Day 106 – A Slow Day in Sicily Planning the Next Stage of Our Family Adventure

Day 106 was always going to be a quieter one. We knew some bad weather was rolling in with rain forecast for most of the day, so we didn’t plan anything major. Instead, it turned into a day of staying in and trying to plan the next parts of the trip.

That kind of planning takes a surprising amount of time. We’ve been moving quickly lately and hadn’t really sat down properly to look ahead. Coming to Sicily wasn’t exactly rushed, but we were pretty keen to come and see Mount Etna and explore this part of the world. In hindsight, it probably would have helped to spend a bit more time researching the area and what was happening around us before committing to the stop. Whether it would have changed our decision or not, I’m not sure. Maybe slightly, maybe not. Either way, it reminded us that we need to give ourselves proper time to think about where we’re heading next and what we actually want to do once we get there.

The morning followed our usual routine. We were up around seven, coffees on, breakfast sorted, and the kids got stuck into their schoolwork. I jumped on the laptop expecting to see a few replies to emails I’d sent out, but nothing had come through. Work was pretty quiet, so it ended up being a bit of a nothing day on that front.

From there, most of the day was spent on laptops and phones trying to piece together the next parts of the journey. Looking at destinations, transport options, timing, costs, visa rules, weather, and trying to make it all fit together. It sounds simple, but when you’re planning months ahead while also living day to day, it can feel like a full-time job.

By mid-afternoon we all needed a break from staring at screens. Maddie had been keen to use some new paints and craft supplies we bought for her, so we headed down to the beach so she could paint some rocks. Maddie and Kia set up near the rocks and got into the painting while Emmett and I wandered around skipping stones and checking out the playground nearby.

It was nice to get outside for a bit, even if the weather was closing in. Unfortunately it didn’t last very long. Not long after we arrived, the rain started coming down and we had to pack everything up quickly and head back to the apartment.

Once we were back it was straight into dinner, and then right back into trip planning again. We spent the evening talking through different options, looking at maps, checking distances, and trying to make sense of the next few months. By the end of it, it felt like we’d spent the entire day working on it.

The funny part is that after all that effort, it didn’t feel like we’d made much progress. We kind of went around in circles a bit.

It’s probably one of the hardest parts of a trip like this. Before we left home we had some ideas about where we wanted to go and how things might unfold, but once you’re actually out here living it, plans shift. New opportunities pop up, logistics change, and sometimes the places you thought would be perfect turn out a little different than expected.

The good thing is we’ve still got plenty of time ahead of us to figure it all out.

And days like this, even if they feel a bit slow, are part of the journey too.