1st place
Joan Carr,
"A Day on the Grand"
joancarr@canoemail.com

A knock on the door woke me with a start and I struggled to switch from dream to reality.
I could see my breath as I raced along the outside porch to grab a shower before breakfast.
I was so excited it was difficult to get through the mundane ritual of preparing for the day; but this was no ordinary day!
I had stayed with the Duncan`s and Campbell`s at Tracadie Salmon Camp on the Grand Cascapedia River.
Last night we had had a “closing of the camp” party with many of the workers and fishers from other camps along the river invited.
It had been a late night but I was more than willing to rise at dawn because I`d been invited on the “long run”.
The long run is when the canoes are taken to winter storage up river.
Since I was to go in Buddy Campbell`s canoe I knew I had to be prepared with warm clothes, fly dope and a pair of shorts (should it get hotter through the day) and by all means I must be on time.
I stood on the dock (being the first to arrive) and breathed the crisp mountain air mixed with the musky smell of the leaves that had already fallen.
There was a light fog hanging over the gently rippling water that rocked the empty canoes.
Finally, all was ready and with keen anticipation I climbed in the boat sitting close to the front with Buddy facing me in the middle seat.
There was a guide at either end and they began to pole us towards the middle of the river.
In the stillness as the paddles cut the water; Buddy began to tell me stories of the river.
For the next three and a half hours this man, who had spent most of his adult life as an ambassador of the Cascapedia, regaled me with wonderful tales of a time gone by, stories about the rich and often famous visitors who came to the river such as the Duke and Duchess of Lorne, Bing Crosby, Bobby Orr, and many, many others.
The scenery was breath taking! The mountains appeared to have been painted just for us and the clear, clean water revealed the shadows of salmon who had escaped the anglers` lure.
Just before we reached our destination Buddy told me of a hymn written by the Marquis of Lorne, (a former Governor General of Canada) that tells of his love of the Cascapedia. Although I had sung it all my life, I was surprised to hear that Unto the Hills was written about the most majestic river in the world.
"Unto the hills around do I lift up, my longing eyes, Oh whence for me shall my salvation come from whence arise…" These familiar words now accompany the beautiful memories I will carry with me always.
This was a day I will never forget, nor will I forget the man who shared with me, his passion for the Grand Cascapedia.