We were up at a reasonable time the morning to pack and move on from our apartment with with amazing views. Despite there being a definite language barrier as neither couple spoke the opposite language, with the power of Google, we had become like friends with Christa and Winfried and it was hugs and kisses when we finally left.
I took on the driving today and our plan was to visit a Marksburg castle on the Rhine near Koblenz before heading down to our next destination for three nights - Boppard. The route initially took us on another Autobahn and before I knew it, the speed limit had disappeared. The weather was good, not too much traffic and a decent distance before we had to turn off so I thought I’d have another session of fast driving. This time it took a few attempts as I had to pull in for others but I finally got to 121mph which is definitely the fastest I have ever driven. I calmed down as we headed for Koblenz and all was going well until a slight lag on the SatNav meant we missed an important turning - important because a number of the next turnings that the SatNav suggested were temporarily closed due to road works. It was quite stressful and eventually I had to drive through Koblenz, thinking we are stopping for fuel and then not being able to find the signed gas station!
I finally managed to leave the town and we were headed towards the Marksburg castle. A final challenge of driving a narrow track up to the castle avoiding not one, not two but three coaches of Viking cruise passengers and we eventually made it. The castle was fascinating and unlike our visit to Burg Eltz when we could not get on the tour, this time we were able to have a coffee and apple cake before joining a 1.00pm tour with an English speaking guide called Dorothee who was excellent. We had to tour with a large group of American river cruisers but the guide was very good with us as a - we kept up at the front; b - we asked sensible questions and c - we have a lot of history and she was very interested!!
After the tour we drove back down the narrow road which luckily was devoid of coaches this time and back on the road to Boppard. I was rather worried that we would have to go back via Koblenz but luckily for once the Sat Nav alternative was to continue South and take our first ferry across the Rhine directly into Boppard. A new experience and very convenient.
Our third accommodation in Germany and another very nice and spacious apartment with pleasant but not quite so impressive views. Our hosts Sylvia and Wilheim (we haven’t met Wilheim yet) seem very nice and rather alternative - there was a Buddism guide in the bedside cabinet which makes a change from a bible! We have a dishwasher and a very complicated top loader washing machine which I managed to master and get the first load on straight away. We were quite tired after the days drive so it was a quick visit to Aldi - our first visit - to stock up on supplies - we were very impressed. Prawns, smoked salmon and salad with fruit to finish for dinner this evening.
