Ange, her family and suspended time at Isle-aux-Grues

There’s nothing like the feeling of lightness as you set off on your first day of summer vacation! Taking to the road early in the morning, coffee and chocolatine in hand, to join the Montmagny ferry that would take us to Isle-aux-Grues. The warm wind on our faces, still a little sleepy, was a good start to the day.

We chose to cross by bike, so as to feel even freer once on the island. At 10 kilometers long and 4 kilometers wide, Isle-aux-Grues is an ideal size for cycling.

A small haven of peace in the heart of an archipelago of some twenty islands, we began our visit at the western tip. At this end, we plunge into a nature reserve named in honor of Jean-Paul Riopelle, we pass through a forest of three-hundred-year-old maples and wild marshes to arrive in bays and vast tidal flats, a choice environment for migratory birds. We stop under the tall, majestic pines facing the river to admire the panorama that inspired so many of Riopelle’s works. This section is best explored on foot, through the forest and along the riverbank. On the north side, we enjoy the shade of the cliff, home to many birds of prey.

We then hop back on our bikes to head for the Fromagerie de l’Isle, to complete the picnic we’d brought for lunch. We get our hands on our favorites: Riopelle de l’Isle and Tomme de Grosse-Île. We then settle down on the riverbank for a bite to eat. At the river station, it’s possible to deposit luggage for the day in lockers (a cooler, for example), and there are also bathrooms and a water station for refuelling.