Day 44: Prunes - 37km

Cap de Saint Ignace to La Durantaye

Awoke feeling uneasy. Tired. Nauseous with exhaustion. Breakfast helped. Thanks to Nathan the cook who made incredible crepes, but coffee did that thing that makes you feel worse instead of more awake. Felt overwhelmed trying to pack. Half our stuff in the barn, half in the house. I sat there looking at my things, picking them up and just moving them. "How are we gonna do this again" came into my head. I pushed it away. Jewel came, and together we somehow managed to pack up all this stuff we seem to all need but only use half the time.

We got to the barn, already in need of our Oil Skin coats, the rain was coming down hard and the horses were wet. Luckily Julie has an awesome barn, with heat lamps and towels to dry them. She even lends Jewel a girth until we get to the tack shop.

We left at 9:30 in the rain. I was already cursing myself I didn't put on my extra fleece. We knew Denise, the man we were staying with tonight was coming to meet us to show us some short cuts, and could take our packs, we just didn't know when.

Nathan biked with Joseph ahead, even carrying Joseph's back pack for him. Jewel and I trudged behind. Within the first ten minutes water was running down my jacket onto my legs. And before the first 30 minutes, my right foot was soaked.

Jewel also realized we had left the high-line tied up at the hippie house 41km away! And I couldn't find my boots or breastplate! They must have gotten left in Billie's car. We texted Sebastian, and said he could bring everything to us and would be happy to see us again. Wow and Phew! Fricken awesome people.

So we find the tack shop, in the middle of a busy complex, people everywhere. Jewel gets her girth, I get some supplies from Dollarama, back we go. Nathan brings us a coffee on his bike and he heads on his way. Just before noon, the magical red truck appears and takes away our heavy loads! Hallelujah! But we're still soaked...

Joseph gets in and get's treated to lunch. Denise also bought us the tastiest HOT subs which we demolished and were back on the road right away.

I got to practice some more mindfulness, and it passes the time well. The constant traffic on the 132 isn't very peacefull though. Talked to my best friend on the phone for a while who is going through some heartbreak. It's hard to just listen while your best friend hurts, knowing theres no magical words to make it better, and although I have 101 things she could do to help, I have to let her figure it out in her own time. There can always be beauty in broken-ness, a new outlook, a vulnerability to the subtleties of the world around you, a new focus on self-love and discovery. I hope she can find that. If not I highly recommend walking 30 + KM a day to figure out some shit.

The day grew longer and darker and I got used to being drenched. I didn't think we could get any wetter until Ora nudged me into a puddle! (She was getting me back for pouring water on her head). We squished a long, Denise always appearing in the red truck to direct us. FINALLY we made it to their beautiful farm. A hot vegan meal - thank you Alaine - and shower awaiting us! After - of course - the horses got their showers and food and dry stalls.

We got to see Sebastian again and have some lovely chats with him, and kisses from the beloved Trigger. We also decided, thanks to Denise and Alaine's connections, that we would take a trailer across the river to Quebec City tomorrow. It's 20km to Levis, but after that, the traffic is pretty bad, same with across the bridge in the city. Every single person we've met when we tell them we're crossing la Pont Quebec, their eyes buldge a bit and they ask how, skeptic the police will allow us. So now we have our solution. I feel a bit weird about not walking it. It will be 50-60km in total we will be driving. So two days. But, horses get priority, so it must be done.

It will also be a very nice relief after the last two days of intense riding. 78km in two days! Phew, time for bed.