Just before breakfast, in my suite of course, the hotel manager came over the intercom to tell us that there would be a meeting in Palm Court that evening at 6.30 to explain what will happen over the next day and a bit. 
No more informaton than that was given so we were left very much in the dark.
I took some photos of Cochem as we left, there is a very impressive castle in the town. 
After breakfast, I went along to the laundry and put a few items through the washing machine and dryer. I intended to visit the pool for the final time to do my shoulder exericses but it had been emptied.
I can understand why, to lighten the boat, but I just wish we had been told so I could have gone in earlier.
So I changed into my clothes and went along to have lunch in the dining room, my first visit for lunch. There was an extensive buffet, so much to choose from, lol!
I chatted to the mother and daughter from Gatineau, who sat at the table next to mine!
We were given more information, the afternoon tours would still take place and the buses would bring everyone down to meet the boat which would leave at 1.30 pm and stop at a small village along the way. We actually left about 2.15 pm!
After watching us leave, on the way back down I noticed a moth, I wonder if it will realise it is way off course when it decides to move, lol
I collected a coffee and went back to my room to update my blog. I was working away when the rocking and rolling began again.
I looked out of my window and saw we were at another lock. The water went down a considerable amount, I could not even see the level where we had entered the lock, lol!
I looked out of my window and saw we were at another lock. The water went down a considerable amount, I could not even see the level where we had entered the lock, lol!
I carried on working away and there was a knock at the door about 5 pm, it was my butler Octavian. he had brought along cheese and biscuits, shrimps, walnuts and fresh apricot pieces along with a glass of champagne and a glass of port!!!!
Not sure how I will manage dinner tonight, lol! Midge invited me to eat with them again tonight. Tomorrow, our last night, I am meeting Jana, Dale, Sussana and Ben for dinner!
We were making good time once we were through the lock and the sky was breaking up, however, we did not see some late sunshine but did see the moon later!
After showering, I went upstairs to the Palm Lounge to hear what they had to say. The water in the Rhine had gone down rapidly in the past 24 hours and there was basically only 15 centimetres between the bottom of the boat and the river bed. It has only been this bad in 2003 and 1952 in recent years. The captain made the decision to carry on and we were actually heading for Dusseldorf, we could only stop at Andernach for two hours to take on water, there will be too many boats to dock there. Our boat had got rid of as much water as it was able to in order to be able to sail. We wer warned of a potential a noisy night as the propellors stir up sediment!
The guy was a wee bit confusing when he was telling us about connecting to Frankfurt but all was clarified and transport would be provided. I will be leaving at 9 am as it is about a three hours drive to Frankfurt, not the one and a half it would have been. Part of the reason the captain was carrying on was that he did not want the boat stranded somewhere on the Rhine. The next group would now have the Amsterdam Tulips tour without the tulips, lol, the boat will travel from Dusseldorf to Amsterdam!
They have arranged some trips for our group at Dusseldorf although we would actually be docking at Zons, half an hour away!
I had dinner with Midge and friends as well as the two from Gatineau, it was again a very pleasant evening. Then it was back to my suite and bed for one tired traveller.
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