On this third day of our great journey, today marks the beginning of our canoe adventure. The guides reveal the itinerary little by little, each day, so we can live in the moment — no anticipating, no planning — just gradually becoming more present, here and now.
On this third day of our great journey, today marks the beginning of our canoe adventure. The guides reveal the itinerary little by little, each day, so we can live in the moment — no anticipating, no planning — just gradually becoming more present, here and now.
The mornings begin with eclectic tunes and melodies. A little later, one of the facilitators calls out “Everybody,” and the group launches into a fiery performance, singing and dancing to Everybody by the Backstreet Boys. Then Catherine begins a sentence with “… when I was young …,” sparking a debate with Tobiasz about whether it’s a Céline Dion song or one by The Trammps… In short, there’s a lot of flair in this group of fantastic human beings. There’s no room for boredom — every word becomes an anthem to the joy of being here, in nature, together.
Little joy of the day: Caroline, in full “all you can nut” mode, indulging in loads of Nutella. Her partner is allergic to nuts, so she can’t have any at home. During the expedition, she’s treating herself.
Before heading out on the water, the participants are supported in trimming down their luggage. Out goes the number-one enemy of expeditions — cotton! The goal is to eliminate the excess, but not forget the base layers, water shoes, day gear, evening gear… Mastering the dry/wet clothing system is key to staying comfortable on this kind of trip.
Despite the gear check by Marie-Michelle and Catherine, some participants still manage to surprise us with unexpected items. Tobiasz, for instance, brings out a striped onesie pajama (yes, one-piece pajamas exist for adults too), prompting Marie-Michelle to say, “… I don’t think you showed me that on your packing check-up …” to which Tobiasz replied, “… noooo! And I’ve got other stuff you’ll soon discover!” We laughed a lot, and we’re definitely curious to see what else he’s hiding.
Once the certified bags are packed into their barrels, participants are shuttled to the canoe departure point in the La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve. They receive safety instructions, an overview of the day’s route, a refresher on paddling techniques, and how to properly load the canoes.
Participants face a strong headwind and some choppy water. They paddle just under two kilometers to a remote campsite on a small island. The navigation went quickly, smoothly, and with confidence. Machines, really.
Upon arrival, Catherine shares a ritual she came to appreciate in Latin America — thanking Pachamama, Mother Earth. A way to celebrate nature’s richness and our connection to it, a reminder that we are not separate from it, but deeply intertwined. The group agrees to make it their ritual upon arriving at camp.
Once there, our guides from Désir de découvrir assign tasks to the participants: cooking meals, doing the dishes, building latrines, managing water. These responsibilities will rotate among teams at each campsite. Everyone carries out their duties with excellence.
Time is shared between technical instructions, safety and hygiene briefings, swims, animated or casual conversations, getting to know one another, the sound of loons, mosquito management, and time that no longer needs to be counted, only lived. And yet, it matters — because it takes on meaning and strengthens the human connections being woven.
Now I’ll leave you, as I hear the sounds of voices and ukuleles (yes, we have three with us) rising in the distance. I’ll talk to you tomorrow and, if the trend continues, I predict that by the end of this expedition, the Fondation team will be treated to a show of fabulous hidden talents. I promise to send VIP invitations!
Gabrielle
In pictures
