Day 34: Stable Uncertainty - 32km

Camping Marina in Temiscouata to Denise Dion’s in Saint Honore de Temiscouata

Waking up in a new province is always a good feeling, and quite the accomplishment for us. Because of the time change, we got to sleep an extra hour, but I lay there feeling guilty because the horses didn’t know the clock went back, and were knickering for their breakfast. After feeding all the goblins, I took my coffee and oatmeal down to the water. Even though it was only 7am, the sun was higher than usual because of the extra hour. I found a picnic table right next to the huge lake. Ducks swam away at my arrival, and the sun cast diamonds over the water, so bright it hazed the mountains in the distance. Mountains that are now lush and green, leaves fully open and breathing out fresh air.

I enjoyed the time to sit and write with such a view, and once again, felt incredibly lucky to be experiencing this moment. Each time I’m shocked when the view seems to be better than the last. It was also our third night in a row camping, and I as grateful for it. I love the kind people we meet, and learn endlessly from them, but I’ve also always really enjoyed and craved my solitude, time to reflect and be private with my thoughts.

Returning to camp, we tried to pack up quickly. The Farrier that Sonya had arranged was coming at 8:30. Valmont came a bit early, but we were happy to meet him. He even brought me his old bareback pad to borrow after Sonya explained our situation to him. It was a good opportunity to practice my French, and I learned a lot of equine terminology I had never had to use before. He did an excellent job on the horses feet, despite Lux, and especially Ora, being difficult. I’m always nervous getting their hooves trimmed. I know it’s such a vital part of the horse (no hoof, no horse they say). But Valmont really did an incredible job, getting rid of all the hoof wall separation and leveling out their heals. He took all our thing, as Sonya arranged to pick them up and drive them to us for a THIRD night, and we were off just after 10am.

This trail is gorgeous, and was sad to get off it so early, but we headed into town to grab feed. It was the first time we’d done it with horses, and divided what we could from the bag into the packs. Jewel and I talked to a local, and found our way back to the trail, while Joseph carried on on the road.

The trail along the river is stunning, with cottages on either side, small mountians and birds singing, even pollen floating through the air gives the morning ride a cinematic feel.

​I’m not sure when the trail changed, but it happens slowly and suddenly we are deeper in the woods, then through a golf course, riding under and underpass and over many bridges. We realized we were on the cycling trail, which no-one seemed to mind, it is after all still the Great Trail. But as we entered the golf course, we started to see “no horse” signs repetedly. 100 kids must have passed us on bikes, some sort of bike club, and I was just waiting for the police to show up. No one did, and no one said anything except for one golfer, which I replied “I don’t speak French” oops, playing ignorant. We always kick their pooh to the side into the ditch so there’s no trace of us.

Personally I don’t understand why horses wouldn’t be allowed on the trail, it’s not like we’re ATV’s or Dirt Bikes whizzing by. We’re quiet and stay to the side and it’s this or the highway.. so I’ll take my chances.

(Dandelion Fields Forever)

The day started to grow long, and we couldn’t get through to Denise, the woman who owned the place that Valmont had suggested, and Joseph couldn’t find it as the house numbers were all wrong and some houses had two different house numbers!? I realized how much more stress I feel when we don’t know where we’re staying. I have faith that it will always work out, past experience has taught me this, so why can’t I just relax and enjoy the ride? I want to grow enough and know myself well enough that even in situations that are unknown, I can remain calm. That perhaps once I have encountered enough “unknowns” I will be secure enough in knowing how I react to them, they won’t be so intimidating. Life, after all, is just one great unknown. Maybe that’s why I often find myself thinking to the past during the 10 hour walks. Because it’s known, good or bad, it’s there. I can control how I see it, view it, play it in my head, its safe, done. Tonight, where we’re staying, I do not know, I can only have so much control over it. Why waste my time trying to predict something and control it when I cant?

Joseph ended up finding the place, and we arrived 3km before our maps told us to a cacophony of small yipping dogs. Yep, it was as bad as it sounds. Like one hundred high pitched alarms going off. I was with Lux, who was looking around like “what the f*ck is going on” after emerging from 10 hours in quiet trails. We met the man who lived there, which I unfortunately didn’t catch his name, or much of anything else he said as his thick country Quebecois accent was too hard for me to understand. We highlined the horses and set up camp, quite close to the road, but it was quiet, and had our little campfire in the driveway. We were so happy to see Sonya and Michael pull up in their big blue truck with our things. Familiar faces we coul communicate with! We chatted a bit, and thanked them again for their very extended generosity.

We all went to bed before 10:30. I woke up in the middle of the night, as I do everynight. This time though it was 12, and I always wake up at 2. Something was off. I opened the tent and immediately I look to my left. Down the street, probably 200 meters away is this bright green neon glowing object. The moon is so bright I can see easily around me. I’m not afraid at all like I usually am when I get up to check on the horses or to pee. I swear, I stare at this object, about the size of a large industrial garbage bin, glowing for 10 minutes. I call Jewels name, but she’s snoring. I just kept thinking, it must be an alien! But no, that’s silly, it’s just someone’s reflective…what? Glowing.. garbage? I felt totally calm too.. anyways. Who knew what it was, but Joseph and Jewel said next time to wake them… if there is a next time!