About yesterday… I wrote it was -20°C… we found out this morning that it was rather -30°C. Jean-Charles, our guide, said that it was the most demanding day of his 15-year career as a snowmobile guide (a combination of duration, difficulty and cold…) and that he was quite proud of the youths. “95% of Quebec snowmobilers would not dare go through with what we faced yesterday. You can be proud of yourselves, as you overcame those difficulties with class”
Mario Bilodeau, one of the founders of On the Tip of the Toes, said to me one day that when the elements prevented him from climbing a mountain, he was philosophical about it: “I say to myself that the mountain determined that I was not ready yet.”
I was reminded of his comments this morning. Mother Nature demanded a price from us to brave the great white North. We paid it with humility, we overcame the difficulties, and she welcomed us in her midst. She determined that we were ready, that we were worthy. What an honour, what bliss!
End of digression…
We certainly deserved this morning of relaxation. Let’s go back to yesterday: breakfast, drying of our clothes, prepare the luggage… We left around noon, as this was a short 25 km day.
In no time flat, we arrived at Georges’ and his family’s camp. We quickly took possession of our prospector’s tents, our home for the next two days.
Then, we were off to get drinkable water, a session of banik, the wonderful native bread, with Georges’ wife and daughters, and card games with stimulating discussions.
We said a Cree prayer before dinner, and our group of some thirty congregated in the cabin for homemade soup and delicious moose stew.
It is warm this evening (about -6°C), yet there is a smell of summer emanating from the tents and the cabin. Could that warmth irradiate from our hearts?