bobanddenisewanderlust

We woke up a little late this morning. It had rained all night and was still raining when we woke up. The Walmart parking lot had been quiet, but at about 7 AM, we had airplane traffic overhead.

We were getting ready when Wayne knocked on the door. We thought he was going to tell us that he could not get out of the mud, but no, his battery in the truck was dead. He had called Good Sam ( we could not jump him as the car and the diesel engine batteries would not match). So we took our time. The Good Sam guy arrived in about 1/2 hour, so we all got ready and took off. With his 4×4, Wayne was able to pull out of the mud!

We drove north on Hwy. 43 to the little town of Beaverlodge. Their one claim to fame is this large Beaver. It was still raining, so I hopped out of the motor home to take the ‘must have’ picture of this tourist item.

We continued north and crossed into British Columbia.

Farther north we arrived at Dawson Creek BC.

We could not check into the RV park until noon, and we had gained an hour when we crossed into BC. So we stopped in the Walmart parking lot and went into the McDonalds for some coffee. We wandered around the Walmart, then at 11:30, we drove to the RV park. We were allowed to check in. Margie and Wayne are at the back of the park in a 30 amp site with water and electric. We opted for a 50 amp FHU, which is in the front of the park. I started some laundry.

We ate lunch and went to the visitor center. We picked up some brochures and I bough a “0 mile” pin. Dawson Creek is the beginning of the Alaska Hwy.

“The Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 forced the American and Canadian governments to re-evaluate the security of North America. They needed a secure supply route to haul military goods and materials from the lower states to Alaska and it had to be completed in less than one year. The story of the men, the equipment and their triumphs over nature to open the northern passage is as legendary as the men who risked their lives to build the highway.  The help wanted ad was-

Men hired for this job will required to work and live under the most extreme conditions imaginable. Temperatures will range from 90 degrees above zero to 70 degrees below zero. Men will have to fight swaps, rivers, ice and cold. Mosquitoes, flies and gnats will not only be annoying but will cause bodily harm. If you are not prepared to work under these and similar conditions, do not apply.

In the spring of 1942, the peaceful agricultural town of Dawson Creek was home to 600 people. Their connection to the bigger world was by rail. Arriving from the south, this provided transportation for the grains and cargo that sustained the community. Then, without warning, this quiet small town burst at the seams, literally overnight!  US troops and Canadian civilians began arriving with their equipment, supplies and plans for the construction of the highway. In a matter of weeks, the population swelled to 10,000! …In a little over 8 months of grueling construction, the Alaska Hwy. was completed. On November 20, 1942, Mile 1061 celebrated the official opening of the Alcan Hwy with a ribbon cutting ceremony. ” From the brochure.  The Highway is 1523 miles from Dawson Creek to Fairbanks. To build the highway, they used 11,000 U.S. troops, 16,000 American and Canadian civilians, 7,000 pieces of equipment, constructed 133 bridge, installed 8000+ culverts all in 8 months and 12 days. The Highway was opened to the public in 1948. The road has been shortened by 35 miles due to road improvements.

So while downtown, we stopped at the two mile zero signs. The first is the new official sign and the second was the original sign, but the road no longer runs through downtown Dawson Creek. and they don’t want everyone standing in the middle of the street. 

Dawson Creek is also know for their murals, so we rode around looking for them. Easy to do on a Sunday in downtown, as there was hardly anyone there!

We ran home and took a short nap;  first one we have had in a while! We ate the beef dinner from M & M and it was great. We are going to go back and get another one tomorrow at the outlet here in Dawson Creek.

Wayne and Margie came over with their beer and wine at around 7 PM and we decided on our plans for the next few days.

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