Our second night of sailing was every bit as sublime as the previous one. First, we were blessed with a magical moonrise as it emerged from the sea. Then the stars came out one by one, twinkling with a fire that has guided and reassured sailors since time immemorial. A row of dancing lights also marked the horizon: an ancient overseas telecommunications system made up of a myriad of antennas linked by a cable on the Nova Scotia coast in the Northumberland Strait. Best of all, the first shift team witnessed a meteorite pass through a coal-filled sky. We envy them!
Strong southerly winds accompany the sunrise. The sea rises and crashes on all sides, sometimes in triangular waves, sometimes in two-metre-high breaking waves. Let’s face it: it’s rocking and rolling… and some people’s breakfasts have ended up in the sea sooner than expected… The Roter Sand then takes us under the Confederation Bridge, the longest bridge in the country, spanning the 14 kilometres that separate New Brunswick from Red Gulf Island, famous for its potatoes…
Nous arrivons en milieu d’après-midi à notre destination du jour, Summerside, une petite ville de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard. Mine de rien, nous aurons touché à quatre provinces différentes au cours de ce périple, une première pour la Fondation. Une fois amarré au quai public, nous bénéficions d’un bloc de 2 heures de temps libre avant le souper. Les adultes partent pour l’épicerie tandis que les jeunes en profitent pour déambuler sur la promenade côtière et manger de la crème glacée.
By mid-afternoon we had arrived at our destination for the day, Summerside, a small town on Prince Edward Island. In total, we will have visited four different provinces on this trip, a first for the Foundation. Once moored at the public wharf, we had a two-hour block of free period before dinner. The adults head off to the grocery store, while the kids take the opportunity to stroll along the boardwalk and eat ice cream.
This evening marks the high point of our trip. Tuesday will be our last day on the water, and the plan is to have dinner in a restaurant. That’s why we’ve decided to have our sharing circle tonight. It’s a tradition that marks the Foundation’s expeditions. Participants, young and old alike, are invited to share what they remember most about their experience and why. We’re talking about joy. New acquaintances. New friends. We’re talking about being able to switch off. But most of all, we’re talking about a platform where you can talk to like-minded people, young people who share a common experience, young people who understand without having to say a word. Words that say a lot about the state of mind of the members of our group. Our eyes may be wet, but our hearts are light.
Translated by Lorraine Gagnon