The Crystal Carpet Ride
by Bonnie Jarvis-Lowe
“Sunglasses, I don’t have my sunglasses!” I said to my husband as I finished searching the dozens of pockets in my snow gear, turning zippered pockets inside and out, but finding no dark eyeglasses.
We were ready to head into the country on our Skidoo to spend some time enjoying the outdoors and to visit our cabin. It would be at least an hour’s drive on a snow machine or a four-wheeler. The day was remarkable, brilliant, but bitterly cold, and the brightness of our Newfoundland winter wonderland would strain the eyes, and possibly even cause snow blindness.* I was well aware of this and it was why I was so distressed by not having my UV-filter glasses. Sun block and UV-filter eyeglasses are just as necessary on those winter days as they are on a sunny summer day.
Being a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, I did not give the sunglasses another thought. I was amazed by the beauty of the day. There was no wind, and the shadows of snow and ice formations on the bushes, trees, and rocks, all made for a phenomenal scene that took my breath away. Scenery like this would unfold before our eyes all during our ride. The magnificent beauty of our rugged land is unlimited, and exploring it is an experience I never tire of, always enjoy, and store in my memory bank, bringing it forth on stressful days or during times of frustration and hurt. The memories were soothing to the soul if you stored them carefully. And I did.
My belief that everything happens for a reason proved itself right that day. Without the tinted glasses I could see precisely what the true colours of Newfoundland and Labrador are in winter. I was in awe of the terrific vistas as we crossed a frozen pond finally reaching the open country. Once we arrived there, I saw the great expanse of pure white frozen land over which we would travel. A popular song in our province has a line that says, “Crossing the tundra land of Newfoundland,” and this looked like the tundra to me, even though the true tundra is much further north, near the tree-line of the Arctic.
The flat frozen snow-covered landmass looked heavenly. It was so different in winter without the pond lilies, the Pitcher Plants (our Provincial Flower that grow by the hundreds high on the open country), the mosquitoes, and patches of blueberries. Now the ponds were like mirrors with their cover of ice, giving a whole new but attractive appearance. The huge rocks, old tree stumps, and small trees, cast wonderful shadows on the white snow, while the taller trees stood guarding all they surveyed.
It was then I realized that the snow resembled a white carpet covered with sparkling crystals. Everything glistened, and the snow twinkled under the bright sun causing the whole snowy surface area to produce colours as would a prism, as the crystals glistened and shone with all the colours of the spectrum, depending on their size and position. Without tinted glasses everything was so clear, so splendid, and it was a sight unequalled by anything I had ever seen.
