Next stop - Edam. It had to be done!

Thur 4/7/19

The trip around Flevoland really is straight forward and we only needed to negotiate one lock before entering the Markerkmeer. Next stop Edam. We just couldn't visit Holland and give this place a miss. We stayed at the De Zeevang Marina a short stroll to the village. This is another community run marina with very helpful and obliging staff - they even loaned us bikes for free! Edam is another stunning town with lovely houses lining the canals and a very picturesque old town. As you might expect, it also has plenty of cheese shops. I can recommend the very old goat cheese and the truffle infused cheese.  Yum.

Boats line the canals all the way from the marina into the town

The town square - a good place for a drink and to watch the world go by

We ate at an Italian restaurant - La Galeria and returned on our loaned bikes along the picturesque canals to the marina.

Fri 5/7/19

Knowing how busy Sixhaven gets at the weekend, we set off in time to be back at the marina for 1200 in order to give us a fighting chance of getting a berth. Tomorrow was the big day - Jane's 60th - and the boys assured me they'd get up early to help blow up the balloons and decorate the boat. This was not to be!

We opted for a simple meal and then retired to the canal-side beer emporium that James and I had discovered earlier. It was clear early on that the boys were in party mood so Jane and I left them to it at about 2300.

We were awoken at 2a.m. as they stumbled on board. I knew then, decorating the boat would be a solo job!