It’s our first day together, and already, the forest has found its way onto our plates. Just a few minutes before writing these words, we were sitting around the campfire, enjoying balsam fir tea and sweet clover flower cookies (Quebec’s vanilla), kindly prepared and served by our guides. With the first sip, I realize that we are here, finally together, outside. We are drinking the forest, living in it, and it has now become our home for the next 10 days.
This morning, we woke up at the hotel and met for breakfast at 6:45 a.m. Silence. Almost no one was talking. It was calm and peaceful, but there was also a sense of excitement in the air. I love this exact moment when we are still strangers, but I know that soon we will become a close group, helping each other and sharing this adventure together.
As soon as breakfast was over, we met at the bus and started driving toward our destination for the evening. We made an unexpected stop at Giant Tiger to pick up a few missing items. We took the opportunity to have a break and play a game to stretch our legs before getting back on the road for the last 10 minutes.
Tonight, we are staying at Rafting Momentum. As soon as we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by Hyppolite and Jessica from Désir de découvrir, along with Anne Sophie and Nicolas, who will also be our guides during the expedition. They showed us around the site, and everyone took some time to settle in. Meanwhile, delicious European hot dogs were cooking over the fire. We took the time to eat, talk, play and introduce ourselves.
Opening circle
Eve Marie and Catherine leading a game to help us get to know each other
Now it’s time to put on our swimsuits! We get back on the road for just a few minutes and head to a large beach to learn how to paddle and practice different techniques to control our canoes. For many of us, this is our first time river canoeing. The youth learn different paddle strokes, including the draw stroke, cross draw, forward stroke and back stroke. The atmosphere is inspiring. It feels so good to be outside!
Ambila laughing and smiling while paddling.
Holley, very interested in learning the technical skills
Joël
Anne-Sophie
Elisabeth and Mya are together in their canoe. They splash each other and burst out laughing, then lose control and tip over. Anne Sophie takes the opportunity to explain what to do in this situation. We practice a T rescue.
Elisabeth et Mya
At the picnic table
Our first day of canoeing is a success! We return to camp to pack our bags, enjoy some good spaghetti and spend time together around the fire.
The conversations are already meaningful and touching. Together, we choose the values that will guide our expedition, what matters to us as a group, and we share the reasons that brought us here.
Loïs shares his thoughts. He reminds us that if we can experience so many beautiful moments and learn so much in just one day, imagine everything we can experience in 10 days… It almost feels impossible to imagine!
His words stay with us. The rest of our story is already beginning. The Coulonge River is calling us. We can’t wait!
See you tomorrow,
Geneviève
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