APPRECIATING THE SLOW TIME IN A TRAILER IN QUEBEC

I was beyond excited when I heard that Nihan finally got her land—something she had been dreaming about for a long time. She’s the kind of person who always has a new project on the go, making you wonder, What is she up to now? Every time we meet, I look forward to hearing her stories. We share similar educational backgrounds and life experiences, which makes understanding each other effortless.

So, when she invited me to stay in her trailer on the land for six days, I said yes without hesitation—even though it was short notice and I had to scramble to sort things out.

The Road Trip Begins

After hanging up, I looked at the packing list Nihan had sent me and realized I barely had half of what I needed. Everyone kept warning me about how cold Quebec would be, but there was no time for shopping. Still, I knew I’d be fine.

We left Toronto just after noon on Friday, chatting non-stop from the moment we closed the car doors until we arrived at our hotel near Stoco Lake. As soon as we dropped our bags, we rushed to see the lake before it got too dark—but we were too late. Darkness settled in seconds. Determined to enjoy the view, we searched for a bench by the water, our weak phone lights barely helping. Just when we thought we wouldn’t find one, a shadowy shape appeared—it was a bench, right in front of the lake! Nihan pulled out two small bottles of wine, and that became the highlight of the day: drinking and talking in the dark, watching the fragile lights shimmer on the lake. A perfect moment.

A Taste of Quebec

The next morning, we hit the road early, leaving Ontario behind. Along the way, Nihan raved about a small café called Chez Renaud, hyping up their breakfast. But when we arrived, we learned we had missed breakfast service. Disappointed but not discouraged, I quickly pivoted and ordered a smoked beef sandwich. It was my first time in Quebec, after all—I had to follow at least one cliché! Most people visit Montreal or Quebec City first, but I was heading straight into the wilderness. Very on-brand for me.

Back on the road, we excitedly planned our days ahead: cooking meals over the fire, visiting neighbors, hosting guests, hiking, fishing, paddleboarding… I didn’t tell Nihan that I had almost no waterproof gear except for a jacket. I figured I’d deal with that when the time came.

Arriving at the Land

We reached Notre-Dame-Du-Laus around noon. Nihan gave me a tour of her land, which was breathtaking—Yellow Birches, Sugar Maples, oaks, firs, and more. The land had natural levels, with a flat area near the lakeshore. Fall had painted the landscape in brilliant colors, and everything felt untouched and pure. Nihan was determined to keep it that way, shaping her future home around the land rather than the other way around.

Rainy Mornings & Campfires

The first morning, I woke up to the sound of rain tapping against the trailer roof—one of my favorite sounds. I closed my eyes to soak in the moment before getting up to sketch at the table.

I love fire. I’m good at starting it, feeding it, cooking on it, and just watching it burn. So, naturally, I couldn’t let us go a night without a campfire. I almost lost hope when rain threatened my efforts, but in the end, I made it happen. We treated ourselves to local Quebec fish cooked over the flames, countless glasses of wine, and whiskey. Even our overbaked campfire potatoes tasted like the best meal ever.

Getting Lost in the Wild

The next day, we went for a hike. It wasn’t a designated trail—just rough terrain. We had a general idea of where to go since Nihan had done the hike before with her neighbors, but the landscape had changed with the seasons. Overgrown ivy, fallen trees, and shifting water levels made it feel completely different. And so… we got lost.

We stayed calm (or at least pretended to). The way back always looks different, and retracing our steps wasn’t as easy as expected.

The trail had no markings. Just pure, wild nature.

Our saving grace? Mushrooms. We had stopped for them so many times on the way in that we used them as markers.

One of us would hold position while the other tried different paths, searching for something familiar. After a few failed attempts, we finally found the right way.

Saying Goodbye

Our days passed quickly. We did almost everything we had planned—except for fishing and paddling. Maybe it was too optimistic to expect water activities this late in the season. We had to leave our unused worms with a neighbor. (Side note: I had no idea stores sell live worms in a spread container—and that you need to keep them in the fridge- That’s a whole other story. Well, at least we learned how to say “ver vivant” but it’s too bad that I couldn’t capture Nihan’s worm drawing when she was trying to describe it to the cashier in the store.)

You don’t always have to catch your own fish. We didn’t pass the fish truck in the town to stock our fridges in Toronto with Quebec seafood.

On the way back, we stayed in a roadside motel. It was just an ordinary place, but after days without a proper shower, it felt like a luxury. I took my time, letting the warm water wash over me, appreciating every second.

We left early the next morning, stopping in Peterborough for breakfast at a cozy diner. The meal was hearty and satisfying—the perfect way to wrap up our trip.

A New Perspective

Coming home felt different. Even after just a few days in a trailer, I found myself questioning my daily habits. Living simply, surrounded by nature, had shifted something in me. But I’ll have a better sense of what that means after my next adventure.

Until then, take care!