Day Three - Chetwynd to Fort Nelson, BC

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Sleep was much more comfortable last night. I remembered to turn the electric mattress pad on and it didn't get as cold overnight as it did the night before. We were up and on the road by 8:30. On our way through downtown Chetwynd we passed the many chainsaw carvings Dave had added to the list of possible things to see and do nearly a year ago when we began our planning meetings. As we drove by them I wished we had made an attempt to drive in to look at them properly. They're very impressive. But when you're up early and traveling 350 - 400 miles a day you don't really have the energy to do much more than set up camp, eat dinner and relax before going to bed and doing it all over again the next day.

Today is the day we officially begin our drive of the Alaska Highway. We're headed farther east to Dawson (no 's) Creek, BC where we'll finally turn northwest toward Alaska. The drive begins the same as it's been for a while - beautiful, albeit smoky, Canadian wilderness. Something I haven't mentioned about the roads we've been on is that on nearly every incline a passing lane is present and because we're still in a very hilly area of British Columbia, there are a lot of passing lanes. It makes driving much less stressful knowing you're not holding anybody up because you're dragging a house up the hill.

As much fun as it is to go up those hills, going down them can be downright exciting! At home, at least in Washington, I think the people who make the roads max out the grade at 6%. Here I've seen a handful of Brake Check areas where truckers are supposed to pull over and do a physical inspection. I didn't think much of it until there was one point where we were going down a 6% grade for 5.3km with 500m at 10% thrown in for funsies! Later on we went down a 9% for 1.3km. After those two steep hills I think more than our brakes needed to be checked.

Farther east, the trees of the foothills give way to grassland and farmland, and small communities dot the highway now and then. In one of the grassy fields along the highway we spot three elk wading shoulder-deep through the yellow-flowered tops.

About halfway to Dawson Creek both trucks are getting thirsty, but they should have enough to get there. As we're driving through forests and hay fields we come upon a small, old gas station that may or may not actually be in operation. The trucks need a drink, they probably have enough, but we decide to fill up now and pull up to the first of the two pumps. Mike gets out to check the price and walk back to relay the information to Dave. They decide they each have enough to get to Dawson Creek and Mike returns to our truck. By this time a gentleman has come out of the office to pump the diesel for Mike and Mike tells him we're going to skip it and drive into Dawson. The man is very understanding, tells him the prices are about 10 cents cheaper in town and goes as far as to tell him which station should have the lowest price! How's that for Canadian hospitality?! Mike got back in and I commented on how nice that was of him. I also told Mike the guy looked like Ron Jeremy and sounded like the guys on Letterkenny!

We arrive in Dawson Creek, quench the thirst of the trucks and continue through town to the roundabout that marks the beginning of the Alaska Highway. There is a large parking lot for visitors to use while they take pictures of each other under the sign. There are no marked parking spaces so travelers like us are taking a risk parking in there because it may be quite difficult to get out based on where others choose to park. The four of us and our pups gathered under the sign while another visitor granted my request of a photo using my camera. The highway was built during World War II, was constructed in only 8 months and "provided an essential transportation link to the northwest of North America." I noticed the wife of another couple start to take a picture of her husband under the sign so I offered to take a picture of both of them. After their photo shoot, they returned to their truck and small trailer and Mike asked where they were headed. They were also headed to Alaska. Their journey began much earlier than ours as they were from Florida! Now that's a road trip! Safe travels, my friends.

Now we officially begin our travels on the World Famous Alaska Highway.

A few miles out of town I saw a large sign noting the names of two streets up ahead. One street went to the left, the other to the right. The large sign read "Big Bam and Taylor Flats" with arrows in the direction of each road. Big Bam and Taylor Flats ... sounds like a country-western duo.

Farther on the highway is flanked once again by forests. As with many pockets of the forests here in northern B.C. many of the trees are charred remains of a once lush landscape. As is the case right now, wildfires have ravaged the area again and again. The blackened skeletons stand tall as a blanket of fireweed and other grasses slowly bring life back into the death and destruction. In a low point of the grassy area between the road and a swath of forest as yet untouched by fire we spotted our third bear. This one looked to be another youngster, perhaps 2 or 3 years old. At first I thought it was a charred stump in the middle of lush grasses, but then it moved. It was simply foraging in the grass not far from the highway and was unfazed by us driving by.

The next wildlife sighting was by our friends. They saw a beaver somewhere along the way. We totally missed it. They didn't see the bear, so it's a wash.

After another long day of driving, we finally arrived at our destination. Again, the RV park is right off the highway, but this one is a very nice park. It's a big park with decent sized sites. The grounds are well maintained. They have free wifi with a strong signal for as many devices as you want to connect to it. There is also laundry facilities, restrooms, showers and a restaurant. Mike and I tried the food at the restaurant for dinner. The price seemed a bit high, but the food was delicious and plentiful! At the back of the property is an RV wash station. In researching where to stay on our adventure, I noticed the reviews of several parks and campgrounds mentioned RV washing and whether or not it was permitted and if there was a wash station available. This one has it! I doubt we'll use it although the rig really could use a bath to get rid of all the bug carcasses plastered all over the front (and we're only on day 3).

Between the time we finished our meal at the restaurant and the time I began writing this post the forecasted thunderstorm began. Heat lightning lit up the sky and thunder rumbled. Eventually the rain began to fall. Poor Charlie was not a happy camper and wanted nothing more than to curl up on my lap, protected from all the scariness of the outside. He had to settle for sleeping next to me on the bench at the dining table. It's a little difficult to try to type this while holding him so he doesn't slide off my lap as he melts into sleep. In the course of writing, the thunderstorm has come and gone and Charlie survived, managing to sleep through most of it.

I hope you're enjoying my posts. I'll see you again soon.

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