FORT NELSON, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

We only had 124 miles to drive on this day so travel was light.  I continued to take pictures of course but there weren’t any major milestones to stop for a time so we made it to camp around noon. 

But….the awesome thing that happened….Bill spotted a black bear on the side of the road.  He was able to pull over to the side (not something that is possible all the time as the roads are narrow and don’t always have room) and take a few pictures.  Our first bear on this trip!  He just stood there and let Bill do the picture shoot.  We were excited.   I was glad it was on Bill’s side as I’m not very good at zeroing in on things from the road. LOL

Our first Black Bear spotted!!

We arrived at camp, and hooked up and set up the rig.   A small group had decided to take an optional trip to the Northwest Territories, a roundtrip of 276 miles.  Another couple had invited us to ride along with them, so three vehicles set out after packing a quick lunch.  Most of the group had decided to pass this up and just chill at the camp.

Along the way we stopped at the Fort Nelson Bridge, spanning the Fort Nelson River, the longest Acrow bridge in the world.  This 1,410 foot one-way wooden bridge was really “nervousing” Jennifer.  It is 14 feet wide with a span of 230 feet form pier to pier.  The trucks that came upon it did not even slow down and you just prayed that no one was coming the other way.  We got out of the truck and walked up to the top and underneath.  As we watched the big semis going across I kid you not you could see the road moving up and down.  I do not know what holds it all together.  But we tried not to think of that as we had to cross it again on the way back. 

As we continued on to the Northwest Territories, the wagon master up ahead saw a black bear.  We all stopped but before Bill could get the camera on and ready it had run up into the trees.  He was a little larger than the one we had seen earlier.  Our second bear of the day!! WOW!

We finally made it to the Northwest Territory and we all got out to have our pictures taken with the signs! LOL.












The bugs, horse flies, mosquitoes and we are not sure what else were swarming so thick it was a challenge to stay out there long enough to take the pictures.  One of the guys caught one of them in a coffee cup and I took this picture – not sure what he is but he was big.  But we had entered into the Northwest Territory and that was pretty cool.

We all decided that since we had come that far we might as well go into Fort Laird and see what was there.  We went into the little store there (mainly to use the bathroom, LOL) but we all bought something.  Most of us went for ice cream.  For one Klondike bar and a small can of nuts (that was for Bill, I had the ice cream of course) it was $10.23!!  That may cure me of eating so much ice cream.  There was a little Native craft store.  They had a pair of beaver mittens…they were so soft it was almost as unbelievable as the price, $298.00.  Needless to say I did not leave the store with a pair of those!! LOL.  I actually didn’t buy anything --- everything was really out of sight but they were all hand-made by the natives of the area.  It was actually a very depressed and sad little town.  We went on another mile or so to see the Fort Liard River and took some shots.  It was beautiful.

We had an enjoyable visit and trip although it really ended up being a long one.  We left around 1PM and didn’t get back to the campsite until about 8PM.  

After getting back to camp Bill headed down to the office to check e-mail as we couldn’t connect at our site.  I stayed behind to grab a bite to eat and make a return  phone call to Brian. It was good to catch up with him.

We ended the day with a couple games of cribbage and an hour of “24” on DVD!!  It had started raining shortly after we got back and rained all through the night.  Guess they  needed the rain so that was good.  Made for a good night sleep.  The next morning we were headed 188 miles to Liard Hotsprings, BC, Canada, our next camping site for the night. 

SIKANNI RIVER CAMPGROUND, PINK MOUTAIN, BC, CANADA

We traveled 157 miles from Dawson Creek to Sikanni River seeing more beautiful sights on our way.  We took a short detour on part of the original Alaska Highway which included the Kiskatinaw River Bridge.  This 531 foot curved wooden structure is the only original timber bridge built along the Alaska Highway that is still in use today.  It was a little “nervousing” (Jennifer’s word, which I think pretty much describes it.  LOL).  Beautiful, amazing sight! Really a neat experience.  Our first test of the tripod to take our picture together---Bill did great setting it up and it sure beats waiting for someone to come along to take it for you.

 

KISKATINAW CURVED BRIDGE

VIEWS FROM THE BRIDGE

VIEWS FROM THE BRIDGE

The terrain, miles of open land, the beginning of the mountains, the overwhelming beauty and the enormity of the sky and clouds continues to “WOW” me.  I keep taking pictures as Bill drives along but there is no way they show a portion of the impact they have on us insignificant humans.  One feels very small but blessed to be a part of this awesome experience.  We share these pictures with you hoping to give you a small taste of His creation.

