The start on this epic highway was pretty nondescript. There was considerable traffic- rush hour for Dawson Creek! The scenery was some forestation and agriculture intermixed. The road is winding and slowly increasing in elevation. Eventually the farms become fewer and the forest with birch and pine take over. Peggy has the camera at the ready as signs appear indicating moose. But there are no moose in the meadows!
We came to a blue colored bridge, the Peace River Bridge. It is the longest water span on the Peace River. We stop to take some photos of it and the river valley before crossing it.
At Fort St. Johns, BC, we fuel up as it has been hammered into us from various sources to not take for granted that filling stations up the road will always be open. About two hours up the road since leaving Dawson City, we come upon The Shepard’s Inn, supposedly renowned for its cinnamon rolls.
Well, hard to turn down something renowned. Wow! The cinnamon roll was 6” X 6” and 2” thick, hot, with frosting and melted butter! Yum! These were well worth the stop. Our waitress asked where we were headed. She said in a couple of weeks she was making her first trip to Alaska for a wedding. We are stuffed and each of us box up at least half of our remaining roll. Peggy says breakfast will be waiting for us tomorrow! We are full and are able to let lunch pass us by.
We continue up the Alaska in a northerly direction. We can see snowcapped peaks to our west. At Fort Nelson we again take on fuel. Peggy, who is also the CFO, asked if I want to know how much we’ve spent on fuel. I won’t tell you so you can’t get shocked! :o) Fuel in Canada is very expensive but something we knew when we were planning this trip.
The highway now turns to a more westerly direction towards the mountains. We come upon an animal in the ditch on the passenger side. Peggy aims the camera but I can’t slow down fast enough for a good shot. She says moose, but I say caribou. But it is behind us now and no way to settle what it may have been.
However, down the road something is ambling away in the ditch on my side of the truck. This time I am able to slow in time for several shots. Peggy, isn’t that the same kind of animal you saw? Hmmm...caribou!!!
We stop at a scenic overview of the mountains and take some pixs. We decide that the Tetsa River valley with a regional public campground would be a good stop. But we’ve noticed that in among the trees are snow banks. And, of course, that campground is closed. The next one is the Tetsa River RV Park. Not bad as for $15 we get electricity until they turn off the campground’s generator. They are not on the grid out here.
The proprietor says that if we go out at 9:00 and drive a bit further up the highway that we have a very good chance of seeing wildlife. We’ll see if these two early risers find the energy to do so. (We did drive about 20 west around 8:30 p.m. but didn’t seen any animals. Bummer!)
And, this establishment, tho’ looking like it could have been built about the time of the original Alaska Hwy, also advertises fresh, hot cinnamon rolls. Let’s see...yup, room in the freezer for the leftovers, so we’ll sample some Tetsa River rolls in the morning.
The Tetsa River RV Park is fairly run down. A middle aged man owns and runs the place. He tells us that this place used to be a main camp laundry when the original Alaska Hwy was built. The only remaining structure from that time is a large boiler used to make hot water. The main building and a few other cabins are made of logs. He complained that the government came in and built the public campground just down the road from here and that it siphons off business from him. He is a disgruntled BC taxpayer. Sounds like home!
We did fill up our pickup with diesel at his place. Had to laugh as on the pump was a sign, “No Sniveling!”. Am I now a disgruntled diesel purchaser??
So far the provincial campgrounds have been closed. This weekend is the Canadian equivalent to Memorial Day, Victoria Day. Supposedly it is a three day weekend most Canadians get out after the long winter and camp. We’ll see what we find available for camping then. We’d think that they would have to open them up to accommodate everyone wanting to camp.
We traveled about 350 miles today. Our pace is slackened over previous days as there is more mountainous driving and scenery. Tomorrow we will cross The Summit, the highest point on the Alaskan Highway. From there we go by Muncho Lake and possibly the Liard Hot Springs. We’ll see what the day brings! We are getting close to the Yukon Province, also.
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