Hi! This is me right now:
I’m writing from under my double tarp to protect myself from the sun. I couldn’t wait to take the time to tell you about our day. Here we go with more canoe camping stories!
It all begins with a gentle, cool and misty morning. In the distance, we can hear the sound of the falls and the rapids that await us tomorrow. For the first time since the beginning of the expedition, there is no wake up call. Everyone can get up at their own pace. It feels good.
Holley and Julien are the first to wake up. We spend some time together talking quietly, then Steve arrives and teaches them how to start a fire without matches or paper. They then begin cooking breakfast with the guides’ help.
Today, we are giving ourselves a second day to simply enjoy the moment, continue learning about river canoeing and rest. We are staying on our long beach. It is the perfect spot!
Our plan includes laundry, swimming, hiking, a lesson on swimming in rapids, tandem canoe practice and a solo canoeing lesson.
We begin by hiking to the top of the falls. Anne Sophie gives us a short lesson on foraging and shares some information about certain plants and mushrooms. To our great delight, we find a few chanterelles that we bring back for dinner. We also discover several other species. We are excited and fascinated by all the little treasures the forest reveals to us.
Once we reach our destination, we take a break to swim and test whether our submersible ukulele is truly waterproof. A little bit of Trio in the water is a huge success!
After a quick lunch break, we head back toward the falls, this time to the lower rapids, to practise a few river swimming techniques. Nicolas has us practise at three stations: cliff jumping, swimming toward an eddy and floating down a section on our backs. We also take the opportunity to bring out Larry, our new pet flamingo.
Back at camp, Jessica heads out in a canoe with part of the group so the young participants can continue deepening their knowledge. She makes sure to offer constructive feedback and tips so that each participant can improve and build their confidence.
At the end of the afternoon, Loïs, Samy, Joel, Annik, Steve and Ève Marie head back out on the water for a solo canoeing lesson. Meanwhile, Adeline, Ambila and Élisabeth enjoy some free time, Mya takes a nap in the shade, Julien tends to the fire and Marshall talks with Nicolas.
We are already more than halfway through the expedition. Tonight, we will take some time to pause, reflect as a group and give everyone an opportunity to express themselves. It is a precious moment that allows us to connect even more deeply and adjust anything that needs to be adjusted for the rest of the expedition.
I am finishing my text a little earlier so I can be fully present with them during this important moment.
I’ll be back tomorrow with more!
Geneviève
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