The campground we stayed at did have limited facilities as Bill shared with you in  his “electricity” blog.  We did not have water, sewer, cell phone or internet and very limited electricity but the campsite was beautiful.  It was right on the Sikanni River with the mountains and trees all around.  While we were setting up one of the other trackers had built a campfire right in the parking area in front of his rig.  He purchased a couple wheelbarrows of wood and had a terrific fire going by the time we took our chairs over to join the group.  By 5PM all 39 of us had gathered in a circle around the fire discussing our day, our lives and previous travels.   After the briefing for the next day Bill set up our recliners by the river and we enjoyed the peaceful beauty for a while before the mosquitoes ran us into the motorhome.  A couple ladies came over to play some cards and later Bill and I collapsed for a few hours of “24”!!  

This picture is of the Sikanni RV Park Office . . . which is also the owner's home, his office, and the gift shop and gas station.  All rolled into one.  It looks like something out of Mayberry RFD and is very cute (maybe "quaint" would be a better word).

































Great day and a relaxing evening to prepare for the next day travel to Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada 124 miles farther up the Alaska Highway!









SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL WILDFLOWERS ALONG THE WAY

DAWSON CREEK, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Highway

As we said before, the Tracks to Adventure tour to Alaska met at Dawson Creek, “Mile 0” of the Alcan Highway.  The story of this highway is amazing.  For those of you who don’t know the story this road was built from March 9, 1942 to October 25, 1942 during World War II after the Japanese bombed Hawaii.  The US and Canada had been discussing this project for some time but with the threat of Japan they finally agreed it had to be done and done quickly to keep Alaska and Canada and all of North America safe.  They brought in 30,000 US Army soldiers and civilians to the little town of Dawson Creek, population 600.  Along with the Army troops they hired civilians, engineers, surveyors and what have you.  Most of these men had no idea how to build a road or operate the bulldozers and other heavy equipment necessary and some of them could not read or write.  The weather conditions ranged from 60 below 0 to 90 above.  They had many obstacles and conditions to overcome as they forged through forest, mountains, snow, mud, etc where no civilization had been before.  1528 miles of rugged road completed in 8 months and 12 days --- as Bill says they have been working on it continually for the 70 years since.  It is actually not a bad road most of the way.  Some rough spots but you have that in Michigan.  LOL.  The stories on this endeavor are truly amazing --- the history makes the travel on this Alcan Highway even more exciting.  We had our picture taken at both Mile 0 signposts.  The one was in the middle of a busy intersection, which made it difficult to find someone to take our picture or to set up the tripod.  Fun!

Okay, sorry for the history lesson, I am just really impressed.  We arrived at the Campsite Saturday morning to meet up with the rest of the group.  After setting up our site everyone met to have a snack and get to know one another a little.  We met a great couple who enjoy playing cards and spent a couple hours with them learning how to play Square Nine (or “Shoulda”).  We have been practicing since then every chance we get.  Sunday morning we attended a Community Church, went out to lunch, ran some errands and did laundry.  I remember why I don’t like Laundromats.  We Skyped (free video & audio link from computer to computer) our kids and grandkids ---- talk about a mind-boggling invention!!!  To be able to talk to them and see them, almost like being there, is incredible.  It was great to see them all but the little ones were so much fun. I think they were as excited to see us as we were them.  Well, probably not.  But we are looking forward to doing it again soon.  With the difference in time zones and the sketchy internet service not sure when that will be but hopefully soon.

Monday we went to the Alaska Highway House to see a movie on the building of the Alcan Highway, had lunch with a couple from the group at Boston Pizza and stocked up on groceries.  We tried a Canadian store called “Xtra Foods” (I liked the leaves on the sign) The prices here make me cringe…but we are in new territory.  Had trouble finding things we were looking for but the next day we found a Safeway and that had a lot more variety although the prices still scared me.  

At 4PM we met to take a bus to the Sewell Valley Game Farm.  They served us venison stew, wild boar, buffalo meatloaf with sweet and sour sauce & bison roast along with many sides of vegetables, salads and desserts.  Okay Jennifer you should be proud of me…I tried a little of everything although I was close to becoming a vegetarian….can’t say I would ever eat any of it on purpose.  LOL.  After we ate the critters, we went around and saw many of their cousins not yet carved up for dinner.  Elk, musk ox, mountain goats, wild boar, buffalo, turkey, donkeys, peacocks and many other small animals.  Many of them had babies and that was cool.  We took an old fashioned hayride out to the buffalo.  That was really neat as we drove right up to them and almost every female had a baby, ages ranging from 2 days to 2 or 3 months.  We got a really close look at them.  They have learned to pose very well.

We were glad to be back at the motor home to relax and watch a DVD before calling it a night.  We would be leaving the next morning to our next destination, Sikanni Chief River Campground, Pink Mountain, British Columbia, Canada, 157 miles up the Alcan Highway.