Wakefield, QC
I actually like a day with a few clouds in the sky even more than I like a day with “not a cloud in the sky” – just my preference!
So, yes, you all know I love the island. Many of you have come to love the island, too. However, there’s a place that is possibly more integral to me, more formative of who I am, and at least equally dear to my heart, and that place is Wakefield, Quebec.
In fact, if I could only choose either Wolfe Island, or Wakefield … well I hope I never have to make that choice!
You see, I ski in Wakefield. I started skiing in Wakefield when I was about four or five. And, actually, before I was four, or five, my parents used to put me in a daycare at the ski hill while they went skiing. So, I’ve been spending time in Wakefield for longer than I can remember.
My kids ski in Wakefield now and, in the winter time, we spend LOTS of time in Wakefield.
In the summer, not so much. Not never, but not so much.
Well, today we went to Wakefield and the weather was what you see in the picture that opens this post, and I was ready to put our house in Ottawa on the market and move forty minutes up the Gatineau river. I really do love this little village.
Here are some of the reasons why …
OK, first stop today was this somewhat-strange (or, possibly, very strange) attraction called Éco-Odyssée. Adults might not be sure about the attraction of paying to “steer” (I use the term loosely) a pedal-boat through a swamp, but believe-you-me, kids love it. And, when kids are happy, we’re happy. So here’s a snapshot(s) of Éco-Odyssée:
Like I said, you head out on pedal boats. I will say these are much more posh than the one we have at the cottage (shade canopy!), however, they don’t steer any better.
You work your way through six kilometres of “maze” cut into a swamp – kind of like this.
And it’s all pedal power! Note the map of the maze in the footwell …
The facilities are primitive, but at least there are facilities. Then again, that’s a good thing, because one of the posted rules is “No urinating in the paths!”
There are definite duelling banjo moments – like when you see somebody has shot the plastic deer by the side of the path – ???!!!??? This was when my friend and I started looking over our shoulders into the swamp around us …
Like I say, the kids love this place, and there’s a nice shady area to eat lunch, and clean bathrooms (on firm land – not just the ones in the swamp) and it’s definitely different.
After we finished our pedal-boat adventure, we cruised down Highway 366 into Wakefield proper in search of ice cream with a view of the Gatineau river. It was worth it.
This was the view out the door of the ice cream shop, across the main street, and the train tracks, to the Gatineau River beyond.
There was a nice bench with a view over an inlet off the river …
… complete with a deer sighting … thank you Wakefield!
Wakefield is a funny, creative, artsy, down-to-earth, hippy, organic, outdoorsy kind of place and so seeing a sign like this isn’t surprising, even though I’m really not sure what it’s for. It’s just Wakefield …
And that was our day. I think, in an ideal world, I might live on Wolfe Island in the summer, and move to Wakefield in the winter. Maybe. Not committing to anything right now, but it seems like a pretty sweet possibility.
I’d love to hear about places you love! Let me know …
