Cassiar Highway to Alaska Highway Leg

Monday night was spent at the Liard River Hot Springs campground. The hot springs were amazing! Hans was the team champ, staying in for about four hours! So relaxing after many long days on our not-comfy bus seats. Once again, it was daylight until very late, but a midnight rainstorm put us all in our tents. Donski made egg and cheese sandwiches for breakfast, with eggs bought in Hyder from the general store where they’d been flown in that morning.

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On the road to Fort Nelson on Tuesday, passing stunning alpine lakes with lots of ice on top. Saw a few more bison and quite a few herds of big horn as well. A bit rainy but clear skies ahead of us.

Our road highlight today was the Toad River, which boasted a store containing over 8,000 ball caps. And soft serve ice cream. We live in the fast lane.

Tuesday night we drove past Fort Nelson to camp at the Andy Bailey campground, a tiny provincial park on a small lake on the south side of town.

The park was 12kms (7.5 miles) off the Alaska Highway on a gravel road that seemed to lead to nowhere. When we finally got to the park, we practically had it to ourselves, with only one other set of campers.

Started a big campfire and sat for a while down by the lake, which was the first in a while not ice-covered. Lots of ducks and a lone fly fisherman to watch. Don and I ate the usual ramen and tuna for dinner, but Amber, the master grilled cheese maker, further honed her craft with cheddar and tuna sandwiches cooked over the fire.

There was some more rain overnight and a chilly start to the morning. Wednesday we make our way to Ft St John/Dawson Creek and the end of our Alaska Highway run. And sadly have to say goodbye to our superb copilot and navigator, Kara, who must return to Seattle.  She is an awesome mountain driver, confident and competent, and we will miss her up ahead in the Rockies for sure! Plus her DJ skills are way better than anyone else’s (Baby Got Back!)!