The second day of our adventure was dedicated to the preparation for our expedition.
Early in the morning, after breakfast, the participants received their travelling clothing. Michel and Catherine, the leaders of the group, briefed us on the proper use of the technical apparel during our outdoor trek. Then, it was finally time to go outside and enjoy the open spaces of Ontario.
All morning, we explored nearby Bernard Lake on snowshoes. It was a great way to stretch our legs before leaving tomorrow on a five-day trip in the woods. Weather-wise, all seems great: the sun will shine in the blue skies, and the temperature will be mild. We talked, had fun and spent our energy during our ride.
Then, we came back to the hotel, the Northridge Inn, for lunch. Owners Mike and Brenda were expecting us with good hot soup and great sandwiches. We must mention their excellent service. No matter what our needs are, they provide for us. And, the beds are so comfortable!
In the early afternoon, we continued our preparation, this time it was all about packing for our expedition. We had a demonstration of the best way to maximize the use of our travel bags and also what to bring to make our dogsledding expedition a success. Our leaders checked every bag to make sure everyone had packed the required supplies.
After that important preparation exercise, the rest of the afternoon was leisurely. Some of us enjoyed the sun while others got into a heated game of Monopoly.
Before the evening meal, we held a discussion circle, undoubtedly the most emotional part of the day. The idea was for each participant, on a voluntary basis, to tell the group what motivated them to register for this wonderful adventure. It must be said that we have a very strong group. Our young people are very open. They have different raisons for joining our expedition, yet they are similar. They want to have fun, make new friends, push back their limitations, improve their fitness, leave their comfort zone, acquire more autonomy, talk about their situation with people who know first hand about it, fill up on positive moments in the outdoors, etc. It was an open hearted discussion, emotional yet very positive for the whole group. Our young people living with cancer and true warriors!
After the evening meal, the guides from Chocpaw Expeditions who will be part of our expedition tomorrow, talked to us about dogsledding. They will lead our adventure and will teach us the basics about our sled dogs.
All in all, it was a very busy day in preparation for our departure tomorrow. When can’t wait for the long-awaited moment when we wake up tomorrow. We are ready!