Revisiting the Alaskan Hwy–Ft Nelson to Ft St John to Dawson Creek

Sept 15,16, 17th -Continuing our drive south – We joined up with a section of the Alaskan Hwy that we had driven heading north last year. We had remembered the stretch between Dawson Creek and Ft. Nelson as being rather ‘plain'’ – nothing special. Looking at it with new eyes….older, perhaps more experienced and less ‘idealized’…..we appreciated the road and the beauty that it held. The Fall colors were beautiful…..we were about 3 weeks later in the season this year. And it did not bother us to see farms and fields, rather than the ‘wild and remote Alaskan Hwy’ that we had imagined the year before.

We spent Thurs Sept 15th in Ft St John, and treated ourselves to a nice dinner in a local Pub. Friday’s drive took us through Dawson Creek and on down Hwy 40 – which was supposed to be rather scenic, and it was…and on to Grand Cache for the night.

The feeling of familiarity really hit home when we drove through Dawson Creek – the beginning of the Alaskan Hwy. We ‘knew’ this place….we knew where the visitor's center was, and the bathroom at the visitor's center.

We knew where the milepost monument was….we didn’t have to consult a map to find it.

We began to see Dawson Creek, not as a somewhat confused first time tourist, but, we would like to think, as one of the local people might. A town…with  conveniences and local stores, and services that one might find anywhere….This feeling of familiarity gave us a great sense of satisfaction……

We did not stop to sightsee….we had done that before,….and we had a destination in mind…..

Saturday, Sept17th was rainy and drizzling all day…..we traveled another familiar road, the Ice Fields parkway from Jasper to Banff. This is a spectacular drive….especially when the sky clears and you can see the mountains. We drove in and out of cloud and rain……

Even taking a little time for a hike when the weather had cleared….

But, we knew that we did not have time for much sightseeing, if we were to ‘get on down the road’…..and we had pulled off at each and every overlook last year when we drove through.

We spent Sat. Sept 17th night at Canmore, Alberta, just south of Banff.