Day 14 - Fort Nelson, B.C. to Liard River, B.C.

Bob and Peri Bobbitt Rig # 14 Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Fort Nelson to Liard Hot Springs

The morning started with low clouds and kept us guessing minute to minute as to what to expect our day would be like. It turned out to enhance our pictures of the most beautiful area we have driven so far – mountains, big beautiful trees, blue-green glacial water, wildflowers everywhere and wild animals of all kinds. We drove along drinking our coffee in awe with every bend more breathtaking than the last.

 

 We stopped for lunch at Toad River Lodge and saw all 7,477 caps they display on their ceiling. Such fun! Jeff donated a cap with his company’s logo on it so now they have 7,478.

When we pulled into the Liard Springs Provincial Park I could not believe this lovely spot in the woods. I think everyone in the caravan must have tried out the hot springs. It was soooo relaxing.

What a perfect day it turned out to be. What a life. It’s rough but someone has to do it ----glad it’s us.

Bob & Peri

Day 13 - Dawson Creek to Fort Nelson

Monique & Barry Zander, No. 13

Monday, June 21, 2010

We awoke to the gentle tapping on our tires by Tailgunner Spence at 7 a.m., and then it was a mad dash to exit the Dawson Creek RV park by 9. We made it with 10 minutes to spare. (Monique insists on preparing a healthy breakfast every morning to start the day.)

And then the fun began. We turned onto Hwy. 97 heading north toward Alaska. Six-plus hours later we arrived at Westend (or Triple G Hideaway) RV Park in Ft. Nelson, B.C. During the intervening 283 miles, we saw a Walmart/Sam’s Club truck, the carcass of an animal that had died of boredom, and a bicyclist pumping up his tire on the side of the road at Mile 235. If this was a tough ride for us, we couldn’t imagine what he was going through. A promised highlight of the drive was the Honey Place, billed as the world’s largest beehive. Like just about every other attraction along the way, it had a CLOSED sign on the side of the building. We did see a swarm of bees circling the place, probably waiting for it to open.

Before that we had flown past the fuel pumps at Pink Mountain, electing to fill up at Sasquatch Crossing since we have Sasquatch’s cousin, a Bigfoot trailer, but there was no fuel there, so we went a few meters to the Husky station, which was closed. It was back to Pink Mountain to fill up at $1.19 per litre.

When we entered a patch of farming country, I suggested we might consider agriculture since we were already growing weary. We believe this was the longest leg of the journey so far. It could be characterized as a journey between monster trucks carrying large cargo, and, on the good side, the ^^^ along the way weren’t as devastating as the previous drive.

We saw no muskeg mires (the name for the deep muck that the U.S. Army contended with in 1942) or permafrost, which, as it melts takes the road away with it. While in Dawson Creek we watched an outstanding PBS movie about the building of what the American Society of Civil Engineers labeled, “a Historical Civil Engineering Marvel.” Seeing all the pain and pride that went into its construction made us eager start at Mile 0 of the Alaskan Highway.

Just 283 miles later in the mini-theater of the museum next door to the RV park, we saw a much earlier, less polished film about the highway. This version, much different than the PBS production, filled us in on what happened after the road officially opened in August 1942.

For a big finish on the day, we walked through Marl Brown’s auto museum. Madi asked Marl if he’d been here all his life. “Not yet,” he told her. Two years ago this month, Marl drove a 100-year-old Buick from Ft. Nelson to Whitehorse and back. It is a wonderful display of antique cars in operating condition.

Animals reported along the way by our caravan members: a fox, a moose and her baby, a bear and deer. Everyday on this trek to the Land of the Midnight Sun is wonderful

Day 12 - Dawson Creek, B.C.

Ivan and Shirley Yurtin Rig #12

Sunday, June 20, 2010

To all the dad’s in our group:

Happy Father’s Day

This morn at 9 a.m. our group started out with lots of hugs in the parking lot. With smiles on our faces, we all lined our cars up and followed our leaders down the road to Dawson Creek. After a few rights and lefts we ended up at the Visitor Centre for picture taking at the Alaska Highway Cairn. This structure was erected to commemorate the start of the Alaska Highway (1942).

