Today was our third and final day on the water. We’re getting really good at it! The tents and gear are “dry-bagged” and the kayaks are filled in a wink. We quickly eat up our pancakes (yum!), we warm up under our guide Tony’s instructions, and off we are!! In the water. The sky is blue, the river is calm, we “eat up” kilometres as we would blueberries in a field.
There’s a bit of white water, it’s exciting to get around the rocks (or get stuck in them, oops! In case the shoe fits—haha!). At 2:30 p.m. sharp, we arrive at KM2 of the road, shortly after devouring an original lunch consisting of pizza wrap (a kind of homemade camping pizza!) and delicious salad made of pasta and chickpeas.
It’s right on time for the appointment given to Phil who had to take a break from the expedition. It serves as the perfect welcoming committee on its own! We are all happy to find him and it was sweet to see him hug his daughter: they missed each other.
Tonight, a feast with regional flavours and amazing discussions about the fire await us. I heard that the young people were up to a way to have candy delivered… I can’t wait to tell you little bits of that tomorrow.
It’s Perseids time: part 1
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Thursday night, it was as if nature had prepared a fireworks show for Gabriel’s 20th birthday. All in circles, half lying on the sand, releases “OH” and “AH”. The wonder and many laughs were felt.
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A participating mother asked her daughters to take her hand, to make a last wish, before going to bed. I imagined tight hands which, symbolically, will never let go. Welded to love.
It’s Perseids time: part 2
I asked the young participants if they would agree to share a wish, a shooting star wish, with the On the Tip of the Toes community. They generously accepted on the spot:
For the community, I wish to be able to work on myself, to be a better person, more understanding and to better appreciate the present moment. —Gabriel
I hope that no kid would ever have cancer again —Émilie
I hope that a cure for cancer is found, without chemo, without suffering. —Tanya
’ I hope all children who have cancer get to know the Foundation and have expedition experience. ‘-Loryanne
’ I hope my sister and all my family to stay healthy. ”— Rose-Marie
These hopes were shared with me for you, dear readers, with such sincerity; I hope they reach you straight to the heart. They don’t know it, but they made my eyes water. Ah! these dear cubs of our pack, they have their worth in gold.
Although it isn’t talked about too much in the field, I couldn’t help but think about what they and their loved ones must have been going through with the disease, too. The Familia Aventura, that’s a good name they chose for the expedition: the family, a big project, an adventure of every moment.
In fact, if I may, I was particularly touched by Ro’s sharing, the youngest of the group, most people’s little sister. She was there to accompany her older sister recovering from the illness. As you may already know, this expedition is a pilot project; it is not the Foundation’s practice to travel with parents and siblings. Yet, as is well known, everyone in a family suffers on different scales when the disease’s ordeals strike. Rose-Marie shared with me her family’s wish with such candour, naive and deep love like the sea blue of her laughing eyes. A lovely little sister, faithful and unwavering; it made me think of mine and all your little sisters and your little brothers. It was really moving.
Tonight, I hope to tie each of these wishes to a shooting star, as one rolls a tight little piece of paper and tosses it into a bottle in the sea. I deeply wish that each of these wishes reach their destination. Like you, here and where you are, we will be able to see the greatness of their hopes light up the sky in the form shooting stars.
“OH” “AH”!
Marie-Hélène Beaudry
Blogger-Photographer
In pictures
