For the past three summers, Rémi and I, along with a varying group of friends, have been going on a three-day canoe-camping adventure on the Restigouche river. It's not as crazy as it may sound: there are no rapids higher than maybe a foot, and portaging is never necessary. We stop as we please (or rather, pees-e) during the day, and around 7 or 8, we try to find a campsite or simply a smooth surface along the riverside to accommodate our tents. I do not have any pictures from this year's trip, but to give you an idea, here's one from last year:
Supremely gorgeous, this river makes me so serene; I no longer care to have a sense of time (except if it's starting to get dark), nor what I even look like. When's the last time you didn't look in a mirror for an entire three days?
You're almost in survival mode, where the only thoughts which seldom cross your mind are: When do I eat next, or where will we set up tent, or I need to go, please give me your poop shovel. What made this trip all the more special was that my former roommate from Halifax, currently living in Toronto, flew down for this very trek. She had never canoed in her life, and was awesome. She's already left and I feel pretty devastated, but I need to stop weeping over goodbyes and absences and hold onto what we shared together.
Here are some canoe-camping tips, if you ever decide to embark upon any flowing water source:
1) Bring a hat AND DON'T LOSE IT! I lost my black zombie exterminator trucker hat on the second day and looked like a moron with a shirt over my head for the rest of the trip. Yes even more than wearing a zombie exterminator trucker hat, jerks.
2) also good to bring: water, sunscreen, bug spray, camping supplies, warm clothes to be always kept dry, and of course, beer. You may substitute the latter for lemon gin or wine coolers. This year I betrayed my country and only drank PBR. It was good!
3) Instant falafel makes a perfect meal, and will consequently blow your mind.
4) Don't whine, it will only make the trek miserable for everyone (this did not happen this year, thankfully).
5) Rivers are so cold but so refreshing.
6)Just revel in it, it might be your only chance.
-Cat