 Then we walked down to photograph the Mile 0 Post (1946), which is one of the most photographed markers on the Alaskan Highway.

After the photo shoot we had free time to explore downtown Dawson Creek. Many of us walked the downtown streets to see the many murals depicting the 1940’s and the building of the Northern Alberta Railway. The exterior of the old Alaska Hotel was also interesting. We continued our walking tour taking in Bill’s News and a coffee stop at Café Europa and the Dawson Creek Art Gallery, which had local arts and crafts.

After completing the walking tour, we drove out of town 17 miles to view the original gravel Alaskan Highway and the famous Kiskatinaw River Bridge. It makes you wonder how early travelers were able to cope with the dusty, gravel road for miles and miles!

At 4 p.m. we boarded a bus for departure to the 1200 acre Sewell Wild Game Farm where we had dinner to taste the wild game before we toured the game farm to see the animals we just dined on!. The wild game dinner included wild boar, buffalo and venison stew along with delicious salads, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables and out-of-this-world desserts, all home made by Dellene Sewell. The game farm had numerous wild animals including elk, mountain goats, deer, big horn sheep, wild boar, long-horned steer, reindeer and other animals too numerous to mention.

One of the highlights of the tour was the hay ride, with Gary Sewell driving the tractor out on the prairie, where we parked among the 150 herd of buffalo that were within several feet of us….the largest was named “Parker”. He was a massive animal at 2000 pounds! It was wonderful opportunity to be able to view these animals at such a close range.



We all enjoyed the tour of the Sewell Game Farm.. After the busy day we all boarded the bus for the trip back to the Northern Lights RV Park for some rest before our departure tomorrow to Fort Nelson.

No internet for 3 days so here are the last 3 days blogs!!!!

Day 11 - Prince George, B.C. to Dawson Creek, B.C.

Prince George to Dawson Creek                     Saturday, June 19, 2010                                       
Jeff & Noreene Totten     (rig #11)

We started our day without hooking up our tow vehicle until after getting gasoline in Prince George. This allowed Noreene to see deer in the street while I had already passed the spot. As far as wild life spotting, that was as far as it went all day. Travel for the day was very pleasant with clear blue sky almost all the way. The only cloudiness was a small amount of high clouds about mid way along the drive and some scattered clouds around the park as we arrived at our destination.

Travel today took us over the Rockies again and from forest and rivers to farm land with live stock and grain crops.

Over the last few days we have seen lots of water in lakes and rivers. Today continued that but we did see a sign saying that fire danger was high. It was a warm day so perhaps things are starting to dry out a bit.

We have been told to expect many sites of road construction along the way and today was no exception. Today being Saturday, however, was a day off for work crews so our drive was not affected.

At 82 miles into the drive, we came to Mc Cleod Lake and a monument stating that in 1805, Simon Fraser built Fort Mc Cleod as a base for expanding the North West Company operations west of the Rockies. At this point, we had noticed many dead trees along the road and asked about it at the Mc Leod store. We were told that the dead trees were due to a Spruce Bug infestation and that the government was just letting nature take its course. 

122 miles into the trip, we came to Bijoux Falls. Once again we found that it is often difficult if not impossible to catch the beauty of Nature in a snap shot.

189 miles brought us to Chetwynd and a number of impressive chain saw carvings. Time did not permit us to properly explore the town and the carvings. It appears that we have saved something for another trip!

We arrived at Northern Lights RV Park about 3:00 PM, set up for the next day, and attended a talk at 4:00 PM on Dawson Creek, the Alaska Highway and some Canada trivia (we learned that 5 pin bowling and basketball were invented in Canada). Prizes (M&M’s) were given to Beverly, Evelyn and Dee for being dragged on this trip by Ira, Jim and Marvin. A bumper sticker was awarded to Jeff and Noreene for their flat tire and Irv and Shirley for window damage from a thrown rock. Also, a number of door prizes were given. All in all, a good day!