The Return of Dodo Rouge & Maiden Canoe Voyage

Clatter Bang

Gaspé is currently doing a good 'Scottish-weather' impersonation

Last night we were awoken from a deep sleep by a HUGE CLATTER BANG inside the yurt.  "Ça va," said the ever optimistic Antoine.  We turned on the light & discovered that our 20 litre container of water had jumped off its self into the sink/bowl beneath.  Why it decided to do so at 3am i have no idea.  If the shelf had suddenly collapsed under the weight of the container, i would understand.  But everything - except the handle of my favourite mug - was as it should be.  Any experts in physics (or ghosts!) are welcome to donate theories.

The Return of Dodo-Rouge
My favourite moment from last week was The Return of Dodo-Rouge.  i was lying in the long spring grass, absorbing the sun after a nice lunch.  Antoine was doing his college work, by the open door (where the wi-fi is strongest).

Stock photo of Dodo Rouge

"Dodo Rouge!" Antoine exclaimed.  i sat up & saw a streak of red charging towards the trees.  "Dodo Rouge!" i called exuberantly.  "He was right here, with his paws on the doorstep" Antoine told me. 

Dodo had placed himself on top of Antoine's bike.  Right on the bag which sits on the handlebars.  He was staring at me.  He commenced to squeak-bark.  "i'm happy to see you too!"  i told him.  He continued to squeak-bark & stare at me.  i know he was telling me all of the adventures he'd been having in the last weeks since we'd seen him.  all the trees he'd climbed, beavers he'd seen, pine cones & female squirrels he'd nibbled!  It's a shame that my Squirrel is even lamer than my French & i couldn't really capture the essence of his journey.

He continued to squeak-bark & eye-ball me for a good 5 minutes before running up into the tree.  i chatted back to him, telling him how he was missed by all the blog's readers.  in my delight of seeing him i quite forgot to take his photo, but rest assured that he's looking healthy and getting bigger.  i imagine his diet now consists of something more nutritious than toast crumbs.


Maiden Canoe Voyage

As part of his course, Antoine's been going to a walking group.  i haven't been able to join in because of my knee (and hearing his stories of wind, snowshoes & freezing temperatures during the winter were less than enticing).  But last Sunday i joined in.  i'm also reluctant to walk in a group (having been spoiled by frequently walking alone in the Himalaya) i like to take time to connect with the nature, rather than race around the paths with a gym/fitness mentality.  it's cool if that's what you're into, but it's usually not my preferred way to be in the woods.  However, as Antoine's been so busy the past 6 weeks, it was a rare opportunity for us to hang out together.

Of course i had an awesome time.  Because it's Canada.  Because it's nature.  Because Canadians are just so darned nice.  When we arrived at our destination lake, we bumped into friends from the college, who offered us a trip across the lake in their canoes (who found it funny that i'd never been in a canoe before!).  And thus was my maiden voyage...

Canada, i love you THIS MUCH...

Antoine also discovered today that he got a summer job for Parc Canada (at Forilion, making videos & photography) which is awesome news & means that he'll be staying in Gaspé for the summer, whereas i'll most likely be returning to Scotland in July.  It's gonna be tough to leave This Canadian Yurt.

& remember, we are welcoming theories as to why our water container threw itself off the shelf at 3am this morning....

Photos from This Canadian Yurt

i realised that living in this canadian yurt is a bit like camping in a circus big top...at burning man.  Except without any other people around.  

We take the best of both worlds: a wood burning fire, peeing outdoors (hey, i LOVE it!), the feeling of satisfaction from the 'honest hard work' of living close to nature, like fetching water...

Antoine invented a system to pull the 25 kilos of water on a sledge.

And our big-top-camping-life is mixed together with western luxuries:  wi-fi (which last week i discovered is weather dependent!), electricity (admittedly the lights dim when we use the oven - but compared to the 17 hours EVERY day without power i got accustomed to in Nepal...) and we have a fully equipped kitchen - this week i made veggie sushi, 

veg sushi

bean burriots

mexican bean burritos, veg lasagne, marinated tofu stirfry with pak-choi & shitake 'shrooms.  We baked bread & made a spiced apple crumble.  Plus... blueberry-raspberry-banana-chocolate-chip-vegan muffins (yeh you read that right!  i got slightly overexcited & added extra ingredients!). 


 THIS CANADIAN YURT PHOTOS....
The yurt finally looks homely enough to share photos...

We melt snow (in a pan on top of the stove) to prevent the yurt getting too dry.

The wi-fi connection is strongest by the door.

i'm making notes about props for a cowboy themed studio we're going to take photos at in a couple of weeks. (Antoine's experimenting with b&w for the shoot.)

i love the design of the yurt...it's like living in sunrays!

On the left is our (single) bed, beneath a HUGE yin yang hanging.  Antoine won that 'discussion' and it's still there...giving me trippy dreams!

Taaa-daaa!  The kitchen!  Behind the curtains is all our dry food & veg.  We have a proper italian espresso machine, oven/grill, kettle, 2 gas hobs (gas cylinder under the yurt), blue jerry can full of water above the silver bowl (which sits on nails in a hole cut into the counter) - it's not a sink & all water must be emptied outside but the birdies pick the food scraps from where we pour it!  Mugs hang on nails (top left).  There's compost, recycling & a bin.  Our fridge is on the right with one of the best views in the world - the Annapurna range!

Welcome to my office.  I love working with Le Petit Prince looking on.

The heat from the chimney melts the snow from the transparent plastic, so we can see the blue/stary sky.  Sometimes the difference from indoor/outdoor temperature means there's ice on the inside of the roof.

A WALK IN THE GARDEN 

Surrounding the yurt are miles of gorgeous, quiet forest.

baby christmas trees!

Yesterday it was warm & i took a walk...

sun-bathing is essential even in subzero temperatures

Antoine likes looking at pictures of himself on the big screen!

...and one night we borrowed a projector and so the yurt was converted into our very own circular circus cinema:
Thanks for sharing in and caring about our adventure! All comments & 'likes' appreciated...fuels my motivation to update each week :)