Spending multiple days up north in small BC towns with extended family over the holidays can bring on conditions like cabin fever. Symptoms include restlessness, irritability, bursts of random laughter, intense boredom, paranoia, excessive sleep….the list of mental instabilities just goes on and on. On the flipside, embracing small town life outdoors, can make your time spent in remote towns all the more interesting. Follow my journal style exploration on how to embrace a local’s way of life in Northern BC - a reminder to adventure-on when the cabin fever sets in and not go stir crazy.
Day 2:Eagle Watching at the Dump
Here’s a small town cabin fever buster you would never call in a million years. I was asked to join along on an epic eagle viewing day jaunt, having no idea what I was in for.
I soon learned we were heading for the Terrace landfill and taking a slow cozy ride in the flatbed to kill two birds with one stone. Our mission was to get out of the house, enjoy some epic bird watching and to dump a truck load of Christmas trash.
Ranking on Terrace’s best kept secret list the dump is considered an eagle viewing wonderland, despite a few (bearable) whiffs of junk. Set above a snow capped winter woodland and the Kalum River, the dump attracts over 500 bald eagles this time of year looking for some grub.
Since bird watching in general tips high on my not too cool list of things to do outdoors, being blown away by hundreds of flocks of bald eagles staring me down was a little ironic.
Something I can now say I’ve done at least once, the beauty lies beyond the garbage. Surrounded by epic snow covered scenery and bald headed wise eagles, it’s funny how small towns don’t sweat the small stuff and look beyond the crap to embrace an abundance of wildlife and beauty.
I don’t know what it is about the eagle, maybe the way they soar high above the trees …or Sam’s brooding all knowing mono brow in The Muppets, or the infamous band. Whatever it is, one thing is for sure - the eagle is spiritual, powerful and amazing, represents freedom and has one of the most beautiful of bird voices.
Enjoy this very special blog series geared for those who visit relatives in small BC towns.
