Saturday Morning, Marie-Josée invited us at her home for breakfast. She prepared a regal feast on a superb table setting. In a joyous atmosphere, we shared our meal one more time.

For their last day at the Havre, our adventurers were treated to a surprise. Pierre and Mireille, friends of Marie-Josée, offered to take us on their catamaran for a ride on the sea. We passed Île du Havre where we spent the first two nights before heading for the open sea for a further exploration of the territory. With the wind blowing in the sails, lying in the netting, this excursion was a wonderful relaxation.

For the last evening, Jeff and Héléna organized an evening around the campfire. As we did midway through the expedition, each of us was asked to describe in one word his or her experience. This was a precious moment of sharing. The generosity expressed by everyone generated for each of us a feeling of exceptional well-being and filled us with energy. These words described for each person what they gained from this experience. You won’t be surprised to learn that I chose the word “Paradise”… Because of the beauty of the site and the rich diversity of the place, but mostly because time came to a halt, because I met exceptional people, because I had a unique experience and because of the many small joys that reminded me of the essence of life. For eleven days, we lived ‘in the present’ away from our usual daily routine. Each one of us will return to this paradise. When times are difficult, this is where we will find strength and inspiration and also the simple pleasure of seeing those smiles again.

We returned Sunday, a little sick at heart but above all, happy! In spite of the distance separating us, we now form a close group. Thank you all!

Time to say goodbye. Thank you for accompanying us on this expedition. I hope you will join us again for the next one…

This is the last morning of the expedition part of our fabulous eight-day epic in the Mingan Archipelago. The seals are singing in the distance. The sun shines brightly and the sea is very calm. We will head for the Havre in peace. We’re all rather slow; our bodies feel the weight of the expedition… It is difficult to leave Paradise!

Kayaks together, we paddle slowly to enjoy our last moments at sea. Exceptional colours, a soft sea breeze and many beautiful birds of different species are with us all the way. We make a last short stop at Île du Havre, our home base island.

As we near the Havre, we sense the end of our adventure. We make a “raft” of our kayaks and we hold hands. Héléna invites us to use these last moments to relive our best memories, take in the images of the wilderness, and fully appropriate our adventure. Everybody applauds, as we are happy and fulfilled by this unique experience. Together, we faced the challenge of this eight-day trip in total autonomy, and we did it with a smile on our face! Congratulations gang! You are heroes and you have carved a special place in my heart.

We paddle past the wharf of the Havre. Sylvie and hospital employees are there to greet us. They congratulate us, as they know what we have just been through. We are in frenzy. One last rallying cry and we bring everything back to Agaguk’s!

After a well-deserved shower, we return to the Inn, our home for the next two days. Whatever is wet, which is pretty much everything, is put to dry. Éric has made a delicious couscous, which we enjoy together around the same table where, eight days ago, we had our breakfast before leaving the Inn on our expedition.

Finally, it’s guitar time, and we hold a group sing-along on the beach with Jeff. We will use the next two days to “unwind” before returning to reality. We make good use of every moment, before going our separate ways.

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During the eight days of this expedition, we saw it all: rain and fair weather, high and low tide, easterly and westerly winds! Today, we have the wind at our backs to get to our last campsite. A welcome situation as we undertake the return trip, the expedition part of our adventure now coming to an end. We have a long way to go, nearly twenty kilometres. While we are not retracing our steps exactly, we will paddle by each island where we slept before reaching Pointe aux morts, on dry land.

It was quite an experience to have the wind at our backs. Paddling, we raced over the water, what a feeling. Indeed, we were flying! We were comfortable despite the size of the waves. To give you an idea, at times we lost sight of the kayak in front of us for a brief moment before it reappeared on top of the next wave. With our tandem kayaks, it was easy to sail under such conditions and the teenagers enjoyed it. They did sing each day, but today there was a special kind of energy, probably because of the wind coming in from the sea.

Safely at destination, everyone got busy. A now familiar routine, the campsite was up in a flash, instructions are no longer necessary, well nearly! Today, we had the best hot dogs and hamburgers in the whole world. Might as well tell you, everything tastes better outdoors. The wind has died down and we spent a wonderful evening, our last, around the campfire. We knew, without saying it, that this was our last evening together, in isolation and away from civilization. There was a bit of nostalgia in the air, but I believe everyone knew that these memories would be with us forever.

Today was a superb day. As our own Alex-Anne said: “It was like the roller-coaster at La Ronde, without the queues.”

