Overview
Our 11-day journey, with 7 nights on board the MS Olympia, takes us from Mainz to Cologne, passing by romantic castles, crumbling ruins, the world-renowned ‘Loreley’ and much more while experiencing the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Germany’s most beautiful castle valley. This Rhine River bike and boat adventure will follow the flat, paved bicycle path enabling travelers to take in the UNESCO world cultural site known as the ‘Upper Middle Rhine Valley’ - a landscape in which aristocratic barons, lords and dukes built many castles and fortresses. Created for recreational cyclists and bike enthusiasts, this tour is designed to fit most ability levels (with daily opt-in/opt-out) on our 15-30 miles per day riding route as well as options for spurs and mini-cultural excursions. Moreover, hearty German cuisine, the ‘Kölsch’ style beer and world-famous wines are sure to keep some cyclists well-fueled en route!
Returning cycle tour leaders Amy Boelk & Bill Fehrenbach are thrilled to lead the way alongside Wisconsin Public Radio's Mary Kate McCoy. The three will team up, returning to Germany to share in this adventurous yet flexible bike and boat tour along the Rhine!
WPR Tour Host
Mary Kate McCoy
Mary Kate is a digital journalist at Wisconsin Public Radio and contributor to Wisconsin Life. A lifelong Wisconsinite, she’s an enthusiastic biker and euchre player. In her free time, you can usually find her with a book or playing just one more game of ping pong. She’s looking forward to returning to Germany, but this time touring the historic castles and towns of the Rhine via her favorite form of transportation - bike!
Tour Leaders
Amy Boelk
Amy has more than 10 years of tour guiding/leadership experience in the U.S. and abroad. She holds Wilderness First Responder and Mass Disaster Care certifications. Amy has led tours at Glacier, Zion, Bryce, Arches, Hot Springs, Badlands and other U.S. national parks, as well as 8 BWCA canoe tours. While living and working in Austria as a professional cycling guide, Amy also had the opportunity to explore Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Germany, Lichtenstein, among other countries. She can’t wait to return to the Rhine Valley to share the breathtaking castle views and be your German translator!
Bill Fehrenbach
Bill has been bicycling most of his life and led bicycle tours in Michigan, Indiana and California for Michigan-based Bicycle Cruises. He’s done many multi-day/group rides in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Montana and even around the Puget Sound. Bill later co-led with Amy Boelk the 2019 UWSP Adventure Tours bike and boat tour - Vineyard Valley: Cycling Austria’s Danube. Bill teaches statistics at UWSP, commuting to campus daily by bicycle year-round, and is a member of the Stevens Point Bicycle & Pedestrian Street Safety Commission as well as Rotary Club of Greater Portage County, where he’s championed the cause of Cycling Without Age Portage County.
Itinerary, Details, and Booking
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