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I’ve never been to a maple farm in full swing and I’ve never been to a maple farm when it’s not in full swing…so…going to a maple farm—super cool!
From Quebec City we boogied out to Lambton, QC—the town where some old family friends of my other half live. They are nested in a quant town and their beautiful house looks onto the lake, when the trees were shorter.
There we met Francine and Gilles, who were hosting us for the day. They were very hospitable and they made our stay very comfortable. I think I slept better there than most places on the trip, most likely because it felt like home. Thank-you Gilles and Francine for welcoming us into your house with such open arms.
While Gilles went into town to run a few errands we settled in…freshened up and hung out with Francine.
She created a delicious spread of hors d’oeuvres and made us a mega salad that included ham, pecans, peaches, and dressing. It was yummy!! And then topped our bellies off with dessert! Mmmmm!
Following lunch we took off with Gilles, who was happy to give us a of the area. We started, first, at the Lambton church—a church, which could hold 1200 people, but at this time only sees, on average maybe 50 each week. It is a very sad as the church itself is beautiful and it is a part of our history that we shouldn’t forget about. Gilles is the choir director of the church that is how we were able to get a first hand look at the inside of the church. It is well designed with great artists and architectures who helped create it.
From there we carried on. We drove through Saint Sebastian, saw the house where Gilles grew up, heard stories of when he was little and used to toboggan down the massive hill…AND…we also saw the very place where him and Francine first met. Awwww…!
We were shown the lot of a massive granite producer, and got a drive-by look at the massive slabs that are then further adapted to arrive on your very kitchen counter…or bathroom…or whatever else you might use granite for…
After that, it was on the granite museum. At this time of year it is usually closed, but we got lucky. The museum staff were there to finish packing up on the artifacts to take them to storage for the season, so we were able to drive up to the museum and take in the most incredible view of Quebec. It is, by far, the most impressive panoramic view we have seen thus far and it took my breath away.
After that view we were a bit jaded, but when we were shown a Christmas Tree Farm, which backs onto Gille and Francine’s maple tree farm we were quite intrigued. We were shown the different stages of trees…and saw the flagged trees that will end up in someone’s living room this Christmas as they are the appropriate size. We saw seedlings planted this year, and some a little bigger, and we also learned it takes around 10 years to get the Christmas trees the perfect Christmas Tree size. Every summer staff also come around and shape each and every tree so that it has to “Christmas Tree” look. There were rows upon rows of Christmas trees and it was impressive.
From there we looped back and drove down the driveway into the maple tree camp. From the first few meters in I could see the tubes that were hooped around each maple tree that is tapped. Gilles and Francine’s maple farm has 6000 taped maple trees and they have an impressive operation. We were shown the sugar shack, the private quarters, fed the deer a bag of apples and viewed the pump-house.
We were given a thorough tour of how exactly the shack works, what makes the perfect maple syrup, what they have to look for in their syrup (66 per cent sugar), where all the workers are when the sap is running. The sap runs usually in March and only during freeze-thaw. From what I gathered, it is a very busy place during that time.
I was very intrigued and learnt so much from Gilles. He showed us new tubing and old tubing and explained to us that deer and squirrels chew on the tube…all because they want to get to the salt which is formed during the back-washing of the lines after all of the sap has run.
I am thoroughly impressed with the maple tree farm and am definitely interested in heading out when the sap is running.
When we arrived back at Gilles house we helped him hook up his quad/trailer as he was heading out hunting early the next morning and then we got a personal tour of his trophy room.
As a gift to take home Gilles gave us a case of their maple syrup from last year. Half of the box from early in the season (used for cooking) and the other half from later in the season (used for eating on pancakes! And stuff..)
Right afterwards we were spoiled by Francine with an incredible meal (Pork, rice, vegetables, buns and a very, very tasty maple dessert
We sat and talked for a while, caught up briefly on the news and then said goodnight and good-bye to Gilles as he would be leaving before we got up (most likely).
With a full day of site-seeing and learning this post is a thank-you to Gilles and Francine who opened up their house and their day to be our hosts. We appreciate the tour of the area, the incredible food, the maple syrup, the bed to sleep on and everything else you may have helped us with.
It was and experience I will never forget and some beautiful scenery that is locked in my memory & in my photos!
Thank you!
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