by Chris Factor

Created on: August 12, 2008   Last Updated: November 24, 2008

Winter is long and cold in the north woods of the Midwest. A road trip along the Mississippi River is a welcome adventure. An invitation to our church singles group only attracted three women, of course, to get out and do something! Fresh air and country roads were better options than sitting on the couch with a remote to click on something entertaining or reading a book with a blanket over you as you are curled up on the sofa!

As a single mom, I am always the driver that takes the kids to and from places; but today I am a passenger in the backseat of a threesome on the way from the southwest part of the metro area to the sights along the river from Red Wing to Wabasha. It is the first week of March with hopes to view these so called birds of prey that have a wing span of six to eight feet and have a white head and tail. It is the bald eagle, America's symbol of freedom, soon ending their stay at their winter home. They rule the sky when they are in flight and they glide effortlessly above the open waters as they snatch their prey out of the water.

As we start passing through the little town north of Wabasha, we see them line the frozen edge of the water. There may be as many as fifty. They may be sitting on the bare branches of these trees along the shores. As many as seven or eight to a tree can be viewed through a pair of binoculars and count the white heads that are speckled symmetrically on the trees. They are then replaced by a group that just completed flying around the open waters as if they have practiced this ritual with precision timing.

It is a beautiful day, clear blue skies, a perfect day for eagles to take flight to soar and glide effortlessly as they watch for fishes swim toward the surface and satisfy the eagles' meal quota for the day. Our trek to the town of Wabash, where the Eagle Center is located, ETA is right on schedule. We walk along the boulevard that lines the rivers edge. We stop at each telescope that lined the walk so we could get a close-up of these species at different angles. A few of them were perched above the bare trees that are strategically spaced along the boulevard. They are wild and yet sit quietly undisturbed by the commotion below them as we focus our cameras on these majestic creatures.

Lunch in a quaint local caf, formerly a Victorian home, matched the ambience and large portion served. Wonderful home-cooked meal and of course, home-made apple pie for desert made the lunch complete. A nap was tempting; but this gave

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