Perfect weather for this time of the year, blue sky, sunshine and temperature around 18°C.
Lunchtime close to Tadoussac, at the dunes to be exact (au Parc de la rivière du moulin à baude).

14:30, finally we arrive at the administration office in Essipit.  Luckily, our condo for today is ready.  We are lodged at the Natakam Condo #51.  From the moment I open the door, the kids feel like being at home.  The condo has everything you need on a small surface. We are surprised how the condo's are still in a good shape after all these years. They must have been working hard to maintain it that well. The last times we were here was in 2005 and 2007.  
Of all the places we stayed at the past years, this one here has the best equipped kitchen. The next morning, I even make fresh bread, yum!

After a horrible night during which Cira wakes up every 2 hours complaining about headaches and sore legs, I wake up in the living room after having changed my sleeping surface a couple of times. One good thing about sleeping in the living room and waking up early is that I could photograph a beautiful and colorful sunrise. 
The day is not getting better. Cira is still sick. We try to stay at the condo as long as possible. Unfortunately, we need to change the condo, we have to leave at 12:00 and can only occupy the other one after 16:00. We knew this ever since we booked itthat there was no condo available for 3 nights in a row. So, months ago at the reservation point, we decided to change in the beginning, which today is not in our favor. 
The weather is still beautiful sunny and the mercury at 17°C. We pick-nick outside not far from the condo. Cira is so tired, I have  to drive around the village to get her asleep. The cleaning ladies are super nice, they try to clean the condo as fast as possible. Luckily, it is ready at 14:00. Thank you so much!
We unpack everything in condo #21, where we will be for the next 2 nights and get cozy again :) 

This night was better. Apparently, the full moon was yesterday. Today, Cira wakes up at 7:00 and is full of energy. She is at her best again, but unfortunately, the weather is not. It is cloudy and rainy, the temperature dropped to 6°C. Take out the hats and mittens please!
A visit to the souvenir store, the ti-pi tents, and the stone figures, watching one whale and than the movie "Cars" at the condo are the activities for today.

On the way up north, we stop in Saint-Irènée, why? Every time we took this same road, we made a stop at this viewpoint, with my friend Rebekka in 2001, with our friends Adrian & Mirella in 2005, another stop with my parents in law in 2007. Now we can compare the pictures and how the place changed over the last 12 years. 

Around 16:00, we arrived in La Malbaie where we will stop for the night. Pablo finds us a very nice and well priced motel. Probably, the prices are low because there is accommodation everywhere, since La Malbaie hosts the famous Casino Charlevoix.

We treated us with a meal in a little authentic bistro called "Café chez nous". I am surprised and ready to try a gluten-free meal tonight. It is above our expectation and I can recommend it  whenever someone travels to La Malbaie.
For the following 3 nights we already rented a condo in Essipit (Les Escoumins). More about the place soon...

Do you believe it?  Monday September 16, for most people it is a normal Monday; back to work, back to school after spending a nice weekend with their families or friends. 
For us,  it is Monday too, but not a regular one, oh no! After 7 years living on Melrose street, giving birth to our two beautiful daughters, renovating completely the first floor, we are abandoning it as of today. The keys changes hands, to a nice little family. We are now homeless people on this planet and it does not scare us. Do we regret it? Yes and no! At the end we were comfortable and feeling at home in this house, but even so excited going back to our homeland and being close to the family. Every time they visited us, the tears lasted longer. At the end, family comes first. If you told me that when I was 15 years old, I would just rolled my eyes :)
But  today with 2 young children, the situation changed completely. 

Although, our lovely and kind friends will always have a significant and own space in our hearts. "People who are warm and kind, always smile and embrace, support us with strength and grace, those people I call the best friends ever!"

So, as of today our adventure starts. Homeless, but with a lot of dreams, we get our rental car started to go see some whales and maybe the northern lights, who knows.
We enjoy one last meal with our friend Marie-Hélène, their kids Élodie and Estelle, and the neighbor's son Cédrik at the Crescendo in Verdun.

12:10 The keys are in the hands of the new landlord.

A long nap time in the car for the kids, we arrive at our Motel in St. Anne de Beaupré. Hungry, we all eat a little pick-nick at the motel. The only interesting thing close by to visit is a church. At night with all the lights it looks beautiful.
Good night for today, we will see where we are stopping tomorrow.