Good morning!
We wake up to the call of a loon, the sound of a ukulele, Catherine and Marie-Michelle singing Redemption Song to us, and laughter from the kitchen team preparing delicious breakfast burritos.
The weather is beautiful and the fire is warm.
Pénélope has been awake for a long time. She has prepared a surprise for us: an inukshuk inspired by the Foundation’s logo. She has talent!
Catherine meditates by the water, looking out at the mist and colours, while Éric and Marie-Michelle have coffee together, savouring the colourful view. Everything is so good on an expedition! Especially the coffee!
Steve, Claude and Lucas (aka Serge, Charles and Louis) serve us breakfast (as usual, it’s a big hit). Let me explain: yesterday, I accidentally called Serge “Steeve,” and this morning, it happened again. It sparked a little affectionate chaos and some wonderful silliness in our group (which lasted all day, and we think it will continue for a long time). Long live expedition jokes, the ones that create unforgettable memories, inside jokes that no one else understands, and moments that make us cry with laughter (aren’t those the greatest and best moments in the world?).
The sun rises over our campsite, and the light breaks through the forest. We begin packing our things to head to our next campsite.
Before leaving, the group sits down for a discussion where everyone can share their experience with the illness. To close the circle and our shared space, we take the time to add rocks to the inukshuk (one each, even one for Steeve), a small, fleeting mark that holds great symbolic meaning for us.
Off we go for another half-day on the water! Our first stop is at an enormous rock so Nick and Naomi can fulfil their dream for the day: cliff jumping. What a way to push beyond their limits!
The journey is beautiful, the water rocks us gently, and the deep conversations continue. In my rabaska, Lee, Nick and I talk about the future, about life “after cancer,” about our lives and our realities. We encourage one another and give each other courage. It’s inspiring and motivating. Realistic, too.
After an hour or two (we don’t really have a sense of time here), we arrive at Las Palmas (or Los Palmos), another beach where we stop for lunch.
Once again, the Café de la Pointe team welcomes us with a lovely mocktail in the sunshine. Some take the opportunity to nap on the sand, others to keep chatting, and a few to spend some time on their own.
In the afternoon, Nick and Catherine learn to steer the rabaskas. They’re really good! They’ll take us all the way to our final campsite (already).
Over the last few miles, we play games, and the mood is light and playful.
Our final stop is at Pointe du Natjelaime. Tonight, we share our last campfire as US. We take time to reflect, time to share, and then time to sing together. I’m touched to hear the insights people are taking away from this experience.
Certain words stay with me like an echo: ease, simplicity, unity, reunion, compass, stillness, heartwarming, no bullshit, slowing down, connection, bonding, togetherness…
I’ve said it often: every group is special in its own way. This one touches my heart differently.
” We are Steeve” is, for us, a little blend of all these words and a summary of our experience. A rare balance between fun and more serious moments, deep connection and heartfelt conversations. It’s comforting to know this exists. It’s reassuring to be together in this way. Fully human, vulnerable, small, big, strong, and above all, together.
Life on an expedition has so much to teach us (or remind us of), and tonight, I go to bed feeling deeply grateful to know there are still such precious people who give so that experiences like these can exist.
See you tomorrow!
Geneviève
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