Our last day at the lodge is quite frosty but pretty sunny with several bears in the river already fishing. We can see them from the lodge while we have our last breakfast.
On the way to the airport we see the autumn colours have fully kicked in and we even have one last grizzly bear step out of the forest at the airport.
Our flight is smooth and we just need to transfer to the main Vancouver terminal. We have a few hours to wait it out for our connection to Ottawa as it is a red eye flight. André’s sister Linda has very valiantly put her hand up for the 12.40am pick up.
A sleep in, on the first morning in Ottawa and then we head to Wakefield where we have chosen to have the family reunion of siblings. Lucie from Florida can not make it this time because of work commitments. The home we have chosen blows us all away.
It is very spacious and fitted out with great taste and comfort. All the bedrooms have their own character and a bathroom each , so it is very luxurious. The bedroom that is meant to be ours is obvious as it has a beautiful doorstop Mama and baby grizzly bear.
We take in the beautiful colours around the house and the verandahs and we just chill out catching up on the news.
Next morning everyone is ready to explore. We start by visiting the historic Wakefield timber bridge and the Gatineau river. Someone is into cold plunging as we see a swimming costume clad young woman go in for a dip. It’s a good day for it as the temperature is climbing to 29C today and the water must be a good 12C.
We then go exploring in the cute town of Wakefield, where to our great surprise there are lots of people even though it’s a Tuesday, taking in this uncharacteristic spurt of hot weather. We do one more walk after a nice lunch taking in the beautiful autumn colours.
We return for a long sit in the garden and a relaxing meal including the famous cheese curds that Suzanne and Gilles have brought and the OKA cheese. Lisa has joined us today but needs to go home early as her little dog Ruby is very unwell.
Next morning we start with a couple of hikes in the Gatineau forest and another 31C day. This time we bring a lot more water not to be caught out.
We learn that it is a sad day for Lisa as Ruby is too ill now and has to pass the rainbow bridge, her last treat being some chocolate that she always craved. Lisa comes up for the day to share it with us and have lunch together. We know how sad this loss must feel and is for Lisa.
As there seems to be a very nice Boulangerie in this small Quebec village of Chelsea I get some curry vegetable pies in a heavenly puff pastry and a walnut bread to go with our second OKA cheese, some dips and salads which complement the evening meal.
Our first evening was dedicated to Farkle a fun dice game that we played as a family together many years ago. Suzzanne wins and I am last.
Now it’s time to stretch our memory banks with a card game Linda introduces us to called Five Crowns. This time Linda wins and it has been super fun for all in the escalating rounds which become more and more challenging to play.
It is our last day and we want to squeeze in one more walk with these colours before the weather changes for the weekend and rain is meant to set in.
Sure enough within 500m from the car park we come across black bear squat but no bears. It a beautiful walk on the trail to Brown Lake. Kevin has gone golfing on the last day here and the three of us share the path with autumn leaves raining down on us.
It’s time for lunch. We plan to check out Roberto’s, a tiny Italian restaurant where a young chef from Rome makes gourmet little pizzas. We try quite a few flavours each one better than the one before, while we sit in the back courtyard being sprinkled on by falling leaves and watching the local chipmunk cheeks distended with food, dive into its winter home in the pavement.
As you can imagine we sample virtually every dessert in the restaurant including a lemon vanilla brioche, a tiramisu, a chocolate hazelnut cannoli and the cherry and lemon curd Italian doughnut. Linda chooses not to have dessert, I guess André and I have to sacrifice ourselves in the name of culinary tastings.
