Mile Zero City....the Capital of Peace

      We arrived in Dawson Creek after our 4 day journey from Great Falls, MT.  This was a new route to us as 5 years ago we took the Western Route north from Seattle through British Columbia to Dawson Creek.  This route is more direct as we had no plans to stop in Western Washington this side of the journey.  This year once we crossed the border we traversed Alberta, British Columbia, and finally the Yukon Territory.

Sweetwater, MT border crossing

      Departing Great Falls we traveled 316 miles north (filling up on our side of the border) and boondocked in Calgary at Walmart.  Calgary is NOT a small village and navigating off and back on the highway here was it's own adventure.  Fried Crab Stuffed Catfish w/Coleslaw was on the menu here.  From there we continued 185 miles further north to Edmonton.  We navigated to the west of Edmonton on a bypass road and missed all the main traffic.  We stayed just out of town at the Glowing Embers CG at a CA> US price of $35. We had all the amenities here.  A nice RV park, but lots of full timers living here.  Potato Cucumber Garlic Sausage Salad was our main course this evening.  Very much like German Potato Salad; warm sausage, everything else chilled.  

Glowing Embers RV Park 

Potato Garlic Sausage Radish n Cuke Salad

  

      All of our travel the past two days has been 4 lane highway driving.  We made no real stops for site seeing.  Big cities are big cities.  We don't feel like we missed much.  Our last enroute stop was 285 miles northwest, planning to boondock at another Walmart in Grand Prairie, Alberta.  The road here, although still 4 lane is much different.  The Montana border to Edmonton is basically flat farmland with many miles of wheat and other grains as well as oil wells.  Once you head NW from Edmonton the terrain vastly changes into the boreal forests of the north.  Miles upon miles of hills and trees as far as the eye can see.  Plenty of signs to watch for moose, but we saw none on our pass through.  We stopped once for gas in Valleyview; about 20 miles west from where Dad used to moose hunt many years ago.  Wish he and I were going there now.

West Central Alberta 

      But on our arrival in Grand Prairie we found the WM parking lot to be very small and the only 2 RVs in there took way too much room so we traveled further on.  We eventually stayed up the road overnight at the Hythe Municipal Park for a decent fee of $19.79.  Bare hookups, no extravagancies, but it's just overnight.  This is a short 42 miles from Dawson Creek.  We dined on Cranberry Sausage and Rice Casserole this night.  Two mornings I cooked breakfast, the other one we ate at Tim Hortons.  The sausage they use in Canada for their breakfast biscuits is incredible.

      We are now in British Columbia.  Dawson Creek is a decent size town of 12,978.  Any and all services or facilities you might need can be found here.  There is a Walmart, but we also enjoy the Canadian Tire Store, which is a cross between Walmart and Tractor Supply.

  

      It is also the beginning (or terminus) of the Alaskan Highway, depending on which way you are heading.  Near the monument celebrating this mileage marker is a very good Visitor Center which I recommend you visit.  Built as a result of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, this famous highway spans over 1200 miles and was constructed from March thru October of 1942, taking 10,000 men and costing $140 million.  At the visitor center on the NW part of town there is any and all information you may need for the journey ahead.  Not just your standard tourist info, but real maps, charts, and a list of any and all services you might need at the mileage markers.  From here on out, everything is measured in mileage, such as DC 373.6 Summit Lake Campground.  Campground only, no services.  DC 891.1 Gas, convenience store, lodging.  These publications are updated yearly and very valuable. 

Dawson Creek Tourism Center

Photo courtesy of  BC Tourism

      We stayed at the Mile Zero Campground.  It is located on the NW edge of town and offers easy access to any of the services as well as the ALCAN itself is right out the door.  It is recommended to have reservations here as it is a main stopover travelers on the ALCAN, and usually always full.  www.mile0park.ca/campground   There are 80 sites with hookups and laundry.  Cell phones ON here.  They have free WiFi which to me is important to check emails and play in my online chess tournament.  It is $36 CA>US per night here. We were welcomed to the news that the city had a water main supply break and it would be fixed within days.  They did let us water up and stay at our site for a reduced rate of CA>US $18.59 till water was returned.  It is a welcome respite on the way north or south.  All groceries are higher here, but beer is always a surprise with the price for a case of Kokanee (Canadian version of Busch Lite) running about $35 CA>US.  While here we dined on SPAM Ramen Bowls, Cajun Hambone Soup, and the Lamb Chorizo Crockpot Stew.  Additionally we dined out for our anniversary at Mr. Mike's Steakhouse in town.  Good food.

Mile 0 RV Park

Cajun Ham Bone Soup

Crockpot Spanish Lamb & Chorizo

Ramen Noodle Bowl & Lumpia

Nothing beats a good anniversary steak dinner

      832 miles during this leg and a total of 2321 miles from home in Michigan.  Gas prices have been a surprise here as the Canadian Dollar is taking a beating lately.  The current Canadian Dollar is worth only .74 US Dollars.  We paid a low of $ 3.28 at Sweetwater, MT (border) and a high of $3.68  CA>US in Onoway, AL for diesel during this segment.  This is nearly a full $2 cheaper per gallon than it was 5 years ago.  With 2 out of 3 days enduring a headwind we averaged 12 mpg.  Diesel for our fill up prior to leaving DC was CA>US $3.45.  After 5 days of rest, relaxation, and restocking we begin the REAL ADVENTURE.  Cell phones OFF again.  Come along.  It will inspire you to your own Alaskan Adventure one day.

"Plunge boldly into the thick of life, and seize it where you will, it is always interesting"  

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

WiFi courtesy of Mile Zero Campground