I don`t really see myself as one of the people who flee the Canadian cold and overwinter in places like Florida. But as a matter of fact, I am one of the so-called “snowbirds”.
I spent the winter in the mild climate of the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia and I’m glad I did. The snowstorms in northern Newfoundland were relentless and frequent while I was away. Now that I’m back, there is still pack ice in the bay and huge piles of snow everywhere.
This is nevertheless the place I want to be now. Driving up from the airport in Deer Lake, I saw caribou and moose. And I stopped to take a video of the raging ocean which fascinates me endlessly. I almost froze my fingers doing it.
Today the sun is out. The locals haven`t seen it for the entire month of April. I have started to walk the neighbours’ dog again and I take care of our foster cat. Covid has spread in the area which makes it difficult to meet people.
I’ve already encountered the first tourist, though. She asked me when the ice will be melted in the bay. I don’t really know. Chances are that the wind will drive the floes out onto the North Atlantic before it melts.
During the winter months, I missed several polar bears wandering through the coastal communities. One of them climbed on a roof and when the lady in the house opened the door, there it was, in all its glory. She quickly shut the door! Her neighbour’s surveillance camera caught it all on film.
There are snowbirds in the yard, too, and it is not me. When these birds turn up in northern Newfoundland, it is a sure sign of spring. I should know by now that spring looks very different here from anywhere else. This is one of the reasons why I`m happy to have arrived. It’s an adventure!
