The Land of Giants and Dwarfs the Final Chapter #84

We awoke Saturday morning, knowing that today was the day we would be leaving this great land. Months ago, it seemed like a long way off and that it would never come. Now, it flew by far too fast. One look out the camp window and I knew we had a problem. The lake was not visible at all. Yes the fog was as thick as pea soup. We all knew that it was not a great recipe for an airplane, as they could not fly. That meant that we may not see our chariot for some time. The plane base had told Keith that they would pick us up at 9:30 that morning, so, hoping that the fog would lift quickly, we got our stuff packed and carted it out to the dock where the plane would pick us up. Keith winterized the camp and we took the paper garbage down to the area where we burnt it. The rest had to come out with us in the plane.

At about 8:30, the fog slowly began to lift and we thought that maybe they would be on time. We had a long trip back to the ferry in Godbout and needed to be there for 5 pm. We had talked the night before about going all the way back to Fort Kent, Maine and then Keith and Chris continuing on home after that. It would all hinge on when the plane would arrive. 9:30 came and the fog was gone, but no plane. 10:30 came and still no plane. Cell phones do have their advantages in some situations. It would have been nice to pick up the phone and call the base for an update. However, that was not going to happen. So, remember my little In Reach? I fired it up and sent a text to Paul’s wife asking her to contact the base for an update. After about 15 minutes, I got a return text telling us that the fog was really bad at the plane base and they would not be flying out until at least 1:30 or so. The text also notified us that she had cancelled our ferry and rebooked it for the following day. We would now have to drive two more hours to Baie- Comeau to take the ferry, as it did not run on Sunday from Godbout. Our reservation time was now noon. So then the cribbage board came out and the final tournament took place.

Around noon time, I was standing on the dock when I heard a plane motor in the distance. It came into sight and I yelled to the group that the plane was here. We made our way to the dock, only to see the plane pass by and continue on. We went back to sitting and waiting. It was becoming apparent that we would not make the ferry at Godbout today.

At 12:30, I again heard a plane’s engine and looking to the north, saw a plane come into view. The plane was heading in our direction. I watched as it began its descent and then landed on the water and glided to the dock. It was the big Otter plane this time which meant that we were all going in one group. The plane came to a halt at the dock and the pilot jumped out. He opened the back doors and began off-loading 55 gallon drums. He told us, in French, that he was supposed to take them back to the plane base and then come back and pick us up, but he decided to leave them at the camp, take us out and come back later on and retrieve them. That was music to our ears and we all loaded up for the ride back to the base.

At 1:30, we landed at the plane base, loaded our stuff into the trucks and headed out. 

Knowing that our ferry ride was tomorrow, we headed for Sept-Îles. Once there, Phil talked us into spending the night, so we all went back to the Comfort Inn and got our rooms. Just before that, Chris wanted to check in with his wife as he had not talked with her since he left. You will never guess how he called her. I had seen one of these when we had stayed in Sept-Îles the Saturday before, but did not give it much thought. Anyway, it was just like we had gone back in time. Yes, they have phone booths there and that is how he called home.

Dinner time came and we put our heads together as to where we would eat. Across the road sat a St. Hubert restaurant. If you have never eaten at one, try it. They are famous for their chicken and their sauces. We found our way there and had a good dinner, and then returned to our hotel for the night.

Sunday morning came and we got up, had breakfast at the hotel and headed to Baie-Comeau which was about four hours away. We arrived without incident and lined up awaiting the ferry. Soon it came into view and docked, and the vehicles that had made the crossing, departed. 

Then it was our turn to load, which we anxiously did. We made the two hour cross to Matane and headed back down the Saint Lawrence bound for Fort Kent. I recall arriving in Clair, NB, which is across the river from Fort Kent around 5 pm. We stopped at the U.S. Customs and without incident, made our way through and headed to Raymond’s home where family was waiting. When we got there, we found some of our wives waiting for us, and two unsuspected visitors. Paul’s daughter Olivia and her husband Bill were in the crowd. They had come to visit from Los Angeles, California. We unpacked and showed them the fish we had, and at one point knowing that Olivia and Bill would like to try some, and knowing that Paul had not brought any back, I pulled out two trout and gave it to them. Keith and Chris said their good byes and headed home. TC and I had a little supper and then pointed the Toyota homeward.

There was a sense of emptiness when I saw Chris and Keith leave and then an even greater one when TC and I pulled out. The trip was over. It had come to an end. We had put our heads together and had determined that we had caught over five hundred brook trout during our time there. They ranged from 13 to 24 inches with some weighing over four pounds. Most of them lived for another day, as for the most part, we practiced catch and release. . The only thing left were the memories we had of the trip along with the photos and my Go-Pro video. It will help remind me of the great time and the great company I had. Time did not stand still, but for six days we went back in time to a place that defied change. A place where everything was still pristine and the trees looked like dwarfs and the fish looked like giants. A place that does not readily exist too much anymore.

I hope to go back some day and am very thankful to Keith that he brought us there and allowed us to use his camp. To the other four and Keith, thank you for such an enjoyable trip. You all made it fun!

So, this adventure has now come to an end. I hope you enjoyed the blogs, and the videos with the details. Thank you for the many comments as well. Great to hear from many of you.