North to the Alaskan Highway
We Left Spruce Grove, outside of Edmonton, heading north to Grande Prairie. The highway is good. We traveled Route 43 finding an RV park with easy in and out pull- thru just out of town. The prairie has its own beauty. It has rained off and on all day and we arrived at the campground just after a heavy rain. There was a lot of standing water. We made the best of it and got ourselves set up just as it began to rain again. After an hour or so it cleared so the standing water could drain. We walked around the park and saw all types of living arrangements. There are many workers living in units of varying size and conditions. We were in the section of mainly overnight travelers. This area is somewhat remote and housing is limited. We saw barracks type housing and mobile housing units lined in a row. People are very creative in trying to stay warm. This is evident in the additions and materials on existing trailers and buildings used to stop the cold.
Moving on to Dawson Creek the next day was enjoyable. The drive was easy as we started to leave the prairie. We enjoyed the scenery and arrived in Dawson Creek to find rain and cool weather in the low 50-degree range. We took pictures of the old grain elevator and the entrance sign to the Alaska Highway. We will very likely be able to stop an extra day or so on the return trip since it was so rainy this day. Dawson Creek is the beginning of Northbound Alaska Highway. There are many turnouts to either stop for a break or overnight. We realized our preparation was not quite on target as we had not filled our fresh water tank. Therefore, not being able to boondock our first night on the Alaska Highway.
The weather did clear up and we continued thru St John and on to Pink Mountain. We stayed at the Pink Mountain RV Park; having good internet, a nice quiet site and filling our fresh water tank the next morning. The mud can be a little challenging. The main roads are paved, however, pulling into other areas or driving on side roads, we found were soggy. Most of the places have you leave your boots at the door sign or metal grated to scrap your boots. We had experienced mud in Winnipeg and it was like cement requiring you to scrape off your boots quite vigorously. It just more of the same. Living in Florida is different because we’ve got sand and no mud. However, fresh tar can also present issues. In one area, as we were driving, the steering wheel of our truck was jerking. After stopping to investigate, we found there was a large surface of the front driver’s side tire coated, into the tread, with fresh tar. That stuff is very sticky and took a while to dig out. We endeavor to look up and not down, we adjust.
The Alaska Highway is the scenic drive for anyone who enjoys nature and the flow of the land. The condition of the highway is good. We have been on roads in U.S. that are far rougher than what we have experienced so far. Fuel is available at nearly all stops. As to be expected, prices are more as we get more remote. Using the app thru our phones called Gas Buddy has been helpful when we have cell service. It is not the destination. It is the journey.
