Our original plan was to stay in Ocean Falls for only one night, but plans are made to be changed. And so we stayed.
A “must-do” while here is a visit to the marine ways where “Nearly Normal Norman Brown”, one of the locals we met at the pub Wednesday, has created a museum from items he found in the town over the years – everything from children’s toys to an industrial egg boiler (that still works) from the Martin Inn. Some of the more interesting pieces include registers from the hotel reporting on daily activity and the company housing logs. But what struck me the most is how all of these items, from somebody’s spoon collection to their furniture was considered valuable enough at one time to possess, but were left behind as if the owners were escaping a natural disaster … maybe they were.
Another “must-do” while here is breakfast at Darke Waters Lodge. Owners Rob and Corrina Darke cater daily to loggers, so the food is good and there’s plenty of it … that’s if you can get out of bed before nine (David).
Over the past couple of days, we’ve taken a few more walks through the old town site and entered some of the decaying buildings, including the old high school. It’s difficult to appreciate how great of a change has occurred until you’ve seen pictures of Ocean Falls during its heyday and talked to people who either lived here or visited when it was thriving – the look on their faces tells the story.
Those who continue to live here year-round are hardy souls and have well-earned their nickname – The Rain People. The entire area, from the tip of Vancouver Island to Southeast Alaska, makes up the Great Bear Rainforest, one of the largest remaining tracts of unspoiled temperate rainforest in the world. And within the boundaries of this great rainforest, Ocean Falls is known for its abundance of rain. Approximately 4,390 mm (172 inches) falls annually and last year there were only 36 days of recorded sunshine. As much as I would hate that (and believe me, I would) it’s still a tempting thought. Tempting enough that we hope to return on our way south for another look.
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