Welcome to the Poisson-Blanc Reservoir, a vast blue water surface one-hour North of Gatineau. Starting this morning, 14 voyageurs have embarked on a great adventure on board Voyageur canoes. In the group are six young adults who have lived with cancer or are still living with it and who have taken a break during this On the Tip of the Toes Foundation expedition as part of an outdoor group. We’ll tell you more about this most recent departure in a few minutes.
A Get-together Moment: 9 AM, Dorval Airport. For participants and support team, it’s introduction and departure time. Christine, Sophie, David, Ludovic, Marc-André and Patrick, they are all there, ready for the departure. Nayla, our nurse, will meet us in Gatineau.
A Joyous Moment: five minutes in the minibus, and everybody is laughing. Many participants know each other already. All, aboard, share memories of previous expeditions and jokes.
A Tim Horton’s Moment: If I may use this blog, I would like to thank the Tim Horton’s restaurant of du Pont street in Gatineau for the group discount they gave us on our two visits there for lunch.
An Air Eau Bois Moment: we meet Mario, one of the cofounders of On the Tip of the Toes Foundation, and his assistant, Charles-Édouard, a student in outdoor activities.
A Windy Moment: our first venture on the water together in the Voyageur canoe. The weatherman called for steady sunshine for the next three days, but a cold… sunshine. And it will be windy. Watch out for the sprays!
The Present Moment: stop the canoe, rest the paddles, close your eyes, be silent… and listen to the sounds of the forest and the water.
A Gourmet Moment: thanks to Robert, aka “the voyageur”, the base camp cook, for his delicious meals and his biscuits.
An Equipment Moment: Catherine and Marc-André, organisers and guides of the expedition, introduce us to the material we will be using: waterproof and polar clothing, neoprene socks, soft and warm sleeping bags, waterproof bags, and floor mats that transform into chairs!
A Mystery Moment: that is what it was when we were told we would bivouac on Mystery Island tomorrow. You should know that Mystery Island is a legend among campers and counsellors at Air Eau Bois Camp (including Catherine) who never set foot on it even though there are ten or so campsites on the island…
A Sharing Moment: assembled in a circle, we each recall what inspired us to join this expedition, what are our personal objectives and our fears… “It is an opportunity to take a break and it good for body and soul”, says Christine, a veteran of three expeditions. “Here, nobody passes judgement, says Patrick. It’s great to be with people who have experienced the same things you have.”
A Weird Moment: when, as a joke on Marc-André, Simon, the expedition’s physician, hid in a large travel bag!
Tomorrow, we’re off and paddling North!