Day 21. Nittel to Amneville

Day 21. Nittel to Amneville. 81 km. 4h54.

A clear morning - our first in a long time - for Jen's birthday. We had a very pleasant cycle along the right bank, looking across to the vineyards of Luxembourg on the other side. The valley was a lot wider than further downstream.

We detoured briefly in Nennig to try to see a famous Roman floor mosaic of almost 3 million stones. Unfortunately being Monday, and museums being closed on Mondays, we never got to see it. It shows scenes from an amphitheater program. Then a climb up a hill to see a very disappointing so-called Renaissance garden at the Berg Schloss.

We crossed the bridge to Schengen in Luxembourg, where the three countries meet. What was once a small wine farmers' village has become known for the Schengen Agreement of 1985, which allows free movement of people and goods between Schengen countries.

The cycle path continued along the left bank with open farm land, many lakes, locks, barrages, power stations, small bridges and plenty of twisting and turning. We cycled some way with a French fellow who was just setting off from Schengen to ride to Lisbon via the Camino.

Early afternoon we reached Thionville where we stopped to buy a map and test the Grimberger. (Both good). Thionville has some impressive old buildings, but is quite rundown. The northeast corner of France has seen tough economic times - there are many empty shops and boarded up houses.

Just beyond Thionville we turned west off the river, aiming in the direction of Verdun, of World War One significance. After being a bit lost in a few bleak industrial towns, by some luck and help from the GPS and Andrew' internet, we found good accommodation in a resort outside Amneville. They gave us some ice so we're able to cool down a good bottle of Leinert-Veit Riesling Sekt (WWS 7).