From Alberta to British Columbia into the Yukon.

Wednesday we left Spruce Grove, just outside of Edmonton, fueled up and were ready to go by 8:00 AM. We ate breakfast in the car, fruit, cheese, crackers from our loving family! Thanks again! We knew that it would be a lengthy day but really had no idea how long it would truly end up before we were to rest horizontally again. The road traveled North West into lonely and cold territory. We were on the road over a dozen hours in total, Ken exhausted from driving, Liam almost voted off – but maintaining on board- Tom and Hanna drugged and sleepy. Me – worried.

The drive from Spruce Grove to Dawson Creek was an easy 380 miles. We stopped for lunch in Debolt at a mom and pop special the Blue Bonnet Café. They served home made soup and grilled cheese and egg sandwiches. We were unable to hear each other properly over the gravel and rock on the road as we continued north. I thought that I heard Ken exclaiming “Damn-it, Goose Poop!” Of course I looked all around in the sky wondering to myself are the geese lost up here now that we are about to cross from Alberta to British Columbia? Then I see the sign on the road pointing out the miles to a nearby towns Demmitt and Pouce Coupe. Goose Poop\Pouce Coupe made for a good laugh for about 15 miles. We saw moose today – big furry ones Jen!

It was a bit shocking to realize that after a full four days of driving that we finally got to the "start" of the Alaskan Highway.  Mile Zero starts at Dawson Creek.

We arrived at Dawson Creek about 3:00 PM. Ken serviced the vehicle, we each had some ice cream and headed up the longest frozen, icy, drive we had seen so far on this trip. It took us six hours to travel the 285 miles to Fort Nelson. Each mile crept by slowly, Ken concentrated to keep the Jeep and trailer on the road while semi trucks blasted by us so fast we choked on the frost the left behind. Apparently they were not worried about sliding off of the road. We got hungry and so did the dogs and were again truly grateful to snack upon turkey and Liam on pumpkin pie! Fort Nelson was full of trucks, semis, trailers and not one tourist to be seen – only working folk and locals enjoying the fancy A&W. We had a bit of trouble finding a place to stay that would allow pets and were truly grateful to call it a night at the Blue Bell Motel. The ground was covered in ice and packed snow, Tom shivered. The room had no Internet connection so we couldn’t post.

 

Thursday we slept in and let all the workers get ahead of us on the roads. By the time we headed out at 9:00 the roads were clear of traffic and we could have a slow steady drive. It isn’t nearly as stressful in the light of day! We were stopped along the road by wildlife a number of times. It was staggering to me how fast a new normal set in. The first few times I wanted photos of the big horn sheep, bison, moose, and caribou – then after about five stops I stopped taking photos and was able to watch them be animals. Hanna had a fit in the car watching. She yelped and yowled – seemed to be saying to us “Hey, cant you see that there is something going on out there!” We stopped for gas at Toad River Lodge. The road was snowy and icy today. There was slush in mid day. There were a few dry spots near Steamboat (a different one from our Colorado home) we snapped a few photos at a rest area. We ate lunch in the car, oranges and pecan pie. The road became snow packed around the Yukon line. The GPS decided to remind us … randomly out of nowhere… “Continue 412 miles on 97…” with no other options we laughed as we drove down the only road available for 500 miles.

We ended up at the Big Horn Hotel tonight. They WELCOME pets - in Watson Lake, Yukon, Canada.  Resting safe and well.

Our goal tomorrow is to head to Haines Junction. 

Shanny / K. Chadwick