We drove to Forillon National Park over roads with 15% and 17% grades. It was spectacular with the forest on one side and the Sea of St. Lawrence on the other. We went to the north side and decided to hike (2 1/2 miles) to the observation tower. From the parking lot, the tower was atop a shear cliff that seemed impossible for any human to reach. However, there were humans on the observation decks. So, we decided to start and see how far we could go. We saw some very young people and some very old people heading up the trail so why not us? It was such a crisp, clear day how could we not try?
To our great surprise the trail was wonderful. After an initial very rocky, very steep part, the rest of the trail was prepared well with caked dirt and small flat stones and when you came to very steep parts (like a 20% grade) they had provided wide wood plank steps going gradually up the grade. It was unbelievable because without this great trail, you would die before getting to the top.
The trail had many sections with fir trees and once in these groves, the scent was that of Christmas. It is amazing how that aromatic scent can conjure up winter, Christmas trees all decorated, and all those warm memories of Christmas. I could even smell cookies baking.
At the top, we could see 80 or more miles in every direction. We could even see our r campsite through our binoculars. We were above the trees and above the birds and the view of the land and sea was that like you see from an airplane. This is such a beautiful beautiful place.
Once we descended from the top of the cliffs, even though our legs felt like Jello, we descend down to the rocky beach. There was a cascade of water coming from the mountains and when we put our hand in the pools of clear water, it was like putting your hand in a bucket of ice water. Two or three seconds was maximum tolerance in this icy water.
The beach is unique from our beaches in the U.S. You have a crescent bay with huge rocks and caves along the sides, the sand is really all smooth flat small to medium size rocks. There were dozens of rock sand castle (minus the sand) that people had made all along the beach. It is like building with lego blocks, and they were very creative. Elaborate like the sand castles you see at our beaches. They find flat, lightweight stones and try to skip them across the water. Walter was very successful at stone skipping.
We took our weary bodies and headed home. What a place!
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