The small town of Hope in southern British Columbia features this view of the Fraser River.
Adventure travel and the 1400-mile Alaska Highway go together like biscuits and gravy. I’ve driven it five times, once by myself in 1986 when I left Alaska to return to California and two round trips with Peggy since. The last time we traveled with our friends Bob and Linda Bray. Peggy and I were on our way up to visit our son and his family on Kodiak Island where Tony was working as a helicopter pilot flying rescue missions for the Coast Guard. Bob and Linda were going to join a nephew fishing for halibut.
Bob Bray and I have been friends since he looked like this…
While driving the highway isn’t the challenge that it once was, it still gives travelers a taste of the Far North. Over the next few weeks I’ll take you over the highway from Dawson Creek, British Columbia to Anchorage Alaska as part of my Wednesday photo essays. Today, however, we have to get to Dawson Creek. There are various ways to reach the starting point but out last trip took us from Hope, British Columbia up through Prince George, which is the route we will follow today.
We followed Canada’s Highway 1/97 out of Hope following the Fraser River. One of our first stops was to admire the old Alexandra Suspension Bridge across the river. It’s a beauty that is no longer used.
Another perspective on the Alexandra Bridge.
Looking down through the grates at the Fraser River!
The Visitor Information Center at the 100-mile house featured the world’s largest cross-country skis! Communities throughout Canada use such fun gimmicks to capture the attention of tourists.
I am a fan of tourist information centers in British Columbia. In addition to being chock-full of information and friendly people, they are often beautifully done, like this example in William’s Lake.
This car in the William’s Lake Visitor Center was a spoof on how much stuff tourists load on top of their cars.
Hanging baskets of petunias were featured outside. While such baskets are common now, I first became familiar with them on a trip to British Columbia in the late 60s.
We stopped at an attractive campground on Dragon Lake in Quesnel where Peggy went kayaking to celebrate her birthday.
A closer look.
Peggy’s Birthday Parade
The next morning, we found the campground had gone to the dogs. We were in the middle of dog agility competition. This little fellow was weaving between posts.
Size didn’t matter in the trials. These bars were lowered for the little fellow shown above.
Dogs are required to maneuver through a number of different obstacles including tunnels. The clock is ticking.
Watching the owners was as fun as watching the dogs. The woman in pink is urging her dog along. The man running along behind is the judge.
The country changes as you move into the interior of British Columbia, becoming drier.
Rivers have always served as access to the interior, first for river travel and then for building railroads and roads along.
We were in for a real treat when we came to the town of Chetwynd, which is close to Dawson Creek. Wood carvers had been at work in an international competition. This praying mantis had taken first prize but it had a lot of competition!
Such as this scary pumpkin head scare crow…
And this dragon with an attitude. Or…
…a bas-relief of St. George slaying a dragon.
Or this old gold miner apparently telling you to stay out of his claim.
I am not sure what this fellow is up to but I wouldn’t want to meet him on a dark night— or in the middle of the day.
And then we made it to Dawson Creek and mile 0 of the Alaska Highway. Bob, Linda and Sister.
Peggy and I. Next Wednesday, we begin our trip up the Alaska Highway.
FRIDAY’S POST: Another in the MisAdventures series. I abandon the Graveyard for the Pond.
MONDAY’S POST: Rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.
WEDNESDAY’S POST: We begin our journey up the Alaska Highway.
Wandering through Time and Place 
Beautiful shots. I’ve been on an Alaskan Cruise, and it was wonderful. I would love to go back. I’d like to spend more time on the Canadian coast too. I loved visiting Victoria.
Victoria is one of my all time favorite cities, Carrie. Vancouver is pretty darn impressive as well! Thanks. –Curt
Curt, this is amazing. I just love reading you.
Thanks much, Bojana. I’m glad you enjoy the posts. 🙂 –Curt
Always Curt.
Gorgeous!
Thanks, Cindy.
Nice, love it
Thanks, Kelly. A bit of Western Canada to contrast with your beautiful eastern providences. –Curt
Absolutely, I love the west too, I have been all over it.
When I first looked at that wood carving, for a split second, I thought you inserted a Burning Man archive photo!!
Those carvings would be a hit at Burning Man, G. They would fit right in. –Curt
I thought they might!
It is so nice to let us travel the world, see so much, and yet wake-up without jet-lag. Fabulous photos, Thanks Curt.
And thank you Gerard. Having you, and my other blogging friends along, makes sharing the journeys a treat for Peggy and I. And we get to relive the experience! Much appreciated. –Curt
Wonderful post. I’ve been to Alaska, but never driven. On the list.
Thanks, Peggy. In fact you and I almost met in Fairbanks as I recall. 🙂 For people like us who love adventure, the Alaska Highway has to be up on the list. –Curt
You always post the most interesting things with such great photos. I love all of them, but that little dog weaving between the posts is so cute! He looks so happy!
Thanks, RG. The look on the little dog’s face certainly caught me, as well. But I also noticed that most of the dogs seemed to be having fun, like they really loved the challenge. –Curt
Heheh… that ski must had been for 10 or more people to do a coordinated cross country … lol. Could still be used as part of a team building event right?
Love the vision of a bunch of folks skiing along on the two skis. 🙂 The skis would need to be a bit fatter. It could become a Winter Olympic event! BTW, in early California history a guy known as Snowshoe Thompson delivered the mail back and fort across the Sierra Nevada mountains on snowshoes and cross country skis during the winter. While his skis were the length of the BC skis, they seemed to be twice as long and fat as today’s skinny versions. –Curt
Makes sense. Because he would be carrying large sacks of mail! Wonder how he would turn a corner though…
Lean in to it… and hope! 🙂
I’ve only seen a relatively small chunk of BC, and that was back in the early 80’s. Clearly, I need to go back. There’s a reason they call it beautiful BC!
You aren’t that far away, Dave. And the tourist industry with its “Beautiful BC” motto is right on. –Curt
Wonderful. Can’t wait for the next post. I’ve had quite a yen for Alaska, but somehow never made it. Perhaps someday?
From what I know about you, Gunta, I can’t imagine you not loving it. A month would do. 🙂 One week up, one week back, and two weeks there. Of course a whole summer would be better… –Curt
Wonderful wood carving but the overflowing car takes it this time!
And here I thought you would fall for the dog trials. 🙂 That car was quite amazing. I always enjoy a sense of humor about tourism and that said it all. –Curt
These are great photos. So much beauty in BC. I couldn’t stop laughing at the Williams Lake pile up. Wouldn’t that make a great article? Things I have seen on people’s cars. Now that would be a fun research project.
Always gorgeous, Sue. Obviously, not all tourists have a go-light philosophy! 🙂 –Curt