Quesnel to Dawson Creek
Today’s mileage: 334
Total Trip Mileage: 2295

Today we diverged from the original plan of taking the shorter more scenic Cassier Highway. The first reason, is we decided that if we didn’t do the whole Alcan, that we’d regret it later. And the second reason was apparently there was a landslide and a mountain fell down on to the road west of Prince George before Terrance blocking our path. So, with that we changed direction and headed to Dawson Creek to Mile Post 1 of the Alcan Highway.

We broke camp pretty early today and got on the road. Our previous nights discovery that not all our camping gear was in order left us with dinner of random snacks and water. I bonked out pretty early, I think Kevin stayed up to perfect his pyromaniac talents.

The weather today was great. We thought we’d get rained on but it was beautiful the whole day. Almost like a nice day in San Diego. Road conditions were great and we got to see the fellow on the right along the way. We didn’t get too close and I couldn’t whip out the SLR to take a pic so its not the best picture we’ve taken. Since our camp stove crapped out last night I picked up a really small compact one from Coastal Mountain Outfitters. Pretty cool place, alot like REI. Originally we ran around to a couple of places but eventually ended up back where we started and bought a stove from them.

Today was pretty laid back, mostly cause I thought we had an additional day. Tomorrow we’re gonna go through about 470 miles and try to get to Liard Hot Springs. I think in general I under estimated how much energy and effort it would take to ride that many miles in a short period of time.

Other than that, there are more pictures uploaded. I have a feeling we won’t be back on the network again until we hit Fairbanks this weekend.

Still on the adventure!

Seattle to Quesnel
Total Miles Today: 536
Total Trip Miles: 1961

Today we kinda lolly-gagged getting out of the hotel and on the road. We didn’t actually hit the road until about 10:30 or so. After heading north for a while on the 5 we took the 542 (I think) to the border. Crossing the border was pretty uneventful other than answering oh 8 questions about guns.

The border agent asked “Are you carrying any weapons?”
I said “Just bear spray”.
She asks “Does it say Bear Spray on it?”
I reply “Yes, it says Bear Spray right on the can”.
“Do you have any pepper spray?” she asks.
I reply “No, no pepper spray” thinking I had already answered this.
Then she asks “How many handguns do you have on you?”
“None, I don’t have any guns on me”.
“But you own a handguns right?” she queries.
“Yes, I own several, but they are back home.” I answer puzzled.
“So if I open your bags up here I wont’ find one of them or any ammunition?”
“No” I reply seriously.

I mean really, how many times do you have to ask the same question? I thought the implication that I own handguns was funny. Just funny and quite odd really.

This was the last of our ‘power-riding’ days and we covered quite a bit of miles. We’re camping outside of Quesnel Canada tonight. Ate two Clif mojo bars, some beef jerky, and part of a freeze dried ice cream bar for dinner. Kevin’s cooking plans fell through as his camp stove failed to work. He did try to get me to eat some juevos rancheros that required reconstitution with water. I passed (I greatly dislike eggs). The campground is nice, and right on either a lake or a river. I think a lake. The mosquitos jumped us almost immediately. We got the tent setup and a fire going (turns out Kevin is a closet pyromaniac. As I’m typing this he’s trying to figure out if he can booby trap some fuel additive to set itself off on the fire. Kevin’s words “It was mildly flamable”)

Most notable today was the incredible scenery changes. At first we were in the foothills then rode through the rockies. Incredibly spectacular with waterfalls coming off the mountains and snow on many of the mountains. Not long after that we ended up in a high desert with scrub and no trees. It reminded me alot of the desert outside of San Diego. But you knew you weren’t there cause the people at the gas stations talk like the McKenzie brothers, eh. I haven’t mastered what the order of paying and pumping is. We’ve made three gas stops today and all three I hosed something up each time. The last stop we made Kevin had thought he paid, but when I went in to pay the cashier said “You know your buddy didn’t pay?” So I paid for both, haha

Kevin got a couple of pics today. Does this Spidi gear make me look fat?

Anyway wrapping up for tonight. Downloading the pictures from the memory cards. Its about 10:40 and the sun has finally gone down. And its getting cold fast.