Interesting Facts and More Photos

Last night we decided it was time to check into a four sided building with a hot shower and a bed. It's amazing what we take for granted sometimes. I did my ceremonial scratch to Pete's five day facial hair growth and said good-bye to the stubble. I think he was actually relieved that I didn't plead with him to keep it. He has such a handsome face ... why cover it up with a beard, eh?

We found a local laundromat and washed up our clothes so we'd have enough to make it the rest of the way. One thing I observed while in the public wash house is that no matter what country you are in, people still don't enjoy the process of doing their laundry amongst others. I also observed that if you watch long enough you can see which dryers are the known favorites, at $6.00 a load I was going to be as efficient as possible, but we still didn't get out of there for under $24.00. The Canadian one dollar coin is a looney and the two dollar coin is a tooney, I suppose sounding like a cartoon should make you laugh as you hand over your money!

Pete and I put in 440 miles yesterday and it's already 8 am and we need to get on the road. So, due to the time crunch, and our need to get back on the road I'll share some interesting facts we've discovered along the way.

• The official start of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek was only 1/2 way for us. We'd already traveled over 1300 miles from Bend through Seattle, and into British Columbia. Wow. Long road


• There are several tunnels in the "Cariboo" (yes, that's how they spell it) region of British Columbia along the Fraser River. One is 2300 feet, one of he longest tunnels in North America.


• Cache Creek, where we stayed the first night out of Seattle, looks a lot like Eastern Oregon. For those who haven't been there think Shandon, Cholame, rolling hills, farms, rolled hay bales, desert and cattle, but with lots of rivers and lakes.


• The lakes are sometimes very long. Lac La Hache is 11 miles long, only 1.5 miles wide, we drove by another lake that was 17 miles long and only 1 mile wide.


• The Liard River is a deep jade green, made so by the copper in the soil.


• We drove through the Rocky Mountain Trench, marking the western boundary of the Rocky Mountains.


• We crossed Pine Pass, the lowest pass over the Rockies in Canada, at 3,061 feet.


• Most of the towns are very small. For example, Chetwynd only has 3000 people, and two gas stations. We passed them both thnking there would surely be another, then had to turn around to go fill up. We've seen towns with populations of 260!


• Chetwynd is at the northern end of the North East Coal Resource, one of the largest known coal deposits on earth!! I found that rather amazing.


• The roadway really is a two lane road, with long stretches of smooth pavement, then long stretches of bumpy chip seal with no painted lines anywhere. The truckers are familiar with the road and they don't mess around. We've been passed by many fully loaded LARGE trucks (they have longer trailers up here). These guys really haul. Most of the roads in British Columbia were pretty good, but as soon as we passed into Yukon Territory the wide shoulders disappeared and the bumps started. We've been told that the next 400 miles are full of frost heaves (the tundra freezes and thaws and makes the road heave up and down so it is like riding a roller coaster) and torn up pavement from the weather.


• In over 2000 miles we have seen 2 police and 2 conservation patrol officers. Seriously, it's no wonder the truckers can drive so fast!


• Visitors centers have clean bathrooms! Yep, we seek them out! Some even have free internet ...


• The Watson Lake Signpost Forest is a real trip. People put signs there from their hometowns or their car license plates. There are over 61,000 signs! It all started in 1942 by one of the Army engineers working on the original highway.


• There are little grass airports along the road everywhere.


• Teslin, Yukon Territory is absolutely stunningly beautiful, sitting in a valley along Teslin Lake and Nisultin Bay, a huge lake. The longest bridge on the highway crosses the lake into the town, it's 1917 feet and metal grade road deck. Very cool.


• Every once in awhile you'll drive past a random sign posted next to the road. One that struck me really funny read: "Fresh eggs - Pies on Request"


• For some reason, there have been several places, either a roadside cafe, grocery store or campground office that claims to have the "Best Cinnamom Rolls". Of course we couldn't determine who had the best, so we never did try them. We did stop at this tiny cafe and bakery somewhere around 1800 miles into British Columbia and bought a round loaf of some of the best homemade sourdough bread we've ever had. For lunch that day we feasted on torn pieces of bread with peanut butter. Budget travel never tasted so good!


• The Canadian Rockies started out on the ocean floor about 1billion years ago. About 175 million years ago the continent of North America started shifting west and eventually pushed the mountains up into folds. 120 millions years ago they surfaced from the ocean. At one time they stood as high as the Himalayas. Let's just say, that's a very long time and they are still quite impressive!

Before we post this blog we're hoping to find an internet signal strong enough to upload some photos. More later.

8/10/10 Big stretch of Yukon Territory with a whole lot of "nothing but beautiful". Over 400 miles of no cell service and absolutely no internet, gas at almost $5.50/gallon and the most horrific road conditions you can possibly imagine. The frost heaves from the frozen tundra were constant, rough, potholed and huge. Most of the time we had to slow to 20 mph to get through them. It was amazingly rough. To lighten the moments I would imagine being a stagecoach driver in the old days and fake the sound of a cracking whip followed by "Yaaaah!" Seriously, it was really rough. Pete would just look at me over the top of his glasses. Guess he didn't find it as funny as I did!

Two quick points:

Kluane Lake is probably the most beautiful breathtaking sight we have ever seen. The lake is a bright turquoise blue surronded by majestic mountains and glaciers. Truly a gift to see.

Crossed the Canadian / US Border and celebrated being back in the USA! Why you say? The roads.... :-)

And a big wow was a huge black bear weighing at least 350 lbs. crossed the road in front of us and stopped to eat berries on the side of the road. We took pictures from about 50ft. away! And yes, we stayed in the truck!

We should arrive at Laura and Ryan's tonight! What an incredible journey it has been. Hello Alaska!!!