Dawson Creek, BC

Dawson Creek is a town of about 10,000 people, but it seems much larger. For one thing, they have 11 schools plus a college. It is also known as the beginning of the Alaska Highway. In  March of 1942 the US military Army Corps of Engineers started this project. It stretches 1390 miles to Delta Junction Alaska. The project was completed in under 9 months. Since that time, it has been straightened, paved, widened, and flattened. So it's supposedly an easier drive than it was. We'll let you know later what we think of the driving conditions. Here's a pic of The Beav at the sign.

If you're driving to Alaska, along with the 300,000 other annual travelers, you'll likely have the ultimate driving guide with you. It's known as the "Milepost". It literally has descriptions along the way of nearly every imaginable sight and attraction at the individual milepost markers. It is the size of a phone book and has so much info it's hard to read at times. Dawson Creek is Mile 0 of this famous journey.

The Milepost is so inclusive, it's been guiding us ever since we crossed the Canadian border. It gives descriptions of campgrounds, fudge shops, museums, even turnouts on the side of the road. Of course, it doesn't use mile markers for the first part of the trip; that begins here in DC.

Tomorrow we continue our journey, traveling the most famous section of the overland route to Alaska. Sounds like a good reason to celebrate tonight with a special bottle of Louie D.

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