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This is the coldest morning of our expedition so far. The wind came up during the night and it continues to blow. We woke up with the wind in our face but we’re comfy and warm in our down jackets. To make things better, Éric lights a fire and we’re invited to warm up in the shelter. During an expedition even the colder mornings are good.

There is a lot of excitement this morning. As usual, we prepare the fruit and hot beverages but today we also blow up balloons, and we’re in a festive mood. This is a special day. This is Nathan’s birthday. O, to turn sixteen in the Mingan Archipelago! Being shy by nature, he seems a little embarrassed as he opens the door and hears his new friends sing “Happy Birthday to You”. His smile says it all… I bet he’ll never forget his sixteenth birthday.

The wind maintains its force. Jacynthe and Éric listen to the maritime weather bulletin. We decide to wait awhile to see if the wind will calm down. We have only a short distance to go, but safety is our priority. As Alex-Ann said so well: “Just turn the kayaks towards the sea and the wind will die down.” There is an opening and we do not have far to go. So we start and head for Grande Île. In record time, we get to our camping site. We all warm up in front of the fire Rino lit before our arrival. Today our group was in a festive mood. Héléna and Jeff had taken care of the candles and the birthday cake. Once more, we’ll go to bed proud of our achievements.

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Even with a rather short distance to go today, we unanimously decided to spend another night on Quarry Island. After the last two days of crossing, a moment of rest, of relaxation and of drying out is welcome. Prevailing winds force us to stay on Quarry Island. A perfect day for Loup-Garou!

Everybody seems happy. This was a slow moving day. While some took advantage of the sun and a small cascade to freshen up, some flew kites, while others made necklaces. Before lunch, Marie-Josée lead a short yoga session, to everyone’s pleasure. What a beautiful picture as they do the moves, in full concentration, on the porch facing the sea. I would even say it’s magical. As you can see, it was a very busy day even without going a long distance.

To close the day, Héléna and Jeff suggest we spend the evening around a campfire talking about the experience we’re living: how we got here, what we liked until now, and what are our wishes for the coming days… This is a private moment for our group. It is one of the high points of the expedition and we will go to sleep having found this particular thing we came looking for. This is a great group and the team spirit is strong. I have often said this was paradise and today I would like to introduce the sixteen angels who inhabit it for the moment.

There is a cheerful trio of girls. Anne-So, as her friends know her, is rather mischievous and quiet. She listens intently and from time to time she makes brief comments. Her laughter is contagious, her smile radiant! Sara is spontaneous and rather naïve. Her attitude often reminds us that it is important to live in the present. Alex-Ann is the unifier and dynamic element. She often launches the singing by raising her paddle.

Now the boys: Paul, our resident comedian and Loup-Garou host, has an overactive imagination. Brendan has a good sense of humour. He is rather sensitive and open to others. He likes to talk to everybody, guys or girls. Nathan is a little shy but he is always ready to paddle, to laugh and have fun. He is opening up. Finally, Julien is our artist. He loves to draw and will end up an architect or comic strip designer!

The Agaguk Guides:  Éric and Jacynthe are on the sea with us while Rino stays in the background to make sure we are safe. They are pros, cooks and interpreters of nature and each of them contributes to the tone of our expedition while allowing us to sail with our mind at rest. The Medics: Kim, Christine and Marie-Josée watch over our physical and social health and are full-fledged members of our group.

Team ‘On the Tip of the Toes’: My colleagues Héléna and Jeff. I’m so proud of them. They are simply beautiful to watch. I am impressed by their professionalism. It is a privilege both to work with them at the office and to be with them in this expedition.

And then, there is little old me hoping to properly convey to you the atmosphere of this wonderful adventure. Henceforth, we are a solid group: the Mingan 2008 Tip of the Toes Foundation group. This experience and these encounters will be with us for the rest of our lives.

We’re all in the same boat, even if it’s a sea kayak

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Brendan seems satisfied with his experience in the rain yesterday. This morning, we awake to a bright, sunny day. The early risers even saw a tern “fishing derby” at sun up. Quite a sight, as they dive head first in the water and come out with a fish in their beak.

Another big day ahead for us. Two crossings are planned, but the On the Tip of the Toes adventurers slept well and they are ready!  Again this morning, as soon as we awake, we take down the tents, have breakfast and we get ready to sail as early as we can. Our routine is now set: in no time flat the tents are folded. Like true adventurers, each one of us knows what to do!

