A Day on Lake Taurau with My Friend Rolland.
August 2002, Saint Michel des Saints
Rolland Thibeault, the computer guy, head of the local Cadets
branch, ambulance driver, store owner, father of four, and... boat driver,
took Zenwaiter on a boat ride on Lake Taurau! We had a blast!!
Boat trailers, including this one which is gigantic, line
the road near all the launch sites
on Lake Taurau.
Rolland and his family take me out in their old fiberglass
boat; an oldie but a goodie! Powered by the reliable Johnson Seahorse 70 hp,
we head out from the launch area, where daughter Marie-Pierre shoves off.
We drop Marie off at a small beach where she meets her friends,
and we motor north towards Pointe Fine beach. It is getting overcast with
some raindrops, and it is cool. We pass all kinds of watercraft on the lake.
Rolland is a good pilot, and I am a good passenger!
After a sufficient amount of sulking, I gets to drive! YEAH
BAY-BEE! Check out the hat! Got that in Lake George with Sexy Ron!!
The
sun pops up from time to time, and those on the shore enjoy the beach with their
families.
Some of the big cigar boats (big bucks) pass by, but thier
waves
threaten to swamp our little boat!
Near
one launch area, we see this New Yorker's truck parked, he's on the water having
fun!
If I remember correctly, about 200 boats participated this year. Many prizes
handed out too.
These guys can really lay down the smoke! We sputter past
in awe!
But we do not complain, our trust Seahorse will get us there
on half the gas! Vroom!
We
also see many beautiful sailing vessels on the lake. We can go faster than these!
:)
And then there's old Rocky, the salty sea dog, enjoying
the ride on his own seat!
He likes to stick his face into the wind and snort up all the fresh air he
can!
We head up past Pointe Fine, to the St-Ignace Camping, where
Ghislain (Rollands boy) and his girlfriend, beautiful Valerie, work making
hot dogs in the Casse Croute. As we pull into the cove, there are many families
enjoying the water.
Rolland slows the boat, and we head for the dock.
The inlet is lined with chalets like these.
We arrive at the peer, but we go slow. The reverse gear
does not work!
The happy couple ties up. They show off. (Don't rub it
in!)
We
walk up the bank and head for the camping shanty town where they have a trailer
as a summer camp. Ghislain and Valerie are at work in the Casse Croute. We'll
stop by for a hot dog and a 'poutine' (french fries slathered in gravy and studded
with lumps of white cheese. Sound good? I forgot to get a photo of the poutine,
(darn).
Finally,
we arrive at the Casse Croute in the campground. The Quebec "Casse Croute",
home to everything that is totally void of nutritional value, yummie steamed
hot dogs "all dress", lippery french fries, tiny little rock hard
burgers, coka-cola, and of course, poutine.
Inside we see Ghislain and the adorable Val.
Val takes the orders, and Ghislain throws the potates into
the grease!
MMMMMM! Get the ketchup ready!
Some
friendly chit chat. Rolland borrows a twenty from his son as he has forgotten
his wallet at home... very convienient eh? Sounds like something I would do.
(Just kidding).:)
We
drop by some of Rollands friends in the campground. This is what you look like
after fifty years of good Poutine, hot dogs, and Canadian beer !! HAHAHAHAHHA!!!
Hope they don't see this, they'll want to kill me. I actually took this photo
without them knowing. Sneaky eh?
This was in the parking lot at the campground... very cool
boat.
The St-Ignace campsite is a friendly place full of old family
friends. Staying here for the summer is a family tradition! "Camping"
is very popular in Quebec for families.
Time to go back, and the weather is getting dark. Taurau
is a huge lake,
and the can storms come up quickly.
We stop at another campground on the way back to get some
gas, Rose's Camping.
Rain
splatters on the windscreen, the wind begins to chill us, and it's time to head
for home. Thanks for sharing this day with me!! Snow soon?? zw
