As I watch the campsite being dismantled, an observation comes to mind, a reflection on where we are as a group. Two words in specific: organized chaos.
The participants are starting to understand what they need to do but the process to get there isn’t exactly clear yet. And the same thing goes for when we’re on the water: they know the different paddling techniques, but they’re not quite sure when to use them.
But if we compare ourselves to four days ago, it’s a world of a difference: relationships are being formed, as are friendships and the camaraderie is palpable. The learning curve was quite steep the first few days, but it’s starting to plateau, and things are becoming easier.
Before getting on the water, Jake gives us a short lesson on hydrodynamics to help us understand the roles of the paddlers in the front and in the back of the canoe. This should help us be more efficient on the water.
After quite a winding white-water section, we take another moment to reflect. To our surprise, birds show up and we’re treated to a concert by sparrows, chickadees, and kingfishers.
A little further down the river, a couple of adult bald eagles, easily recognizable by their white heads and tails, gave us a show. They look absolutely majestic perched up on their pine tree.
Fishers Marie-Michelle and Emeric record their first catches today: one smallmouth bass each that’ll soon find its way to our dinner plates.
Our stomachs are once again pleasantly filled with burritos for breakfast, grilled-cheese sandwiches and vegetable soup for lunch, white rice with dahl for dinner, and a chia seed pudding for dessert.
The sky is grey all day and it rains a few times. As we arrive at the campsite, the storm clouds rumble, but we’re safe once again as only a bit of rain falls.
Because of the cloudy skies, our last two nights have been hot and humid. As I write this blog, I can tell the sky is clearing up and our night will be cooler and more comfortable.
We’ve reached the halfway point of our expedition. Julien and Marie-Michelle take a moment to ask the participants to share their impressions of the last six days.
They come back to the goals the participants set and whether or not they believe they’ve met them. To complete this reflection, the participants are also asked to identify their best moment so far and what they’re going to pay more attention to over the last days.
The participants answer the questions very generously. But like I mentioned before, what is said on the Spanish River, stays on the Spanish River. If you want to know what they said, you’ll have to get to know one of the participants and ask them the questions yourself. It’ll be up to them whether to share or not.
Have a great night and see you tomorrow.
Louis-Étienne Provost
Volunteer photographer-blogger for the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation
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Translated by Anna Tomczyk
In pictures
