Spending time with Tanya at Le Baluchon Eco Village was yet another cup-filling, soul-softening time on this cross-Canada motorcycle adventure. Sure I had taken time to stop and smell the flowers here and there, but it has been mostly eat-sleep-ride-repeat. I mean don’t get me wrong, I live for that, but after 5 weeks, stopping to engage in a little bit of self-care was a welcome rest.

Tanya booked us in for a girl’s getaway at this fabulous Auberge (Inn). This place has everything and I’ll get to that in a minute, but first I gotta tell you about Route 349. I WISH I had the benefit of more time when I was in Quebec. I would have loved to have had the luxury of exploring more of the country side. Route 349, for example, was a beautiful, serene road replete with quiet twisties. If you ride, you know what I mean; nothing in front of you. Nothing behind you. Just you, your bike, and the road. If you ever have the opportunity, make a plan to stay at the Inn and travel there via Route 349.

OK, back to the girly stuff…

The food was amazing. We had a great lunch that felt like home-made, yet from a fancy French restaurant all at the same time. Dinner was a 3 course amazeballs, gastronomic odyssey taking my tongue on a journey through the zing of the citrus trout tartare, the celebration of sun kissed tomatoes and sweet bell pepper of my gazpacho on to the heart of my meal; beef tenderloin with duck fat Pommes Anna. Oh my goodness, my friends! I have likely never had such a perfectly carmelized tenderloin so perfectly aged and cooked that it yielded to my fork with just a whisper of pressure. I think I may have squealed a little at that. I thought about how even my dad would have been impressed!

I’ve had my fill of fries on this trip, so the idea of more potatoes wasn’t high on my list, but I’ve never had such a perfect blend of a crispy crust and a succulent, velvety soft, melt in your mouth deliciousness! This dish shattered my long-held schema of what fried potatoes could be (especially since I’ve likely had eleventy four pounds of french fries since leaving home). It didn’t just elevate potatoes…it redefined them! Each wafer-thin slice lacquered in duck fat, and crisped to golden perfection became something transcendent. It was no longer a side, it was a statement!

Then dessert. I’ve rewritten this description at least four times because nothing I write effectively captures the exquisiteness of this chocolate!

This dessert was unapologetically indulgent. It was a layered tribute to chocolate in its MOST seductive form. At the heart was a truffle-like centre; dense, velvety, and as sensual as a forbidden kiss under a midnight sky. A chocolate mousse surrounded it in a cloud so airy, yet heavy on my tongue, igniting my senses like whispered promises on the nape of my neck. Encasing all of this a ganache so lustrous it reflected the sparkle in my eye. This was not just a coating; it was a curtain call, a finale worthy of a standing ovation.

When I finally did stand, I felt like I’d eaten my weight in that three course meal. It never ceases to amaze me how three seemingly tiny portions can have such an impact on my wardrobe! Yes, I am obsessed with the food at this place. It was the most sublime epicurean experience I’d had on this trip, or possibly in years.

Prior to dinner we walked the grounds. It is a beautiful piece of land and offers guests activities such as archery, horseback riding, kayaking and hiking. We just strolled along the wooden walkway through the forest, watched the ducks in the pond and stood for a long while at the waterfall. With every step I felt myself unwind just a little bit more. I felt my smile broaden just a little bit more. I felt the garbage of the past 18 months disappear just a little bit more.

I took a schwack of photos on our walk and looked for the ‘perfect’ maple leave to bring home. I planned to frame them for my shade garden. The idea of looking at my framed maple leaves over the next few years and remembering this trip made me happy all over. You’ll notice I did not take pictures of my food. I rarely do that because I feel like it’s rude. Although a chef strives for beautiful presentation, I’ve been told that what they really want is to know how much the taste and texture of the food is appreciated.

I’m not sure at which point it was, but that feeling of absolute joy washed over me while sitting there laughing and talking with Tanya at dinner. Yet again I found myself so present in the moment that the joy must have been threateningly close to brimming over. “Don’t cry”, Tanya warned, and we laughed some more. Maybe it was the crisp air. Maybe it was the time spent communing with nature that afternoon. Maybe it was the bond that Tanya and I now have. Or perhaps, maybe it was because I knew these memories would bolster my soul in all the years ahead. All I know is that I was filled with gratitude that I could take this trip. I was grateful to know Tanya and for this special sister-like friendship.

It is this state of being present that repeatedly brings me joy. I hope I carry this with me always and remember this when life inevitably begins to feel a bit overwhelming down the road.

My sister-from-another-mister, Tanya :)

I never did find that perfect maple leaf, but Tanya was paying attention as I searched. Unbeknownst to me, she was searching too. The day I left her home to head back west, she presented me with this souvenir. Somehow between the wonderful breakfast she made for me on ‘go day’ and our teary farewell, she managed to craft the hell out of her finds from the Inn. I’ve yet to do it, but the plan is a double-pane frame to sandwich and seal this memento so I can enjoy it for years to come. I’m so pleased it made it home in my luggage in one piece!!