Practicing Softness Along the Gaspésie Peninsula — Quebec, Canada

I love taking ferries! They are so much fun!

I break up my drive with two stops. The first is to give myself one last chance to see a beluga whale at the Cap-de-Bon-Désir Interpretation and Observation Center.

I reach the end of the trail, where I have the opportunity to sit on a rock facing the St. Lawrence River. I sit for a while, enjoying the light breeze—and no bugs. :) A faint line along the horizon reveals the other side of the river. No beluga whales, only a lonely cormorant skimming across the water.

My second stop is at a gas station to take a shower. I know I will have some challenges finding places to shower. I am ready to accept the notion that most, if not all, campgrounds are booked. After all, it is peak season, so I take what I can get.

At 5:30, the ferry blows its whistle and leaves the terminal. The weather is wet and cold out on the open water. There is no sign of land, just water in every direction. I do find my way up to the deck, but I do not stay long.

Knowing I will reach the other side of the river after 8:00 PM, I realize it is not the ideal time to begin looking for a place to sleep. So I do my homework and save a spot from iOverlander ahead of time.

Perfect timing! I reach my spot just as the sun makes her final leap to the other side.

Sweet dreams!

Good morning! A new day and a new week to welcome.

I love that most of the time, I do not know what day of the week it is. I have other priorities to figure out, like where to find the nearest visitor center.

I plan to travel around the Gaspésie Peninsula. I choose two possible visitor centers along my route, just in case. It was good thinking, as the first one is closed. The second one is open, and the young woman speaks English. Thank you!

The drive along the peninsula offers stunning views of a landscape where a rugged shoreline meets the mountains—a perfect combination. I am heading toward Gaspésie National Park. The minute I leave the shoreline and begin driving into the mountains, it feels like I am entering a whole new world.

It is humid today, so I try to keep things simple and take the popular hike up Mount Ernest-Laforce. The trail is a gentle, steady incline leading to the viewpoint. A sea of mountains surrounds me, with the lush green forests bringing movement and texture to the landscape. At the top, the breeze is strong but very welcome as it cools me down.

I have time to explore one more nearby hike, which is the American Lake Trail. After less than a mile along an easy trail, I reach a small lake nestled beneath the mountains that feed it.

It is simple beauty!

I try my luck and ask if there is a campsite available for the night at the park. You never know. After a day of sweating, it would be nice to be rewarded with a shower.

However, it is not my lucky day.

As a last desperate resort, I sneak into the campground to take a quick shower. I hope the day pass I purchased covers the four-minute shower.

Okay, time to figure out where I can find my corner for the night. I set my direction toward a place I found on iOverlander and hope that, after all, I still have luck on my side.

Honestly, just taking that shower feels like winning the lottery, so I’m happy with that.

It is a small park, and in the back there is a little area where several other vans are already set up for the night. I arrive just in time to claim my spot.

There are so many tiny black bugs flying around, and they are extremely annoying, so dinner is just a quick boiled egg with avocado. By the time I light my mosquito-repellent coils, it is already a little too late.

The back of my neck and behind my ears are covered with itchy bumps. The guy next to me identifies the little creatures as black flies. Somehow, I thought black flies were much bigger.

Well, they may be tiny, but man, their bites are deep and painful.

The next morning, I escape very quickly, trying to dodge any more bites. I also need to find a laundromat.

I am not sure how far I will travel today. I am traveling with the intention of learning how to embrace the soft side of my soul.

I set Google Maps to lead me to a few lighthouses, stopping at viewpoints along the road

.

At 4:30, I arrive at a picnic area.

I am hungry! I might as well have an early dinner.

I like it here! And, to my happy surprise, I can stay here for the night. It is the perfect opportunity to practice softness.

I know myself too well. Moving on is always my first instinct. It is only 4:30. I still have at least three hours of daylight left. However, the red bench swing is calling me to sit and relax.

So, that is what I do.

Enjoying softness.

I park my car so I can hear the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. I do not cover the windows facing the water, just in case I am lucky enough to wake for the sunrise.

Good morning!

For just a minute, I have the privilege of witnessing the birth of a new day before the sun disappears behind the heavy clouds.

I know the forecast is calling for a day of rain, but since I begin my day early, I can squeeze in a short hike along the shore before the rain chases me back to my car.

So, what is next?

Rainy days are writing days.

I do not want to take too long catching up on my writing, as I am still on a mission to find a place to shower. Usually, it is not that difficult, but based on the research I have done so far, the challenge is on—not to mention finding an available campsite.

Stay tuned. :)