For the second time of this trip, it did not rain today. The day before (Sunday, 6th) was a perfect day: fresh fruit, beach, short distance, full blue sky, weather around 30 C, cool breeze. Hum… seems to me there is a bathroom freshener by this name…
Monday is off to a good start. The birds are signing. And as a citrus-flavored bottle of Listerine, the soft breeze gets rid of the morning mosquitoes. The sun is out and Alain is making the pancakes. Our plan is set for the day, our longest so far: 17 kilometers, 5 of which in meanders, where the water flows so slowly, the river seems depressed. Our mid-day meal comes rather early. Just out of the meanders, our young friends say they’re hungry. But, we still have a long way to go. So, we make a strategic choice. We link the canoes and drift down the river while eating our submarine sandwiches on our improvised raft.
A nice, easy way to do a few leagues on the sea. This floating lunch was so nice, we decide to take a nap. Some go at it with more gusto, like Mario who snores away full blast. Our landlubbers are facing a challenge. We’re coming up to a sharp river bend, actually, three of them. Right after that comes the Rapide du croche de la rivière (River Bend Rapids). With the water level so high in the Mistassini today, it is an R-2. Short, but intense. Everyone braces up. We move apart. This requires a lot of effort. Some choose to go around the rapids others go right at them. Either way, we are successful. One short kilometer later, we come to what is called Île-aux-klaxons (Horn Island). Our campsite is visible from the road, and some happy truck drivers honk as they drive by. We’d be happy with some of the wood they’re carrying.
Early in the evening, Mario and JF build a catamaran and go fishing with a few braves. Jenn brings back a beautiful pike and Taryn has let a yellow pike get away. Around the campfire, the others play cards, strum guitars, finish the necklaces and bracelets they started earlier. They’re laughing and they’re having fun. What a beautiful sight!
Photographs of Mistassini 2008 and other photos of the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation are available at the following URL:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pointedespieds
