Tour cancellation: Steep sections in the Rhine Valley 7 - 11 September 2021
Albert and I decided at the weekend to cancel the Steep section tour. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, the number of participants was unfortunately still very small and the tour would not have covered its costs. Secondly, the infrastructure on the left bank of the Rhine is so badly damaged that it is only possible to commute from Linz and Königswinter to Brohl via a circuitous route. This infrastructure (the destroyed B9 bridge and the bridges over the Ahr in the town) will take years to rebuild. This will result in detours through the Brohl valley, which is currently choked with traffic. The only way to get to Bonn from the southern Anrhein towns is to change sides of the Rhine or through the Brohl valley and then onto the motorway, which is also closed behind the Meckenheim junction because the roadway there has also collapsed. That means the area is drowning in traffic at the moment. That's no fun when photographing along the route.
On top of that, we are getting an accommodation problem. There are considerations to evacuate many people. The hotels in the area are also being considered for this. They want to leave the people at home. Because in the villages west of Ahrweiler there is no water, electricity, gas or sewage. It takes a very long time to rebuild them.
And now comes the current professional situation of the man on the spot, who has organised a lot and still wanted to organise: "I will be involved in the operation on the Ahr for another three weeks for sure - up to 12 to 14 hours a day. I still had plans for that. Unfortunately, I can't do that at the moment.
I'm sorry, I would have loved to do this tour with you, and there would have been some highlights that 100% no one has offered so far. But it was not to be. What a pity. Of course I also ask myself why so few have signed up for this event, is it me, is it the programme, is it the wrong time or is it not attractive enough? Nevertheless, it is not working at the moment. What we are experiencing here has never happened on this scale since the war.
We are trying everything so that we can put the tour back on the Tanago tour schedule in 2022 and hope for the best for all residents and participants. Stay strong !!!