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Posts Tagged ‘BC’

Prince George, day 28

Monday, September 1st, 2008

	We arrived in Prince George, BC about 9:30am. Here we having the oil changed on the Sprinter and that gives us a few hours to explore.
	We quickly found out the locals (like in many towns) don’t know much about their town from a tourist prospective. We went to the mall as suggested – hmmm, just like home. We travelled downtown for lunch and I was happy to find a Guiness.
	After walking back to the dealership, Debbie went to the Prince George Park. This is a great park on the river on the west side of town. She visited the comunity museum, saw photos of The Hudson Bay Company’s plan for Prince George and other exhibits.
	We escaped the clutches of the dealership and modern commerce and by 4pm were once again on our way south.Tonight we stayed at the 10 Mile Lake Provential Park. Lots of spaces but no one around.

Tags: 10 Mile Lake Provential Park, Alaska, BC, YT
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Totem poles and salmon, day 27

Monday, September 1st, 2008

	Today we headed towards Hazleton. Actually, there are 2 (maybe 3) Hazleton’s – the new and the old. We stopped short of Hazleton to look at some totem poles and were greeted by a friendly cat.The first thing we saw in Hazleton was a glass shop so we stopped to have the windshield fixed. Cost $44 Canadian.
	Hazleton has many totem poles and near Hazleton you will pass through Moricetown. Here the local First People or Aborigines as some call themselves, fish the Skeena river for salmon using nets. Not really fishing – more like catching. Over 5 million salmon run up the Skeena each year.
	The day we watched, they were catching, tagging and releasing. As far as I know, there is no limit to what the First People can catch.Tonight we camped at Dave’s RV and finally got showers!

Tags: Alaska, BC, totem poles, YT
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Bear Glacier, day 26

Thursday, August 28th, 2008

	We pulled out about 7:45am heading south on the Cassiar Highway. We snapped a photo at Gnat Pass Summit, 4,072 feet and Mt. Edziza (9,000 ft. volcano).
	The Cassiar Highway is a beautiful way south, some gravel and a pretty narrow road especially on the northern end. Some traffic but tall mountains, lakes and lots to see. We passed 4 black bears along the way.
	At Meziadin Junction we turned toward Steward to see the Bear Glacier which at one time touched the highway. The blue ice of the exposed end and the water pouring from was incredible.
	We turned back to camp at The Meziadin Lake Provincial Park (dry) where we had a site 10 feet from the lake. We had a nice fire and cocktails. We watched a beaver taking home fast food and we had chili bean burgers.
	We also learned 3.84 liters make a gallon (from one Debbie’s many cookbooks) so now I can figure out some mileage.

		Debbie’s report on the Bear Glacier.

Tags: Alaska, BC, Black Bear, Glacier, The Meziadin Lake Provincial Park, YT
Posted in Camping, North to Alaska | 2 Comments »

Through Whitehorse, day 25

Thursday, August 28th, 2008

	We got an early start (7:40am) heading south. As we started there was a beautiful string of Canadian Geese, lighted up by the sunrise, heading south. Just after that 2 young elk crossed in front of us. We crossed the Continental Divide, just as we did in Yellowstone the year before.
	We pulled of the road at Lake Lebarge to visit Moms Bakery (owned by Tracy Harris, a former director of the Yukon Quest and a great baker.) We had coffee, looked at some of her pictures, including Mary Shields (see the Fairbanks). She has a local fox she feeds an egg a day to keep him away from her chickens (we had seen him on the way in. We purchased a giant cinnamon roll, sourdough bread and some halibut chowder and were on our way.
	We stopped in Whitehorse for window repair and to refuel. Window repairs are not done on Saturdays and diesel . . . ah, that is the question. We had seen pumps with no markings, pumps with a “low sulphur” sticker and pumps with “Ultra” written next to the low sulphur sticker. I can’t really say good fuel was available after Chicken until Prince George.
	We camped at The Cottonwood River rest area (dry) with a mountain and river view. Leftovers for dinner, a Scrabble game and to bed.
	Our open house video for the grand kids, nieces and nephews.

Tags: Alaska, BC, Continental Divide, YT
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South towards Whitehorse, day 24

Thursday, August 28th, 2008

	Around noon, we bid farewell to the “Coast Guard” and headed southbound towards Whitehorse. We stopped to do a quick car wash that took just the first coat of mud off. The floor of the carwash was covered in mud. There was no soap setting just water under pressure.
	Next we stopped at Gravel Lake, an important bird migration spot. After being so careful for 500 miles a rock finally found it’s way to our windshield. I was a little upset (those who know me, know what this means).
	We also visited the Five Fingers Rapids Recreation Site and later learned about a layer of volcanic white ash (possible from St. Elias) that covered the southern Yukon Territory. You can see this layer clearer at cuts in the road about 1 foot below the surface.
	We stopped at Pelly Crossing, which is on route of the Yukon Quest and one of the many sites owned by the First Nation. It was here that Debbie lost her idealistic view of the indian way of life. Sadly the government dole system has taken it’s toll on some of the First People as it has on many Indians.
	Time to camp (dry) at Twin Lakes Government Campground.

Tags: Alaska, BC, Twin Lakes Government Campground, YT
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