This winter when I was in the Baja I wrote a few trip reports along the way. My intention with these reports is the same as those from south of the border. I am not interested in being a cheerleader nor a cynic but I do want to share the experiences good and bad and my thoughts about the places we pass through and stay at.
We are now at Mile Zero of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek British Columbia. The last time I drove this road was in 1973 on my way to my new Duty Station, Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage. I made that trip in late November. The weather is considerably better this time.
My first impression is how EXPENSIVE Canada, particularly British Columbia, is in comparison to the US. Even with the exchange rate in our favor it is vastly more expensive for almost everything.
Diesel Fuel is running at around $2.90/Gal after all the math has been done on the currency and Liter/Gal conversions. I bought this truck, my new Ram 2500 Cummins as I was passing through Brookings Oregon which is on Oregon's far southern coast. I put about 1500 miles on in WA and OR and Gas was at least a Dollar per gallon cheaper there than here.
One curiosity about the stations in BC is that most only display the Regular Unleaded price so finding cheaper Diesel can be a bit of a hunt. I have also learned that the prices on my Gas Buddy APP are rarely accurate here unlike in the states. I am hoping this will change once I cross into the Yukon, but I am not holding my breath.
Another curiosity is that Canada must be a VISA CARD-Centric country. Every time a shop, gas station or grocery store asks if my credit card is a VISA and I tell them no it's a Master Card I get a display of eye rolling and deep sighs...I haven't quite figured this out yet. My bank hasn't replaced my old card with the new Chip style yet (and in this the US is WAY behind the rest of the world) but that has really not been a problem although their systems here are centered on the chip technology.
Dealing with the Gas pumps with a credit/Debit card has been easy. I always use it as credit and the transactions go through without a hitch. No questions about zip codes or pins.
We spent a fun night in Prince George where we stayed at the Treasure Cove Casino Parking lot. We went in and signed up for their players Club, something I would have never thought of doing as I rarely visit a Casino, on the advice of a nice lady we met also traveling to Alaska. Well we had a few beers in their Bar/restaurant and then took our "Free" ten Dollars cards to the casino. We played these out on the .25 cent slots and I came out with $13.50 C$ ahead. Not bad and good fun. I can recommend this as a place to stay for one night while passing through Prince George. The Casino is right at the junction of Hwy 97 and 16 (the Yellow Head Hwy)
I have been in British Columbia and most of the rest of Canada many times and BC is undeniably beautiful but my focus on this trip is to see more of the Yukon and of Course Alaska. So we have purposely not spent any extended time here. (So please withhold all those comments about how much I am missing by "Rushing Thru BC")
Today we leave to head toward Fort Nelson. More Later.
