Day by Day Itinerary

My First Expedition  We always remember the proverbial 'first time' don't we! My very first Voyageur expedition actually started on January 5, 2005. Let's go back in time. I'm reading my morning paper and there it is - a full page article about this television company that is putting together a real-life re-enactment of the life of the early fur trading Voyageurs. Everything is going to be as it was in 1806. The destination is Winnipeg, Manitoba and the departure point is Lachine (Montreal) Quebec. They need nine hearty Voyageurs to paddle a 26 foot birch-bark canoe for 2,500 kilometres! Everything is to be as it was in 1806. There are no modern conveniences allowed - no tooth brush, no toilet paper, no tents, no bug spray, no communication with home - nothing that didn't exist in 1806. I can't resist! I just have to apply! I do! I go through all the 'self-doubt' issues while I'm applying of course. Am I too old at 52? Can I paddle for 12 hours a day, seven days a week? Can I live without my family? Will my business survive or thrive? Can I do this all in French (the official language of the Voyageur)? Can I? Will I? Should I? Don't know, but I go for it anyway.
So I go through the entire interview and audition process. The production company is putting together a docu-drama to be aired starting in January 2006. There will be eight one hour episodes. This is not a reality TV show. No 'games' here! This is real. No one gets kicked of, they might not make it, but that is their decision. The question is, the goal of the project is to see how people from 2005 would have coped with conditions endured by the Voyageurs in 1806.
     There are over 800 people competing for the nine positions! And I make it! I make it along with 8 others. There are to be six men and three women. Nine people of different ages (I'm the oldest) and different backgrounds thrown together for 100 days. 100 days in a birch-bark canoe that is 26' long and 4.5' wide. We eat, sleep, laugh, cry, ...... you name it ....... we do it - together! We never met till the day we came together for orientation. No trials, no nothing. But we sure did get to know each other quickly!

The Production Companies and the People!
Here is an excerpt I found on an internet site. It explains the legal stuff and the technical issues pretty well so why do it over.

Ottawa's Les Productions Charbonneau rolls soon on a $3-million Ontario/Manitoba co-production, Destination NOR'OUEST, with Winnipeg's Les Productions Rivard. TVA and TFO licensed the eight-hour historical series, apparently a TVA first. Charbonneau producer Marie-Pierre Gariepy says the series will recreate the marathon canoe trips taken by the fur-trading voyageurs in the 1700s and 1800s. Robert Charbonneau and Louis Paquin are the executive producers.

Marie-Pierre Gariépy - is absolutely the task-master in this whole production and I just love her. She was around, often in person, and always by phone. I'm very thankful to Marie-Pierre for her help during my interview process. if it were not for her, and the confidence she was able to impart, I don't know if I'd have made it. This woman is a fire-cracker, somewhere in her thirties and a very driven, dedicated person. I can't remember where exactly, somewhere on the Mattawa River I think, we were in the midst of a portage when Marie-Pierre stopped me and gave me the biggest-bestest compliment of the whole summer - "You are one of the toughest bastards I've ever met!" I wear that one like a badge!
 
Robert Charbonneau and Louis Paquin - These guys are the owners of the two production companies, Charbonneau and Rivard respectively. I'd never met 'production' people before so these guys were pretty fascinating. Both were very involved with the day-to-day stuff on the river. Especially Louis who showed up at our camps from time to time. I truly got the impression from both these guys that this whole thing was more than a business - this was 'who' they were as well as 'what' they did.

Martin Cadotte and Guy Boutin - Now here are two real characters! They led us, pushed us, made us mad, made us laugh, made us cry! These two guys MADE the whole trip. I never quite figured out the technical description of what they did but I would think that the best English title we could give them is "Directors". Both Martin and Guy made this trip for me and I'm sure the rest of the team.  I owe these two guys a great deal and I look forward to the day when they are so famous that I'll be able to say "I met those guys once!".


Martin was the person who was in charge of all the shooting. He called the shots, where, when, how. I remember one talk from Martin, somewhere on Georgian Bay, where he literally motivated us to push harder in order to make Thunder Bay on time. I've heard a lot of speeches in my time, but man, his was one of the best! I have a great deal of respect for Martin. He has one numerous prestigious awards in the film industry. I respect him because he is a man of his word. He proved that to me many times, and that is important to me.


Guy was the 'content' person. He was constantly looking at the quality of the production and the human interaction in the group. I believe he is the creative person behind the content, constantly reviewing to ensure the correct mix of drama, fact, and humanity. Guy is a hard-hitting direct kind of guy. He knows what he wants and isn't afraid to make it known. Guy has this great ability to push people to their limits, known and unknown. In fact I'd say that applies to both Martin and Guy.


And Others - There are many people who made this happen and I can't mention them all but I do have to acknowledge these: Michel Chauvin (our unsung hero and the guy who supplied us with food, rum and tobacco), Bridget Forbes (our historian and the one who made the hearts pump), Amélie Lalonde (my favourite and the one who convinced me "I could"), and Joanne Godard (the task-mistress). They all near and dear to my adventure. All those people need to be acknowledged for their efforts and I'm sure they will be.

About the Voyageurs!
     There were nine Voyageurs in all - six men and three women. Over 800 people applied! All the voyageurs went through the same interview and selection process. Each one of us was chosen for a different reason but we never did find out 'why' we were chosen, although we did ask often. The only answer we could ever get was 'we have our reasons'. The selection process was based on our written application and presentation, our ability to present ourselves on camera, our ability to speak French, and whatever other skills or education we brought to the mix. Here is a brief synopsis of the other Voyageurs.

