It is isolated in the forest, without electronic distraction that one can really connect with nature and with others. And that’s exactly what the participants are experiencing during this expedition on the Magpie River.
From the first day of the trip, on the bus leading to the Sept-Îles, all participants had to part with their cell phone, their watches, and other electronic devices. The goal: to break the rhythm, take the time to live differently and allow participants to make real encounters.
What seemed terrifying to most of them actually proves beneficial to create stronger ties in the group, but also to take time for oneself, time to experience the rhythm of the river. “It makes it easier to live in the present,” says Roya still wondering how her friends are doing.
No need to know the time. Just need to let go according to the day’s activities. Just go ahead following the Magpie River’s powerful current.
This was also the day plan: to navigate through dozen large rapids after a morning hike (or a fishing trip for some). On the rivers, all the rapids have names (often given by the first rafters), and to start the day, we’ll waltz on the Porcupine rapid. Adrenaline rises quickly when water splashes onto everyone in the raft. A little refreshment is appreciated under the warm Augustsun.
“Straight ahead strong!” says Jean-François one of the guides, ordering his crew to avoid a rock. Catherine, Alexia, Madison, Roya, Mario and Aaron quickly react and they slide to the bottom of the rapid, smiling. The other two rafts follow and during the fast, two people find themselves in the water. Nothing to fear because they attended a white-water swimming initiation course on the day before and they quickly recovered by various boats.
And the action is just beginning. Then come the Snow White and the “Can Opener”, which gives us all strong emotions equal to that of the first rapid. After, we stop for lunch on the rocks facing an island where small waterfalls flow.
Upon arrival, a few fishermen cast their line in the water. “I’ll stay here a few more days. I will join you at the end of the river, ‘says Aaron joking after releasing another trout.
We then leave to go down the des tiers rapid and finally the Marmitte rapid, at the bottom of which we set up camp for the night.
The boats dock in a small bay and the participants’ eyes are bright. Everybody quickly helps out to prepare the camp, like a ballet that has long been rehearsed.
If the weather is ideal today, yesterday was much wetter! Even though it rained most of the day, the adventurers kept smiling and they worked to make the camp comfortable. We just gathered under the tent to spend time in groups. And everyone could sleep in a dry spot.