Time Flies Faster Than We Think

I’m writing to you live from the beach at our site, a beautiful sandy point where we can watch the sun set. The light is golden, the sounds of nature surround us. We are here, well settled at our first campsite.

Two Hands Apart
This morning, we woke up to the sound of Three Little Birds on the ukulele and the harmonious voices of Colleen, Myriam, and our facilitators Ève-Marie and Marie-Michelle. You could feel the excitement in the lodge. Breakfast was pancakes, tea, and coffee, and already we were preparing our bags for a day of rabaska-camping. We had two hands (or 10 km) of distance to travel. Would we make it?

We paddled in the sun. Behind me, Caroline (our doctor) and Amy were sharing ideas, dreams, ambitions, visions, and projects that had been put on hold, but were still there, like distant reference points. It feels good to be outside, away from screens, simply.

The Café de la Pointe
Time flies faster than we think. We arrived at our lunch site. The logistics team — Charles-Antoine, Éric, and Serge — welcomed us with big smiles, hot drinks, a well-pitched tarp, and their Café de la Pointe aprons. It felt like the comforting equivalent of an all-inclusive, wilderness-camping version. We felt spoiled.

Whistling Like a Kettle
The rain began, with perfect timing. We were dry, warm, and took a break to eat under shelter. Myriam decided to teach us how to whistle with our hands. The girls burst out laughing, and we discovered that Monica whistles like a kettle. Everyone tried, and the moment became more and more hilarious. Before leaving, we played Yee Haw! Probably the longest game in history. No one wanted to stop playing — it was a beautiful moment of connection and joy.

The Return of the Light
The rain stopped, and we continued on our way to the site for the night. Isabelle decided to steer the rabaska; it was her first time, and she was talented. We stopped at Elephant Cliff. There, we decided to let go of what no longer served us. A collective cry as a sign of great release, followed by a silence full of meaning, understanding, and mutual support that can’t quite be explained. The sun came out again, and the water began to sparkle. The combination of colorful trees and shimmering water was perfect. We admired, we appreciated, and before we knew it, we had arrived. Shouts of joy, celebrations — we were proud of what we had accomplished together.

Sparkles and Risotto
We took some time to set up camp, then gathered on the beach to watch the sunset. Some went swimming; Katherine and Jessica enjoyed the lake, Leah read a book, Jessie and Sophie chatted, while Liz contemplated the view. We immortalized the day with our official group photo, a delicious beet risotto by the fire, and a sharing circle that was sincere and authentic. We felt fulfilled, accomplished, relaxed, and relieved!

Geneviève Locas