We have been in Kipawa for 5 days and we have finally started to sink into the routine of boating, cooking, sunning, fishing and relaxing... with 2 days to go to enjoy it! Our weather has been unpredictable to say the least, with periods of sun, then cloud, then showers, then wind, following one after another in quick succession each day so far. A preponderance of clouds earlier this week meant that we relished a fully sunny day today.
Jack, of course, is not at all fazed by any sort of weather. He has been loving it here, with no conditions on that love. He mostly loves it because there is a momo boat (motor boat) and he gets to pish (fish) with his little Spiderman fishing rod off the dock, and there is sand (sadly, he is now saying “tuvel” rather than “tummy” when talking about his sand shovel. Yes, progress is grand, but I will miss that little mispronunciation of his. Sigh.) He also loves the stairs up to the cabin and the hill to the beach. I am not sure if he loves it as much as the dogs do. I am not sure anyone could love anything as much as the dogs love it here. Absolute freedom, water everywhere, woods, intoxicating pine scents abounding...
This morning Nat, Jack, Corydon and I headed off in the canoe to explore the little island at the entrance to Echo Bay. We had boated past it in the momo boat two days ago and were entranced by the collection of pine and beech trees clustered there, and vowed to explore it on foot the next nice day. We had the most lovely time and I have to say that the island is now officially my favorite place at camp. We docked at a lovely shard of glacial rock slanting gently into the water, leading like a ramp up to a profusion of blueberry bushes, soft-needle pines, and exactly 3 perfectly porportioned, split-trunk birches. Jack loved tromping about on the “iyand”. When we asked him where we were, hoping to hear that adorable word, however, he must've been looking at Cor, because he confidently said “Dog.” So, Dog Island it is, and ever more shall be.
Upon our return from Dog Island, Jack got it in his mind that a momo boat ride was in order, so we invited others to come along. Auntie Becca came along and we decided to head back out to Blueberry Island, as Jack had not been along on our first trip. Off we went. Jack greatly enjoyed island number 2 for the morning, as well. More challenging climbing and clambering here, over giant slabs of rock and boulders, tight-knit pines and, of course, blueberry bushes. We didn't stay all that long. Turns out, exploring one's way through the woods is more appealing without a two-year-old in tow. We wandered a bit, found a few stunning views of the lakes, and then headed back to the boat. We made it just about haldway back to camp before the motor died. Yep. We had to paddle the motorboat back to camp. We estimated it after the fact as about a mile, mile and a half. Took us the better part of an hour and involved lots of rowing, Nat pulling the boat while balancing along the shore, and simming alongside. I cannot say enough good things about how Jack did, sitting in the boat while we clambered about, oard everywhere, slogging our way home. It's truly amazing what being in a boat can do for a little boy's patience...
We were all ready for a nap when we got home.
Jack finished his day with time playing on the beach, throwing the beach ball around in the cabin, eating a bit of dinner, and watching some Blue's Clues on my computer. A memorable day here in Quebec!
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