Dawson Creek BC - End of the First Leg

We made it to Dawson Creek today, the starting point of the Alaska Highway... what some still refer to as the "Alcan". This is day 10 of our journey to the north country and making it to Dawson Creek completes the first of four major legs of our journey. From homebase Wisconsin, we've logged almost 2400 miles.

We're going to pause here for a couple nights, catch up on chores, blog post, pictures, laundry, etc... and just to take a breather from our quick pace. Might even pick up a pizza for dinner tonight. Cravings are common with travelers, I'm told. Earlier today I had my "Tim Horton's" fix... had the first donut I've had in over 6 months. We're holding up well, I'd say. And very excited about getting on the way again.

We're in the Northern Lights RV Park just outside of Dawson Creek, where we have internet that seems to be working ok. Remember, until we're in Alaska, the only way we can reach out is via WIFI when we find it or with the InReach satellite communicator, from which I've been sending out daily location fixes. But even in Alaska there are more places without cell service than there are with. You can also always go to our website, click on the Alaska tab, and find a link to our InReach Mapshare Map with our last known location. The map is interactive so you can zoom in or out to get the perspective you'd like. If you're on Facebook or Twitter, I also have brief updates there on a more regular basis.

The drive north has been all we hoped for so far. The Canadian Rockies just spectacular -- words are inadequate. Wasn't expecting all the oil industry hubbub in Alberta and even here in Dawson Creek -- business must be booming. Not seeing as many RVs as I'd expected, but then I have nothing really to compare. The days are getting noticeably longer and so far we've had no problems sleeping with the brightness.

Weather has been holding up fine too. Although rain has been common, the mornings are generally sunny and we can't really say we haven't seen something due to weather. In the Canadian Rockies the mix of sun and clouds actually enhanced our experience, somehow giving a more dramatic effect to the views of the mountains and ice fields.

The truck and camper are holding up well so far. We're honing our "camper choreography" skills to the point where the little rig really hasn't been an issue at all. Camping is more expensive than I was hoping, in the $30 to $45 (Canadian) range. But we have the advantage of a strong dollar this summer, which knocks those prices down by 20% when converted to US dollars. Gas goes for about 1.15 per liter, when converted to gallons and US dollars is about $3.50.

Got some disturbing news from good friend Jim that there's a nasty wildfire in and around Willow AK. This is near where Jim's daughter Sara and her partner David are homesteading a chunk of land along the Yentna River. Willow is their "home away from home" when they're not out at their cabin. We'll be watching the news and getting more updates from Jim as time goes along. We weren't expecting to get to that area for a few weeks yet, but it does sound like a bad fire and we have no idea how it might impact our tour through there. Stay tuned.

Not often photographed... the official mile 0 trash can.

55 Degrees North

Tuesday June 16
Yesterday we passed 55 degrees north. Never been this far north. There'll be a lot of "furthest north" milestones on this trip, almost daily for a while.

Yesterday's drive started in Jasper. Jasper is a neat little town of about 12,000, certainly displays that there's some money somewhere up here. Wanted to tank up before heading north but the gas station I found was so busy there was a waiting line out into the road. None of that for me if I can avoid it. The next town is Hinton, a couple miles beyond our turn north, and we fueled up there. Got a few groceries as well.

Northward, it was rivers, hills, and trees... an almost solid expanse of trees, the majority coniferous. It was an uneventful drive with plenty of scenery to gawk at. We stopped in Grande Cache for lunch and then drove on to Grande Prairie, where we found an agreeable campsite at the Saskatoon Provincial Park for the night.

Today, Wednesday, was a relatively short drive to Dawson Creek, only 76 miles or so. We found a site at the Northern Lights RV Park in order to rest for a day or so, stop at the Alaska Highway visitors center, take a few photos at the official starting point on the Highway... and to provision up a little for the trip.

Remember to visit our online photo album for more pics from these days. [June 15th]  [June 16}

first donut fix in about a year.

From Banff to Jasper; and the Icefields Parkway

Driving through the Canadian Rockies between Banff and Jasper, including the Icefields Parkway, is a wonderland of vertical splendor and ice-fed lakes. Dar and I, both of us, were humbled, awed, and emotionally drained by the time we drove into Jasper at the end of the day. Words simply can't tell the story. Even our photos seem to lack something. But here goes:  (click on any to enlarge)

North Across the Border

Tonight's campsite in Black Diamond AB

Thursday night we camped along the banks of the Marias River just south of Chester MT. In 1806, along this very river, Meriwether Lewis and a band of his men came through here exploring the geography north of the Missouri River. I'd like to think they might have walked right through our campsite.

Either they did or they didn't. In either case, we greatly enjoyed our quiet agreeable site next to the river. Thinking about history like this, for me, is a little like buying a lottery ticket. At least I get a few minutes of pleasure from imagining improbable turns of events... be they true or false, in the past or in the future.

Friday, we drove into Shelby and then north on I-15 to the Canadian border at Sweetgrass. The crossing couldn't have gone much better. After about a 30 minute wait in line, we talked with an agent for, really, no more than 3 minutes. No humor, no stunts, no trying to get away with anything... just answered questions honestly and we were through. They weren't concerned that we may have had a little more wine than we should have. I should point out that we don't have a gun on this trip, so that was a non-issue. We do have a couple cans of bear-spray but they didn't care to see them.

From the border it was a quick jaunt to Lethbridge where we stopped for a visit with friends Fred and Lynne. We even camped for the night next to their home. We had an enjoyable time with these two and, predictably, the hospitality was the best.

Today we moved closer to the Canadian Rockies. With the goal of holding back a little to let the weekend crowds around Banff dissipate somewhat, we took a side trip to the Frank Slide (Canada's most deadly landslide) and the Leitch Collieries (ruins of one of many coal mining operations in this area during the early 1900s). Rather than re-write already well written articles on each, I'll let you check them out if you're so inclined.

And tonight we're in Black Diamond AB at the municipal campground where we have an electric site to help stave off somewhat chillier temps than we anticipated.  Could get into the upper 30s, but certainly the low 40's. As I write this there's a light rain falling. The past two days have been similar in that a sunny morning gives way to clouds and rain in the afternoon. I'm ok with that... allows me to get some work done.

Some pics from the last few days:

in line at the border

dang big RR trestle in Lethbridge AB

It's not Alaska... but we're on our way.

someone in Alberta has a cap or hat on top of every fence post,
for at least a mile or so. 

a selfie... or is it an "ussie"?