Diane - is from the Abitibi region of northern Quebec. She was the second oldest at 49 years of age. Diane is a 'grand-mother' of two little girls. The highlight of her trip was when she received mail from those girls. Diane was the 'stability' factor amongst us. Never seemed to get too flustered one way or the other. She did one heck of a job. I admire her very much for her human side and her perseverance.

Dominique - was the youngest member of the group - 22 I believe. Dominique did train with us in Montreal but did not start off with us. She was a 'spare' that became a full-time Voyageur about two weeks after we left. Dominique replaced a young lady who had to leave the expedition for personal reasons. While I do have a great deal of respect for Dominique, I'm sure she'd agree that we weren't 'close'.

Guillaume - is in his early twenties and just finishing his studies in Chicoutimi, Quebec. Guillaume (which is Bill or William in English) is studying adventure tourism. He is an experienced river rafter, having served a number of seasons a s a guide on the Ottawa river. Guillaume is one of the gang I'd certainly 'go to the bush' with. He knows his stuff, and what he didn't know, was certainly willing to learn. He and I hit it off a little hard in the beginning but I do believe finished the event with a great deal of respect for each other.

Youri - is in his mid-twenties and I'd say is the intellectual of the group. Obviously well educated, and with a beautiful command of French and English! Youri is currently studying at RMC in Kingston as one of very few civilian students enrolled there. I'm sure we'll see him in the public eye some day, probably on an international level. I had some of the best and deepest conversations with Youri during the trip.  He was a VERY hard worker on the portages and I must give him the recognition he deserves for standing his ground and carrying his load.

Renaud - from Winnipeg and the youngest male member of the trip. Renaud was also our leader, selected by the production company. He is the guy in the large black hat in the pictures. He is a white-water enthusiast and has worked as a river guide in Nepal, Canada, and the USA. A soft spoken, amiable individual, who had a distinct serious side and an open 'fun' side as well. He was my partner during the last month of the journey when we went to two-man canoes. One heck of paddler, and a treat to work with.

Sandrine - from the Gatineau area of Quebec, a student majoring in Geography, in her mid twenties and a very proficient canoeist. Sandrine could easily switch from being one of the boys to being the lady of the group. She has spent many summers doing things like tree planting up north. A feisty individual when she wanted to be! This is one heck of a woman with an inquisitive mind and an adventurous spirit. Smart, tough and good looking - quite a combo!

Mikael - Mike is a strong individual, in character and physically. He is a great traveler, preferring 'off the path' type travel like South America. He is definitely a passionate activist for many social causes but his big focus is the conservation of our rivers. Never afraid to speak up or out, Mike was the 'noisy' one of the group. A very intense and passionate individual! We didn't always see eye to eye but I could never question his conviction.


Christian - Now he and I had an interesting relationship. Sometimes real volatile and other times very cold. You'll see it in the series. Christian is from Ottawa and in his late 20's, almost thirty. Christian is quite an expert in the areas of exercise and 'natural health'. He is Metis and very proud of his aboriginal roots. I think that this trip was neat for him because of the many aboriginal interactions we did have. He and I seemed to go at each other quite a bit but I will admit he sure was able to take it. Lots of talent in this guy. Maybe we were too alike or too different! I don't know. Regardless of how I felt though he did bring color to the trip.

What about the birch-bark canoes?
Our first canoe, the one we used between Montreal and Thunder Bay was 26 feet long and 4.5 feet wide at it's widest point. It was made by hand to the exact specifications used by the voyageurs. The skin was made of birch-bark and the frame ribs, etc, made of cedar. The pitch, the stuff that seals the cracks was made of pine sap, bear fat and wood ash. This was a very heavy canoe, somewhere in the 600 pound when dry, and over 700 pounds when wet.
The canoes we used after Thunder Bay were two-man canoes, made much the same way but much smaller and much lighter. They were sixteen feet long and weighed about 100 pounds dry. All the canoes were made in the USA. As a matter of note the birch-bark had to be imported from Siberia! Guess we don't have the trees any more.
For the record, birch-bark canoes are no treat compared to modern fibre glass or synthetic canoes. They are heavy, fragile, and require a great deal of maintenance. These canoes required work of some kind every night! They are also harder to portage and are at least 50% slower on the water than modern canoes. It was great to have experienced these boats but of all the 1806 stuff we used these canoes were the toughest to accept. Give me 2005 any day when it comes to my canoe. They were romantic yes, but that's it!

When and where did it air on TV?
Our expedition turned into an eight week TV series. It was aired nationally in Canada starting in early 2006. Two networks carried the production - TFO and TVA.

TVA Television Website ~ click > HERE

Our Route
From Lachine (Montreal) ~ St. Lawrence River ~ Lake of Two Mountains ~ Ottawa River ~ Mattawa River ~ Trout Lake~ La Vase Portage ~ Lake Nipissing ~ French River ~ Georgian Bay ~ St. Mary’s River ~ Lake Superior ~ Kamanistiqua River ~ Little Dog Lake ~ Portage ~ Big Dog Lake ~ Dog River ~ Savanne Portage ~ Savanne River ~ Lac Des Milles Lacs ~ Pickerel Lake ~ Sturgeon Lake ~ Rainy Lake ~ Rainy River ~ Lake of the Woods ~ Winnipeg River ~ Lake Winnipeg ~ Red River ~ Fort Gibraltar in Winnipeg

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