Heading to Grand Prairie

June 8,  Sunday

   Heading out early this am to leave the National parks behind us and travel north to Grand Prairie.  Will miss seeing all these mountains every morning and  every where we turn.  I never get tired of seeing them. 

   We wanted to see some more wildlife, so we took the scenic route north, but alas the only thing on the road today were a few deer and crazy drivers.  We can’t get over how people pass on turns, double yellow lines and how fast they drive on a scenic route.  Slow down and enjoy!!  Well, one person did slow down, unfortunately he crashed and mangled his truck. Not sure anyone could have come out of that one alive.  We came up on the long lines waiting to pass, maybe delayed us about an hour, but so sorry to know that someone is either critical or not with us any longer.

   Wally World night again, as we got into Grand Prairie and needed groceries, gas, propane and decided to just stay the night in the parking lot.  So easy to grocery shop and take the cart right to your door, lol.  They also have free wifi!!  I can get used to this.

June 9, Monday- 2 weeks on the road today. Grand Prairie to Dawson Creek, the start of the Alaska Highway.

   Wal-Mart parking last night, awoke to a cold trailer! Breakfast at Smitty’s before heading to PO, a quick last min groc stop in Wal-Mart and on the road, North to Alaska!! 

  Mapped out the route north, hoping to get to Fort Nelson, but that’s over 300 miles and we aren’t sure how the roads will be. Dawson Creek is the first stop on the way. Mile 0!! Of the Alaskan Highway, got a few pics of the mile marker.

  

 This the Official sign of Frost Heeves that tell us the road is bad at that point. some are crazy! 

  I’m reading some of the history on the Alaskan highway, dubbed the “Alcan”- Military acronym for the Alaska-Canada Highway.

  Officially began March 9, 1942 as Army engineers were ordered to construct a road from the railhead at Dawson Creek, BC to connect with Richardson highway at  Delta Junction, AK.  Took them 8 months & 12 days!!  Can you imagine anything being done that fast anymore?

   The incident that caused the road to be built was the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Dec 1941, now the road was a military necessity for our troops, supplies, etc. to be sent to Japan.  Construction began, 2/11/1942, with Canada supplying right-of-way: waiving import duties, sales tax, income tax and immigration regulations and providing construction materials!

  I’m going to have to get this book they talk about, “Alcan Trail Blazers”, as it explains what the troops went thru to build the road, hardships and daily life.  Crews worked from east and west to connect the roads at Contact Creek on Sept 15, 1942, with construction finishing on Oct 25, 1942 and now possible for vehicles to travel the entire length of the highway. The Alaska Highway opened to the public in 1948 and named an International Historical Engineering Landmark in 1996.

  So, now that I’ve read a bit of history, the stops we will make on the way will make more send to me...

 Mile 17. 3: A loop road to Kiskatinaw River Bridge, 531 foot long structure is the only original timber bridge built along the Alaska Highway that is still in use today.  We had to go over it slowly and one at a time to not go over the weight limit!

  

Mile 34.4: Peace River Bridge the longest water span on the highway.  Bridging this river was 1 of the first goals of the engineers in 1942.  Traffic going north from Dawson Creek was limited by this river crossing to 2 ferries with 10 trucks per hour in May.  The construction was plagued with high water washouts, a collapse in 1957 and was again completed in 1960.  Just glad that is all behind us now that I ‘ve read about it!! 

   Looks like we’ll only make it to Sikanni River RV park today.  Lots of rain has plagued us over the high and steep declines and the guys are tired and need a break. It was still a 250 mile day.  Found a site after 2 stops at RV parks.  It looks like most people stop about 3pm and the RV parks with any electric at all are filled by 3:30pm, so we are learning.  And when they say services, it might only mean 15amp electric.  I’m learning to only use one device at a time when in the RV.  Tonight is washing clothes and drying as we’ve been dry camping for the last 3 nights.  Time change and we gained an hour also.  Cold and rainy, so a good time to catch up on reading, sewing and blogging.