Picnic, frog hunt and swim at Moulin La Lorraine

Meunier, tu dors, ton moulin va trop vite! What a beautiful nursery rhyme that lulled our childhood. Well, this melody takes on a whole new meaning at Moulin La Lorraine, where we’re invited to slow down and enjoy life’s little moments for an afternoon.

A return to childhood... during a picnic!

At last, the school bell has rung. It’s 11 o’clock in the morning. I’m in the mood for a spontaneous nature picnic with my two daughters. Why not go to Moulin La Lorraine in Lac-Etchemin? My mother introduced me to this place when I was little. We went there every summer, at the end of the school year. It was our little ritual!

I’ve always been fascinated by the Moulin La Lorraine. As a child, every time I passed the place, I’d stretch my neck to see if the big wheel was turning. I remember marvelling at the mill’s large stones, which reminded me of a castle. The perfect place for a family getaway.

Welcome to my little haven of peace

As I got out of the car at my destination, I remembered why I loved this place. That feeling of zenitude that comes over you when you set foot here, it’s wonderful.

Fascinated by the garden, my daughters were looking for the perfect spot to spread out our picnic tablecloth. As we followed the path of small steps, we marveled at the beauty of the place. The sculptures along the way caught our eyes. Surrounded by flowers and native plants, we set down our baskets for a bite to eat. From this spot, we had a beautiful view of the mill and could hear the sound of the waterfalls.

Mom, how do we make flour?

After lunch, we were expected inside the mill at 1.30pm to discover the secrets of milling. Thanks to our guide, we discovered how flour was produced from organic durum wheat. When the big wheel was activated, all eyes were riveted on it as if by magic. After the tour, we were all delighted to understand the many steps involved in making the flour we use to make such delicious crêpes and cookies. We absolutely had to get a bag of flour from the store before we left. Yummy!

Time for a discovery rally

Afterwards, we wanted to return to the gardens to see the Ferris wheel in action from the outside. To keep young explorers on their toes, a discovery rally was organized. The game involves answering questions about elements that can be observed in the four corners of the garden. Once the children have seen the question :

How many frogs are there taking it easy? The excitement couldn’t have been greater… Yeah, let’s go frog hunting!

With a burst of joy, we set off on our expedition. We took to the poetic undergrowth and the garden’s various paths in search of clues. We discovered a pretty pond and a charming gazebo.

The discoveries continue...

The Caribou trail gave us a whole new view of the Moulin. On the way back, we couldn’t help but enjoy Ruisseau Beaudoin. With its small pools, this lovely oasis of cool shade was the perfect place to soak our feet. We stayed there for quite a while, enjoying this moment of bliss.

Moulinette, an unexpected encounter!

At the end of the afternoon, we had the privilege of being told the tale of Moulinette, the most original of all the little mice. We won’t tell you all the secrets, but it was the perfect way to round off a day of discovery.

Sitting in the back seat, stars in their eyes, each of my daughters cuddled their Moulinettes. They couldn’t wait to tell Daddy all about their adventures. I promised myself that this outing would become our new family tradition to celebrate the start of summer.

I just had to share this Etchemins treasure with you, too well kept!

Photos : Stéphanie Allard