CAPTAIN’S LOG - DAY 6
North Star Date: 2/2/2013
Location or Route: Dawson Creek, BC to Edmonton, AB.
Travel Miles: 367 (1831 - Cumulative)
Weather Conditions: Overcast with light to moderate snowfall on and off all day. Sun occasionally visible. Moderate snow and poor visibilities right at Edmonton on the way from the grocery store to the RV Park.
Road Conditions: Overnight snowfall accumulations of 2”-3”. Most of the route was bare pavement with occasional fresh snow, slush and ice. Occasional ground blizzards by tractor trailers and other vehicles.
Animals Observed: One huge manmade beaver in the town of Beaverlodge, AB, and one Sasquatch-like man crossing the road in Dawson Creek.
6:00 AM (-4F/-20C)
Woke up to the sounds of Sonny and Cher singing “I got You Babe” on the hotel clock radio. The song ended and two DJs came on to discuss the upcoming day. I laid there with my eyes closed - just sort of half listening.
“Okay campers, rise and shine and don’t forget your booties ‘cause it’s cold out there today.”
“It’s cold out there everyday, what is this Miami Beach?”
“Not hardly, and you know you can expect hazardous travel later today, you know with that blizzard thing!”
“That blizzard thing, well - here’s the report. The National Weather Service is calling for a big blizzard thing.”
“Yes they are, but you know there’s another reason why today’s especially exciting.”
“Especially cold.”
“Especially cold, oh okay, but the big question on everybody’s lips…”
“Yeah their chapped lips.”
“On their chapped lips, do you think Phil’s gonna come out and see his shadow?”
“Punxsutawney Phil!”
“That’s right woodchuck-chuckers…”
“It’s Groundhog Day! Get up and check that hog out there.”
My eyes flew open, “Groundhog day?! What the?” and I glanced over to Ruth’s side of the bed – Oh thank goodness, she was still there; I wasn’t all alone; for just a minute there I thought…
I nudged her and she rolled over and smiled at me - but it wasn’t her! It was that librarian lady in Ghost Busters!
I screamed, “Who are you and what have you done with Ruth?” She just put a finger to her lips and went “Shhhhhhh”.
I cried , “Where’s Ruth?” and she just looked at me. Then she turned into the most hideous monster I’ve ever seen and came rushing at me like she was going to kill me!
I ducked under the covers and began muttering to nobody in particular, “I’ll never make fun of Dan Aykroyd again, I’ll never make fun of Dan Aykroyd again, or any of the original cast members. I’m sorry Bill Murray, I should have credited you sooner with the phrase ‘so we’ve got that going for us – which is good’.” The universe seemingly appeased, everything got all quiet.
I slowly lowered the covers. Ruth was staring me dead in the eye and demanded, “What is WRONG with you?” Swinging her legs off the side of the bed, she stood and strode toward the bathroom, entered and closed the door on me. I got out of bed, walked to the window. As expected it was still snowing. Another day just like yesterday.
11:11 AM (0F/-18C)
So here we are at Dawson Creek, British Columbia - Mile “0” of the Alaska Highway.
During World War II, the United States shipped war planes to Russia along this route, through Alaska over to Nome and across the Bering Sea, for the Ruskies to use in fighting Hitler on the eastern front of the war; it was called the “Lend-Lease Program”.
After Japan attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor, and then at Atta, a tiny native community at the end of the Aleutian Island chain of Alaska in the little remembered “1000 Mile War”, and threatened to come all the way into mainland Alaska, the US realized they had inadequate defenses in place for our 49th state.
It was then that the US Army, with approval from Congress and President Roosevelt, and of course Canada, decided to build a road from Dawson Creek to Delta Junction, which would connect to Alaska Highway 2, currently in place between Valdez and Fairbanks. It was called the Alaska Highway, also know as the ALCAN.
The stoic World War II era Army Corps of Engineers and soldiers that cut this road out of wilderness swamp, much of it done during winter months under similar conditions to what we have joked about, make me shake my head in disbelief and amazement at what humans can do.
As we laugh and have fun, here in the early 21st Century, let us never forget what those who came before have done to allow the amazing lives we lead. All our luxuries, all our rights, all our freedoms are not made available as a matter of course; they are hard fought against those who would enslave us for their own selfish reasons.
Never forget, and don’t easily give up your freedoms for promised security. Stay self-sufficient; depend on your selves and your families and others in your local communities. Don’t become too specialized with the resultant dependency on others.
Honor our fighting warriors of yesterdays past, and of today. And while you’re at it, give a word of thanks to others in our service industries: a teacher, a cop, a fireman, that waitress.
12:11 PM (0F/-18C)
East of Dawson Creek; roads turning good; highway speeds up to 55 mph; sun dimly visible through the overcast. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band makes for some good road music.
12:26 PM (2F/-17C)
Just left Beaverlodge and saw the groundhog (actually a huge manmade beaver alongside the highway with these big teeth)! Did NOT see a shadow – the sun was back behind a heavier overcast – spring should be right around the corner. So we got that going for us - which is good.
Just east of Beaverlodge the highway divided with two lanes in either direction. Highway speeds are now up to 110 (that’s in kilometers per hour, which is Canadian for 68 mph). “Barbie’s Merry Christmas” makes for some good road music.
2:22 PM (5F/-15C)
We’re back on the map! The GPS map! Out of the wilderness and into civilization; now we know how Moses and the children of Israel felt! My long lost mapping software female navigator SAL (Search and Locate) spoke up and said, “What are you doing Dave?” I said, “Hello SAL, it’s nice to have you back. Can you tell me how to get to Edmonton please?” The Rolling Stones makes for some good road music.
3:11 PM (7F/-14C)
131 miles to Edmonton. Called ahead and set up reservations with “Glowing Embers RV Park” on the western outskirts, and only eight minutes from the West Edmonton Mall, largest Mall in North America. We’ll camp tonight and maybe the next night, and take a day off from the road. Maybe go Christmas shopping at the mall!
5:43 PM (4F/-15C)
We stopped at a grocery store and picked up some fresh produce, some bread and a broiler chicken at the deli. It’s snowing pretty heavy. Visibility is reduced and there is now more than one road to drive. It’s good to have mapping software. “SAL, show us the way to the RV Park”. “Yes Master”. I like that girl. Ruth followed behind her “Bubba with the big white trailer.”
7:11 PM (0F/-18C)
We’re tucked away all nice and cozy in the camper. We got plugged in, enjoyed a nice meal; it’s nice to be back with our old friend. The furnace is working great! It must have just been choking on the extremely cold temperatures. We were able to check the plastic windows and we did find some damage. We’ll make a full appraisal when the weather further improves.
I had to use the dustpan to shovel out some snow on the top bunk in the right-front corner where it had blown in through the cracked plastic window. I had left the canvas walls unzipped when we packed it down at Talbot Arm that night of the monster attack. I guess I was thinking of evaporating moisture between the fabric and the window, or maybe I wasn’t thinking and just reacting to the mind-numbing cold of days gone by. Oh how we love those insulating curtains Ruth made. It sure cozies up this camper!
Day 6 Pics
