Take your pick: adrenaline packed or slow and contemplative?
Published on Feb 19, 2024
Who says you have to wait until the weekend to get away from it all? Adventures can be part of everyday life. You just have to imagine them and make them real! On a Wednesday evening in January, that’s just what we did at the magnificent Bora Boréal floating cabins in Bury in the Eastern Townships.
By Clémentine Holin
And it’s a wrap for this, another busy day at work. We shut down our computers, pack a few things in a bag and start the car to leave the house for the night (without forgetting our dear pootch, of course!) It feels so good to allow yourself some time to break the rhythm of the week!
We leave Sherbrooke and head further east. We ran a true race against the clock with the sun showing off its last golden rays and after a 40-minute drive, we arrive at our destination as night was setting in. Welcome to Bora Boréal!
As we look around the horizon, we let our dog out a minute just to stretch his legs as well. Under the dusk sky Lake Batley can be seen frozen this time of year, surrounded by trees and the wood silhouettes of the floating cottages stand out from the dark.
The place is perfectly peaceful. We can’t wait to discover our cottage so we take use one of the carriages to load our luggage. These are available to us from the parking area (in case of snow they also have sleds). Since the entire Bora Boréal site is exclusively made up of walking paths, we follow the illuminated trail until we reach the panel marked “Cumulus.” There. Partially hidden by the trees is where we find our floating cabin. As soon as we set foot on the docking gangway, the excitement of leaving dry land overwhelms us. We’re standing above the water! The terrace that encircles almost the entire cottage brings us to the front door. Unable to wait any longer, we turn the handle and enter a world of wood and light.
We’re greeted by a comfortable living area, featuring four sofas with cushions and a wood-burning stove just waiting to be lit. To the right, a large bay window opens onto the lake.
At the back of the house, a cozy kitchen with a dining area and plenty of storage space makes us feel right at home. On the table, a card with a kind word is tucked under a bouquet of dried flowers, along with a welcome kit in our hosts’ colours. Then, just above our heads, is the sleeping area.
It’s easy to reach by pulling on a folding ladder. Up there, you discover a cozy, intimate nest and long windows to enjoy the view. It’s dark but the panorama is beautiful. Waking up high above the lake promises to be a very pleasant experience!
After a tour of the premises and dropping off our belongings, we finish our installation by providing a small sleeping area for our dog. Everything is just perfect, let the experiment begin!
One look at our cocoon and we think it would be a shame not to light the wood-burning stove and enjoy its flame. While Monsieur sets about arranging the logs and kindling, I turn to the kitchen to explore the cupboards. From the Italian-style coffee maker to the fondue pot, it’s all there!
But what really makes me happy is the contents of the fridge. Bora Boréal offers a ready-to-grill or ready-to-cook catering service. From its tempting menu, we had chosen a salmon steak and a flank steak. So we found our dishes in vacuum-packed bags and trays with preparation instructions. Now all we need to do is get to work before enjoying our meal!
Without missing a beat, we fire up the BBQ on the terrace and start grilling the night away. Facing the lake, the cool January evening air gives us quite an appetite. A few minutes later, once everything is cooked and reheated, we finally sit down to eat. We enjoy our tasty and hearty portions. The meat is tender, the salmon is cooked to perfection; plus we get the satisfaction of having prepared our own supper.
Of course, the meal ends with a sweet touch! Lemon cream for the more serious eaters and a few toasted S’Mores for the big kids... We chat, we play Jenga, we throw a few logs on the fire and, above all, we forget about the passing of time!
Perched in our cocoon for the night, with the lights off, we rediscover the nocturnal landscape illuminated by the moon between two clouds. Outside, the frozen surface of the lake remains unchanged, while the wind makes the treetops dance to a slow rhythm. As if hypnotized, we are gently lulled by the natural world around us.
It’s a shame it was overcast that evening, or else the skylight installed just above our bed would have allowed us to enjoy the International Starry Sky Reserve of Mont Mégantic. That’ll be for another time!
In the morning, we leave early to go back to our daily routine. But before leaving, we take a tour of the surrounding area at dawn. It’s easy to imagine spending a few days here on a retreat, as everything is so conducive to rejuvenation. There are several areas with outdoor fireplaces, chairs and picnic tables. You can also spot hiking trails starting from the site. Then we see the suspended cocoons of L’Espace Temps, a shower and toilet area with a relaxation corner for meditation.
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