After the long day yesterday, we decided to sleep in this morning. Wake up call was set at 8 a.m. The group was allowed to leisurely go about their morning routine and we left camp at… noon!
The breakfast menu was freshly caught walleye filets with a ham and Portobello omelette. The protein will serve us well as we mush navigate through the huge Peterbell peat land before continuing on the Missinaibi River. The first rapids of the day soon came up: the Swamp rapids, a rather straightforward Class 2, with no protruding rocks, but near the end there is a dead tree trunk smack in the middle of the river. A no brainer: the guides and the more seasoned participants will take the baggage and canoes down the rapids one by one as the rest of us will use the portage trail. Even though the rapids are easy, the slightest navigation error could have disastrous consequences.
As we continue down river, we come across short Class 1 rapid, so insignificant that it has no name… But, no matter, it got the best of some of our travelers; Mario, Steven and Adriana capsized following Mario’s navigation error! As one bad thing easily leads to another, Magalie ended up in the water following her own error, as Michel, her canoe partner, managed to stay on board. No fear, no harm in both instances… only a general fit of laughter and the cool water, quite welcome under the sunny skies we’ve been experiencing since the first day.
Then, it’s on to Allen Falls, an obvious portage, then to Wavy Rapids, where we have planned to set up camp today. First, we dock above the rapids to take a closer look before going further. This is how we arrived at our planned camping site… already occupied by a group of 14 YMCA members from Ontario! Fortunately, there is room for all of us. Given how late it was in the day, we decided to wait till morning to go down Wary Rapids, a Class 2, with roller coaster like waves. Francis who has lost a leg to cancer will be the only one to go down the rapids tonight, as the portaging trail from where we left of canoes (until the morning) to the camping site is very slippery in some sections. Mario and he will cruise the rapids in spectacular fashion under the incredulous eyes of the rest of the group… we’re all anxious to do the same tomorrow!
In the minutes preceding the evening meal, our participants open up… One girl tells me she was overcome with nervousness, even fear, during the first two days of our trip. She says she gradually became more comfortable and to her astonishment that happened very rapidly. She already feels transformed by the expedition; she is becoming aware of new strengths and new capabilities she did’nt know she had until now. The magic of therapeutic adventures is once again at work… And this is only day three of our expedition…