night we camped at Salava (yes, we thought of saliva too) in the most quaint village.

Today we've viewed the Loire and will attack it tomorrow. And I can't wait for a normal keyboard!!!!!!!!!

Today was tourist day as we tried out our new rent a car on a trip to Koblenz and Drachenfels, a 324 metre high rock with a ruined castle on top. The journey to the top can be by donkey, foot or train. We opted for the traindefference to the donkey's back. The train uses cog-wheels to get up the steep slope.

Koblenz is where the Mosel and Rhine rivers meet and is the site of the huge Ehrenbreistein. Building of this fortress commenced about 1000 AD.

Yesterday I mentioned the force of the flow of the water in the river, and we noticed a ferry needed to ferry glide across the river to avoid being swept too far downstream. Now that's impressive!

On a kayaking front, purists may like to know that my kayak is a Bavarian make, and thepaddle is a Prijon. Hopefully we'll make a good team!

Tomorrow we head to Basel before heading to the source of the Loire! 

The flight from Singapore to Frankfurt was a long one, and my arms were tired by the time I'd arrived. The train trip to Cologne along the Rhine was fascinating, and we were met by at the Cologne railway station by Markus' friend Helmut.

Helmut and his wife Mecki live in a wonderful house and must be Elvis Presley fans because they gave me "a room with a view of the beautiful Rhine." 

Markus had been saying how he found cycling a good treatment for jet lag. He said he didn't think anything of a 10 Km cycle along the river cycle path. After following him during light but persistant rain, I didn't think much of it either!

This morning after a restful sleep we decided it was time to take to the river and  try out my new second-hand kayak. The morning was windy, the river was flowing at a fast rate, and passing barges were causing a degree of turbulance in the water, especially near stone retaining walls built out into the river. My kayak doesn't have a rudder, and was being spun around at times and sweep stroking was the order of the day! Markus tried the kayak and we both concluded it would be a vey serviceable kayak in the calmer waters of the Loire.

Cologne is an interesting town, dominated by its famous cathedral, the foundation stone of which was laid in 1248. We've visited the city and sampled a number of local beers and a local jazz club.

Helmut has collected our rental car, an Opel station wagon which looks ideal for what we want.

This weekend we plan to travel to Basel in Switzerland before heading on to the start of the serious business at hand. 

I've decided to add this comment for all my friends from  Pharmacy who will be watching my progress with interest.

So girls, here I am in Singapore, my first time here, and I'm in the Qantas lounge courtesy of Markus' membership of the Qantas Club. Now this is the way to travel! Free food and drink and a nice view of the lower level of the airport through a see of green foliage.

I've resisted the temptation to buy duty free booze, watches, perfume, electrical goods and the miriad of other temptations on offer.

I tried to download a photograph taken of Markus and me at Perth airport of without luck. So photographs may not be as plentiful as I'd like them to be. Perhaps I'll invite everyone to a slide evening when I get back to Perth. You now have a couple of months to think up good reasons why you can't attend!