7/5 - Before leaving Dawson Creek, we drove what is called the "Top of the Dome Road" A 4 mile drive to a mountain top overlooking Dawson Creek and the valley. What great views!
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| From Top of Dome - Dawson Creek |
We camped the night of 7/5 - 6 - 7 at various roadside pullouts. Three nights in a row just us and the mosquitoes and the great views.
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| Camping off road - one of our many overnight spots |
We stopped for lunch in Watson Lake and stopped to see the visitor center and the signpost forrest... a collection of over 70,000 signs from all over the world that one man started several years ago with a few signs that has grown to this strange site.... I couldn't find Zephyrhills, but I did find Tarpon Springs, the closest to our home.... The drive through Muncho Lake Provincial Park was breathtaking!... Although it was raining the entire trip, we did get a chance to take a short 2/3 mile hike to Rancheria Falls in a light rain but worth it. We saw 4 more bears and a herd of Buffalo, maybe 50 strong, with their new calves just laying next to the highway in the rain. We camped near the Racing River Bridge, a steel surfaced bridge that we could listen to whenever a vehicle crossed. Traffic was very light after about 11:00 P.M., so it wasn't a problem, but the view was great.
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Signpost Forrest   |
7/9 - Camped out in Walmart lot in Ft. St. John.
7/10 - Stopped in Dawson Creek, the site of the start of the 1,528 mile Alaskan Highway that runs now all the way to Fairbanks, Alaska. We officially completed the Alaskan Highway today. The downtown streets were closed today (Sunday) for a classic car show. We visited the displays and when we had our fill, continued on the Grande Cache Municipal RV park for the night.
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| RV at Dawson Creek Car Show |
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| Mlie '0' Alaskan Highway - Dawson Creek |
7/11 - 7/14 - These four days were spent in some of Canada's best parks (as far as I can tell to date) The highway runs through several of their National Parks and the scenery is probably the best we've seen that is all in one place. The road runs approximately 200 miles North to South and every mile is just awesome. Jasper National park, Banff National Park, Kootenay National Park, are the three we traversed. If you ever get the chance to visit one place - choose this area! You will never be dis-appointed.
***We did a lot of hiking in these three parks, but the most memorable was the Five Lakes trail. We had hiked about 2 hours and had stopped on the trail for a rest when June said quietly "Terry, look over there" About 30 ft. away was a big Black Bear staring at us. Our bear instructions kicked in and we followed what we had been told - 'Don't Run' - make yourself look as big as possible by raising your arms and continuosly talk to the bear and back away. That's what we did and after a few moments, the bear too turned away and slowly moved towards the woods. Park Rangers tell everyone the same story and it always works with Black Bears. Grizzley's are a different technique, but since we didn't meet one, I don't want to think about it.
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| "Our" Bear Encounter on the trail |
The park campgrounds we stayed in here in therse National Parks had no power or water hookups, but were all first class sites. large, clean, and beautiful.
On our way out of Kootenay National Park, we finally got our first Big Horn Sheep sighting...... A close encounter on the road. There were four of these big dudes walking across the road right in front of us!
Now that we're back in the states I can tell you - "There's no place like home" - The USA I mean. Our trip has been great fun and are full of continuing memories, but all in all - the continental USA Wins in overall appeal for June and I. Alaska is a great place to visit - once. Unless you're an avid outdoorsman, it's just too big and remote. Western Canada - very beautiful and full of great scenery, but like Alaska remote and just too expensive as compared to USA. "Everything" in Western Canada is a good 30% to 40% higher in price than in the U.S. - My breakfast cereal - 3.60 in US - 4.99 in Canada. Gasoline - we paid about $4.80 per gallon (converted from their Litres) to just over $6.00 per gallon. Everything from paper towells, meat, fast food - McDonalds #1 Big Mac Meal $6.99 and up..... They do get free health care though......
We're still at least 2 months away from home - In the meantime, support Republicans, get plenty of exercise, sleep, and tell your spouse "I Love You" every day .......... 'til next report.....
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