The sea is rather flat this morning. The further we get away from civilization, the more magical the scenery becomes. It’s been awhile since I’ve said it: “It’s really paradise!” Terns, razor-billed auks and stints come by to say hello and the monoliths are increasingly beautiful and amazing. It’s like paddling in a natural cathedral. Young and not-so-young marvel at the scenery. There is so much to look at, we can’t take it all in.

After paddling awhile, we undertake our first crossing of the day. In preparation, we slip on our windbreakers, our mitts, and, as an energy booster, we add a cereal bar…  The crossing is rather quick despite a soft side wind.  The incoming tide is helpful. After a short pause on Niapiskau Island, we decide to do the second crossing before lunch. This will lead us to our overnight camping site on Quarry Island and we’ll have the rest of the afternoon to ourselves. We could even take the path across the island to see the monoliths on the South shore. With a song in our hearts, we rapidly get to the island. Éric congratulates us for our steady rhythm. Hooray for our side!

After setting up camp and drying out, we congregate in the shelter for yet another happy and delicious dinner. After a short one-hour nap, we’ll head for the other side of the island, using the pathway in the middle of the island. Before taking off on our walk, Marie-Josée gives our adventurers an initiation to the benefits of Yoga… Tomorrow morning, we’ll repeat the experience!

As we walk along the path, Jacynthe points out some of the secrets of the island’s plants and minerals. The monoliths are simply impressive! Back around the table, we have the privilege of tasting Éric’s spaghetti sauce, a family recipe, and some garlic butter and cheese croutons

Have I told you this is paradise?

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Yesterday, for fear of dehydration, we all played the game: “I Drink Water, Do You?” The end result obviously was that everybody got up at least once during the night to pee! Brendan’s wish became reality as it rained during the night and we woke up to a fine drizzle. Adventurous and curious by nature, Brendan wanted to experience a full day kayaking in the rain. He got his wish! Nevertheless, in no way was the morale of the group affected! On the contrary, the day started with an early wake-up call requested by Éric and Jacynthe, followed by a quick breakfast and an extremely efficient take down of the tents. The idea was to get going as early as possible as this was to be a long day.

We headed for the open sea under a clouded sky, which did not dampen the superb smiles and the steadfast determination to go a little further in our exploration. Today, everything is Brendan’s fault, even the disappearance of the clouds followed by the return of the sun. We paddled around the île du Havre and as we came to the point we were met by a westerly headwind. This meant constant paddling to make sure we were making headway and not backing up. The sun was a welcome presence for this first important crossing. This was a challenge for all. For the first time since our departure, the wind forced us to give it our best.

For miles around you could hear them sing the house version of the well-known (French) Christmas song “Vive le vent, vive le vent, vive le vent de la mer”. (TRANSLATOR’S NOTE: This a the French version of “Jingle Bells” where the lyrics of the first verse were changed to “ROWING through the WIND”.) The joyous song energized us and is now part of the famous memories collection of the Foundation. Sure enough, some of us, adults and teenagers alike, were a little discouraged, but you can imagine how proud we were when we got to our destination! Our guides, Éric and Jacynthe praise us. This was a real strong and constant wind. Hooray for our gang!

During the afternoon, while part of the group slumbered in the sun and wind, Jeff and Héléna invited us to play our first game of Loup-Garou. Interrupted by a small shower, the game ended at suppertime. Before the meal as an appetizer, we took a walk to the end of the island.

Brendan was right; sea kayaking in the rain can be enjoyable. It was a busy yet beautiful day. We’re proud of our efforts today and we’ll sleep well.

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I know, I’ve said it already, but this is truly paradise. After a hard day, we decided to let the group sleep in. They need to replenish their energy before continuing their exploration of the islands.  Gently, they wake up, have breakfast and use this free time to take in the scenery. We’re now on expedition time, i.e. time is not the same anymore, it does not exist.

Meeting on the beach with Jeff and Héléna to brief us on the coming days and to sound out the group. We are embarking on an 8-day sea kayaking adventure, cut off from the world, not your average walk in the park. There is no doubt that together we can face this challenge. Already, we’re a closely-knit group and the adventure can only bring us even closer together. Energy is high and the determination palpable!

Who said the water was cold in Mingan? Believe it or not, this morning after breakfast, we went swimming! We even played in the water for a while. Seriously, water temperature aside, this is like a holiday at Club Med. Don’t worry, after lunch we’ll go kayaking. Éric and Jacynthe tell us that swimming is not that frequent in Mingan… Another milestone for the On the Tip of the Toes adventurers!

