Tired Arms but Bright Hearts

Upon waking, after a good night’s sleep, there was that tingling excitement — the kind that comes before adventures filled with the unknown, self-discovery, and stepping out of your comfort zone. Today was the big day: we were setting off for 48 hours of paddling through the reservoir’s waters.

After breakfast, the participants gathered with Catherine and Marie-Michelle to review the gear and prepare for departure. Once everyone had assembled on the beach, the launching of the rabaskas began, perfectly timed to Azra’s Turkish countdown… Bir (one), Iki (two), Üç (three)! After that gentle start, in the middle of the reservoir, we experienced a timeless moment — a moment of silence in the very heart of Poisson Blanc. Unlike yesterday, when the waves and wind were strong, today the water was like glass. A silence so deep it was almost deafening filled the air. We eventually broke it to continue our journey toward the beach, where Café de la Pointe had prepared a delicious corn soup for us to enjoy in a heavenly setting. To digest a little, a game of cowboy on the beach led to a tight duel between Rosemarie and Sofia.

Once well fed, we still had a few kilometers to go before reaching our campsite for the night. So we grabbed our paddles again and headed north. Before arriving, we followed the rocky “Elephant” cliff — known to attract many climbers — and glided toward a sandy point bordered by evergreens, which would serve as our sleeping spot for the night. We set up our tents and made ourselves comfortable before Marie-Michelle, Catherine, Audréanne, Sofia, and the two Simons bravely took a sunset swim.

We ended the evening around the fire, enjoying Nutella-banana beaver tails! A true delight!

Finally, our muscles were heavy, our eyelids even heavier, but our hearts were light and proud. Tonight, on the shores of Poisson Blanc, the participants fell asleep exhausted, yet filled with a sense of accomplishment that no fatigue could erase. And after this night under the stars… more adventures await us tomorrow morning!

Julie De Serres