5. L'Isle Adam to

On 15th April 2025 we arrived back at L'Isle Adam. By the time we got to the boat it was quite late, but still not too late for a glass or two of bubbles to celebrate being back on Ayanna. The next few days were spent cleaning and stocking up with supplies, stopping for lunch at a Turkish restaurant and enjoying the mille feuille from the marina patisserie, they are without doubt the best we have ever eaten and the reason I will probably put back on the 5kgs of weight that I lost over the Winter months!!

25th - 28th April We had paid for the marina until the end of April, but we actually finished getting the boat ready quite quickly and so we decided to go to the town of Isle Adam, just 1 mile away and two locks - one being the marina lock. I had completely forgotton how to turn on the headphone sets, and assumed that they weren't working properly. We didn't realise just how invaluable they are, especially as the marina lock is very tight and it is a tight turn onto the River Oise and I had to keep a look out for other boats. Thankfully it was a short journey, but I so appreciated just how much communication is required. Hand signals are fine, if the captain is looking at you!!🫣

There is a floating pontoon that is owned by the marina, so we were able to moor there for free as we had a contract with them. We were quite exposed to the commercial traffic here, and if the commercials went at the correct speed, it wasn't too much of an issue, but some commercials go far too fast, and the boat was really rocked around, so Ayhan had to put stronger mooring lines on to compensate, and it mostly did the job. We enjoyed being immersed in the town and with the warming weather, it was lively and I was able to walk to the supermarket with ease from the boat and did a good stocking up of supplies.

The weather started to improve greatly and was getting warmer every day - a mini heatwave was on its way - so it was lovely to be where we were. We stayed here for 3 nights going out one night to an all you can eat buffet dinner including oysters and king prawns for €25 - if pre-paid - so we certainly made the most of the oysters and prawns, and on the last day, our good friends Shaun and Tracy from Continium - another Piper boat - came and moored along side us. It was so great to see them and we went on their boat for some bubbles, and then we went out to the Turkish restauant for dinner.

28th April - 2nd May - Isle Adam town to Cergy Marina ( 18.6km, 1 lock in 2.05 hrs). Cergy marina is also owned by the same company as Isle Adam marina, so we were able to use two more nights from our Isle Adam contract and only had to pay for two. The cruise was lovely, it was quiet on the river and the weather was perfect and the headphones were working, all was good with the world! 🥰

The marina was very small and so we stayed on the visitors pontoon, which is a floating pontoon on the side of the river and so yet again we were exposed to the commercial traffic, but Ayhan has mastered the mooring lines, so whilst a bit uncomfortable at times, it wasn't an issue. We basically had the visitors pontoon all to oursevles and being quite hidden from everyone, I was able to do some laundry and change over to summer bedding and hang everything out to air and dry. A great spring clean! Feeling ready for the cruising season to begin!

Cergy is a pretty town, the marina is surrounded by lots of lovely restaurants. We had a wander around and felt obliged to try some delicious crepes, and participate in happy hour and off course try the local fish and chips! Diet? what diet! Shaun & Tracy arrived a day after us and were moored a bit behind us, futher up the river. They walked into town the next evening and we went out for happy hour drinks and a bite to eat. Another lovely evening.

On our last day at Cergy, we went for a lovely 5km walk to the water-sports lake and to Axe Majeur - a rare piece of urban architecture which is quite spectacular. You can get a view across Paris from the 12 pillars at the top and on a clear day you can see the Eiffel Tower.

Cergy was going to be our starting point for our trip on the River Seine, through Paris and then out onto the Marne and the Champagne region, ready for our 30th wedding anniversary on 18th May. Unfortunately, some bad news came via the VNF app - this being the French Waterways app - advising us that a part of the Marne was closed, so we couldn't go that direction. We had thought about maybe going on the Bourgogne, but were a bit undecided if the river levels would drop further. There has been no rain, just like the UK, probably over-thinking things. Anyway, our descision was made for us, as that evening our fresh water-pump started to make strange noises, and our spare pump also didn't work, possibly faulty. We didn't want to risk continuing without getting at least one replacement pump, so decided to return to Isle Adam marina, where we would at least have access to loos and showers should the pump pack up completely.

2nd May - May - Cergy to Isle Adam Marina ( 20Km, 3 locks, 2hrs 25mins). As soon as we arrived back at the marina, I placed an order for two fresh water-pumps. I was told they would be delivered by 7th May. Keeping eveything crossed that our pump keeps going until then. The weather changed and became a lot cooler and very windy, so actually quite happy to be in a known marina. We like Isle Adam, so not a hardship to be back and we are not in a rush. Ayhan is always happy to wash his boat and the marina has plenty of room and strong water pressure for him to do this. 7th of May came with the promise of the delivery of the pumps, so whilst the e-mail said they would deliver between 8am and 1pm, they didn't as they just decided that they didn't want too!! 8th of May being a public holiday - VE day, we were told we would have to wait until Friday 9th May! Nothing we could do.

8th May we walked into Isle Adam to see if there would be any VE Day memorial events and we timed it perfectly and were there for the whole event. It was great to be a part of it.