As they wait for lunch, some hunt for seashells, others take a walk on the shore, others simply take in the scenery while Paul draws in the expedition logbook. After a copious lunch, we’re off on our daily excursion. We sail on a glassy sea. During this first real day of kayaking we discovered a lot: terns, seagulls, black guillemots, sea urchins, starfish, all kinds of algae, and more. Young and old, we all marvel at the beauties of nature. It’s simply wonderful. Wonderful is not strong enough to describe this beauty! To top it all, seeing the kids in this setting is simply marvellous!

All these colours, these smells and this bliss remind us of Bertrand: Happy Birthday, Bertrand! For those who do not know him, Bertrand has often marked his birthday during an expedition of the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation where he was the resident certified life child specialist, a full-fledged member of this family.

Tonight, we eat in English. It’s just as much fun! And by the way, don’t worry, nobody will loose weight during our adventure! Tomorrow we’re off for île XXX in another part of the archipelago. Big day ahead, so it’s early to bed tonight.

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This is paradise! Some in groups, others by themselves, they take in the scenery, play with Rosie (the Auberge dog), or daydream on the rocks. After a first application of sunscreen, we pick up our stuff and head for the headquarters of Expédition Agaguk, our departure site.
The day is still young and we have much to do before we leave. Technical details are important to make our sea kayak trip enjoyable for everyone. Most important is the selection of personal effects and to store them in either our day or night bag. Easy? Not really!

A sea kayak is a wonderful craft that gives us a wonderful feeling on the water, but it has limitations, mainly the size of the watertight cargo bins. Jean-François, A.K.A. Jeff, gives us a lively demonstration on how outdoor adventurers dress and pack their stuff. The main objective is to maximize the enjoyment of the trip in the highest degree of comfort, which depends, among other things, on our ability to remain dry for as long as possible! Everything is planned and designed to be relatively easy. Once we got our things together and before putting them in our bags, Héléna and Jeff carry an inspection to make sure that nothing is missing but mostly, that there nothing superfluous… A good decision!
We’re finished packing, but there is still a lot to do. Before continuing, we lunch on a generous fresh shrimp salad.
Now, Éric and Jacinthe brief our adventurers on the first day’s itinerary. Everyone listens carefully, there are some questions, but we can’t wait to get on the water!  Once our wet suits are on, we get to the crux of the process: find room for EVERYTHING in the watertight compartments. Every free inch of space is used.

There is still a long way to go. Before we leave, Éric and Jacinthe give us a demonstration of the basics of sea kayaking and we’re finally off to île du Havre. What a sight! They look like real adventurers. Once we hit land, we set up the tents and get ready for the night. They look like busy ants, with broad smiles.
What a beautiful day!  What a beautiful and full day! We learned a lot, we experienced many new things. A good night’s sleep is sure to follow. Tomorrow, we go at sea to explore this beautiful setting.

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They’re all there! Seven beautiful teenagers, their best smiles and the sunshine! First day, first exchanges for everyone. Good byes to the family, the last hugs, and we’re ready to take off at 2 p.m. A little nervous and very excited, we get acquainted during the waiting time and the flight. AC8716 is now famous, as it is Julien’s first time on an airplane, and we make a stop in Quebec City to drop off some passengers. Two for one time for all! In a few hours, after two takeoffs, two landings, and a few hundred kilometres on a bus, we will reach the river’s edge.

After landing in Sept-Îles, transferring the luggage to the bus, we’re on our way to Havre Saint-Pierre where we will meet with the Expédition Agaguk guides and Marie-Josée. There is happiness in the air already! We’ve been travelling for hours, but we’re by ourselves for the first time, and we’re finally on the North Shore. ”The expedition starts now”, says Héléna! Indeed we’ve just started, but it seems they are long-time friends. On the highway that gives us our first glimpse of the North Shore scenery, they chat and they laugh. Friendships are developing. Jeff and Héléna predict a memorable expedition… Once again.

We will spend our first night at the Auberge de la Minganie in Havre Saint-Pierre, a former fishing camp at the mouth of the Romaine River. There are three picturesque cabins, one for the girls, one for the boys, and one for the adults. Before bedtime, we play games to stretch our legs and memorize everyone’s name. To close the evening, Jeff shows us how to use a sleeping bag. Tomorrow, we will wake up in the fantastic setting, we will tame the sea kayak, and we will navigate to Grosse Île where we will spend the night! Tomorrow, we’re off on our adventure!

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