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 4: The Forest Whisperer
A big believer in gnomes and faeries, what does a beach glam hippie chick trapped in Terrace BC for one week too long do with too much time on her hands? Dearly missing my yoga studio I decide to venture into the woods on snowshoes and become one with the forest.
Taking some me time to spy on gnomies and forest friends is not something my busy city life has much time for. Today I gave into the slow pace of life up north and made my way to Ferry Island. I had no idea what an Instagram treat I was in for! Rick Goyette has made the scenery in Terrace all the more interesting. Over time this artist has carved over 55 spirit friends into trees, logs and surrounding old growth. From grumpy old men to wise owls and dragons, the forest is beaming with tree life and unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Super cool.
A 4km island trail took me double the time to finish because I let the forest speak to me. Intrigued and hypnotized by the mysterious characters staring back at me, the message was loud and clear. The characters sparked an inner impulse, and the next thing I knew I was attempting head stand in snowshoes (near impossible by the way) until I realized I had to ditch the shoes in order to successfully rock the pose. Practicing snowga along the trail was inspired by the forest people and my willingness to embrace this epic moment. Sorels made it a little more challenging to balance, but hey no one cares in the boonies anyways – ahhh the beauty of being unrecognizable in a small town.
By the end of my snowshoe adventure, I felt like I should be crowned the forest whisperer. The lesson I learned today was this; when bored and owly, head to the forest. In Terrace, forest spirits really do exist and can make life a little merrier.
Enjoy this very special blog series geared for those who visit relatives in small BC towns.
