Monday 12th June

Skye and Sarah went for a paddle in the River Lahn this morning and will have a chance in the same river later today because we are going to Marburg.

I have mentioned to Sarah that I assumed the Marburg virus, which I thought was confined to Africa, must have been named after the famous Marburg University. I was wrong. Apparently it was named Marburg because in 1967 employees at a Hoechst laboratory in Marburg were infected by an unknown virus contracted through contact with monkeys. The outbreak infected 31 people of which 7 died. Now both you and I know.

We’ve come to Marburg because there is a convenient campsite within the town and we need to do some washing and other administrative tasks and also due to Marburg being a beautiful old University town.

After an Aldi (you heard it right, Aldi not LIDL) shop we drove the short distance to Marburg and ensconced ourselves at Camping Lahnaue (50.800775, 8.769807 €33 a night because its not ACSI and Skye is an extra €3!!!). We will rest up here for three nights.

It’s a pleasant, if not outstanding, campsite on the banks of the River Lahn. We have been warned that they have a Racoon problem and so we must not leave anything edible outside at night! I presume the Racoons escaped when GIs brought them over as pets, much like the Chipmunks that are now endemic in some European forests.

We’ve been for a walk up and down the river this afternoon. Like everywhere in Germany, bike paths are everywhere and, coming from Britain, we are not used to looking out for bikes every 10 seconds and if I’m not careful I will be the subject of a nasty accident.

During our walk Skye found a nice bit of river for a swim. She will only paddle if there is no incentive to go deeper, but as soon as you throw something for her to fetch, in she goes.