Previous trips -12 days, 4
regions, 893miles, in Quebec.
| Region 4, Mauricie: Parent.
- Region 1, Lac
St-Jean |
September 17, 2006
Yesterday we figured that, since we were a little bit ahead of schedule (What ever that
means...), we could take the long way home and ride the Bazin River trail back to camp.
This morning, we have second thoughts. The sky is covered with dark, threatening clouds...
While we might be crazy, we're still not totally nuts, and so we decide to take the
quickest way back.
Just as we leave Parent behind, tiny drops start pearling up on our goggles.
On the other hand, the scenery is still very nice despite the gray.
Looks like perfect moose habitat to me. We still have to see one, yet...
Fall colors. It gets harder to really appreciate the surrounding beauty, the mist we
had earlier has changed to steady rain...
As the hours pass, the temperature drops steadily. The rain slowly but surely seeps
into our clothes.
 
Yeah ! Euhh! Let me think about
it...
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Soon as I think of something positive, I'll write it! |
| Bof... |
125 miles in the rain... |
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No comments! |
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We make good progress towards camp, despite the elements, 'cause we know that once we
get there, we'll be out of the rain with a nice wood stove to warm us up and dry our
stuff. We'll be cozy tonight, that's our motivation.
The whole ride back to camp could have been done on the road but, that would have meant
travelling a lot more miles, in the rain, uselessly (or so I thought...). After checking
out the maps and the GPS, Marc decides to follow a tiny forest road that seems to lead
exactly towards the camp.
As a matter of fact, the "road" is so small, we ride right by it... twice...
before we actually see it...Ridiculously small, the road...
France: "C'mon Honey, that can't be it!"
Marc: "Well,... according to my map...it looks like it..."
Another GPS and maps session (DId I mention all this is taking place in the pourring
rain??). To make things easier, my maps don't even show the same thing.
Marc: "Yep, no mistake possible, it's here!"
France: "Grrmmmumbellingmmm..."
It's 1:00 p.m. It's raining buckets. It's cold. We're soaked to the bones. Camp is
straight ahead, 30 miles. Let's go!
We slowly get closer. Very slowly. The ridiculously small road turned into a trail,
that keeps getting smaller and smaller, until it turns into a ridiculously small trail,
that keeps getting tighter...
Until it's simply impossible to go any further...It's 4:00 p.m. According to the GPS,
we're 15 miles away from home... But the trail that would bring us there is no more. We
can see that there once was a trail here but, the growth of the vegetation made it
impassable...
Marc: "Nahh! It does'nt go any further..."
We came across many other small trails but, God knows where they go. We try a few of
them, but they all end up in dead ends. Time is flying. It's now 7:00 p.m. We'll be in
total darkness in just a few minutes. Gotta face it, we'll have to spend one more night in
the woods...in the rain...
There's also something else to consider. Until now, we had enough gas to turn around
and take the road back to camp, stopping at "relais 22" to fill up on the way.
If we push any further this way, we'll have to find a way to make it back without turning
around. It's the point of no return.
We find a spot that is a little more open, close to a lake....All right, let's call it
a day!
We pitch the pop-up tent, that becomes the kitchen and the living room for the night.
It will also act as our map studying room and our laundry drying room, not to forget
meeting room where important decision will be made...Far from being as comfortable as a
home, it's still nice to have a place (no matter how small) out of the rain.
Having a bonfire is impossible, come, Darling, lets cuddle up...
Our spot (early next morning)
Once inside the tent, it's still relatively dry and comfortable.
Marc:" D'you still love me...despite...?"
France:" Despite what?"
Marc:" Well...despite...it's kinda of a little bit my fault if we're stuck here
instead of being warm and cozy at the camp..."
France:" Of course I love you Honey, good night!"
Marc:" Good night..."
Marc:" Honey..."
France:" Humm..."
Marc:" It's really pourring out there, is'nt it?"
France:" Yeah, it's pourring really bad..."
Marc:" G'night!"
France:" G'night..."
 Ever tried to pitch a tent in the dark
on a rainy day? That's when you really appreciate having a "led head- lamp".
Perfect for all those "2 hands jobs" (at home or on the trail), it's light
weight, tough, and it uses very little power so batteries are likely to last about a year!
Once you've tried it, you'll never want to camping without one again. |
And then there was light...
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To see all the
tricks and infos
click here |
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