And here we go!

Welcome in our adventure! We are very pleased that you have chosen to join us via this blog and Facebook. We will use these platforms to allow you to follow the ups and downs of the participants in the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation canoe expedition of summer of 2017. As you may know, we will spend the next few days in the Outaouais Region (QC), paddling on the Noire River.

To the extent that the technology will allow us (a break or damage is always a possibility … especially with a very low-speed Internet satellite connection, a laptop computer and a generator carried around in a canoe!), we will update both the blog and Facebook on a daily basis. The latter become somewhat our diary, which will be enhanced with the pictures of the day. The photos will be displayed on Facebook and the Flick r page of the Foundation. You can also follow us practically in real time by consulting our InReach map pinned on the Facebook page of the Foundation.

And, of course, there is no need to worry if one morning our blog is not displayed or if the InReach map seems to indicate that we have stopped somewhere on the river… There is a very strong chance that everything will go well for us and that in fact the clouds, a mountain a forest canopy might block the satellite signal!

So, without further delay, here we are…
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Our first day of expedition began yesterday… In fact, it is on a scorching Tuesday that Marie-Michelle Paradis, Marie-Camille Provencher, Marc-André Galbrand—all of them facilitators for the Foundation—and me made the trip linking Chicoutimi to Montreal. On Tuesday evening, we were joined by Kye from Calgary, Cynthia from Laval, Justine from l’Assomption, Guillaume and Sophie from Quebec as well as Morgan and Jody from Edmonton. This group will be completed early in the morning with the arrival of Catherine, Andrée-Anne and Ali from Montreal, Marjolaine from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Alexy from Sabrevois. All this happy gang will hit the road in the direction of the Outaouais region in order to pick up Marianne on the way as well as our medical volunteers who were waiting for us in Gatineau: our doctor Caroline Cantin, our nurse Naila Legault and our specialized educator, Robert Pigeon.

The bus had not yet moved that already friendships were forming. The participants had had the chance to get to know each other during the preparatory meeting 2 weeks ago, for some in person, for other via Skype. The bus trip was somehow like a reunion and the discussions were thriving: “Oh my God, I cannot believe that I will miss the new episodes of Games of Thrones! Have you seen at the latest? ”, “I will miss my boyfriend so much! And you? ”, “No, but what do you think is meant by wasting one’s life?” And so, we reached our campsite without noticing the time flying by.

We have lunch on a rocky peak with a magnificent view on the majestic Ottawa River. The heat is overwhelming and we have a swim in the refreshing water. During the next two hours, we will be introduced to canoeing techniques. We are having a field day, splashing each other, having fun and, I must admit that participants impress us by their ease in mastering the canoeing techniques. The afternoon will end with a presentation on the camping equipment that will subsequently be distributed to participants.

Just before the supper, we have our first sharing circle. We invite the participants to share their personal objectives for the present therapeutic adventure expedition. It is a moving moment. Very moving. We talk about reducing anxiety, feeding self-confidence, self-assertion, enjoying life, getting back in shape, stepping out of one’s comfort zone, exchanging with those having a similar experience. To tell you everything, these participants are fantastic! They are open, authentic, sensitive, supportive. The rest of the week is promising…

J-Charles Fortin, Blogger and Photographer for On the Tip of the Toes

P.S.: Lots of photos today… Enjoy while we have a standard Internet connection… We will have to settle for connection via satellite beginning tomorrow……