712 miles from Vancouver to Mile '0' of the Alaska Hwy

July 21, 2010 - Our drive to Alaska begins!  We start heading north out of Vancouver and drive 143 miles on the 99 and camp 20 miles outside the nearest town, Lilooet at Cottonwood Creek Recreation Site.  This free campsite was our first taste of the BC back woods.  Situated right off the highway, the camp was right on the creek, overlooking the rich forest which seemed to go on and on for days.  No pics of the camp, but it was sweet, right next to the water.

July 22, 2010 - From our overnight camp, we head on the 99 north to the 97, the Cariboo Hwy and drive 167 miles to our next overnight stop, at Watson Lake, BC.  We motel'd it for the night and took it easy after a full day of driving in the rain, with long winding switch backs through frost heaves and some gravel.

July 23, 2010 - Leaving Watson Lake, we drive 195 miles north on the 97.  Passing the city, Prince George, we camp overnight at Crooked River Provincial Park, at the Bear Lake campground.  With the camp riddled in mosquitoes, I stay mostly in the tent and watch Charlie from the tent trying to smoke out the skeeters at the fire pit.

July 24, 2010 - Driving 206 miles on the 97, we reach a milestone and arrive Dawson Creek, home of mile '0' of the famed Alaska Hwy, built during WWII to protect the US territory of Alaska and completed in 9 months.  We went fancy and stayed at a Comfort Inn.  Before heading out the following day, we tour the old town & brush up on our Alaska Hwy history at the museum.  712 miles completed from Vancouver to mile 0.

At Bear Lake campground.  Too timid to get out of the tent, I shoot pictures of 2 of my enemies, with the bike in the background.  They were shy for pics; when I started shooting there were about 15 enemies waiting for my blood.

Another enemy close-up.

On our way to Dawson Creek, we stop for lunch at Chetwynd, home of the Annual Intl' Chainsaw Carving Championship!  Crazy chainsaw carvings!

Charlie forces me to pose with these bears.

We made it!  At Dawson Creek, we take the obligatory mile 0 picture before heading off on the Alaska Hwy.

Charlie cruises around with Pearl for another shot.

Dawson Creek old town, very typical of the towns we see driving on the highway.  This town was actually one of the larger ones.