On the 27th April 2023 we returned back onboard Sunday Island in Moret Sir Long France, about 2 hours train ride south of Paris.

Rich, Issy and Max riding the folding bike

The 28th April was spent trying to change engine mounts, unfortunately the new engine mounts were not as per the order and did not fit correctly. Emilie spent the day provisioning for the days ahead.

29th April was Emilie’s birthday, and I entertained the kids for the morning while Emilie continued to provision and purchased some pots, pans and dishes that will do us well in the coming years and store better than what was onboard. During the morning we pumped up the dinghy to clean the hull, potter about and also peeled off the old Lelystad stickers and replaced with Valletta. We then had Emilie’s birthday lunch eating crepes and drinking rose.

New port Valletta

Later in the afternoon we let go lines and cruised up canal to Episy for birthday dinner and sleep.

Kids boat life in dinghy. Max fell in not long after.

Today (30th) we departed Episy at 0800 after breakfast and cruised up canal passing six locks. On the way Emilie’s dad joined us in convoy in his river boat “Harfi”. We also passed the house where Emilie spent the first few years of her life.

On route the kids got into boat life and satated their morning routine of school onboard in between locks and wildlife spotting.

School in cockpit in French canals

At midday we stopped at a market in Nemour. Our first approach closer to the market put us aground, so we opted for a deeper landing further away from the market. While Emilie and the kids went to the market, Rich cleaned the weed from the strainer and log.

Harfie alongside

This afternoon we stopped at Souppes sur Loing. Harfie joined us at the dock 30 minutes later. Rich installed a Galvanic Isolator and then we caught a ride in a car to Emilie’s grandmothers house in Chavannes where we enjoyed dinner and wine.

Harfie approaching

This evening we are back onboard. Tomorrow is a public holiday here so the locks are closed. We will enjoy markets in the morning before lunch at Chavannes.

Last minute packing and storage at our house in Palma kept us up until 0130 this morning, but that didn’t stop us waking up at 0520 this morning to board the flight to ORLY France!

If you could imagine a perfect travel scenario today we nailed it! Checked in, two full row of seats at the front of the plane, and then an easy transit to Sunday island

We found Sunday island in the canals slightly dusty but otherwise just as we left her. Not a drop of water in the bilge and as dry as a bone!

The kids were extremely excited to be onboard and immediately found all their forgotten treasures ! For Mum and Dad it was an afternoon and of spring cleaning and unpacking our 120kg of luggage!

Due to the late night and early start we treated ourselves to a bistro lunch and pizza dinner in the park by the waterfalls. Now it’s off to bed to dream of adventures ahead!

Tomorrow Rich has some maintenance replacing the engine mounts and Emilie is shopping for provisions. The kids are keen for a swim in the local pool only 50m away!

Stay tuned for years of adventures ahead!