June 1, Alaskan Highway...1,700 Miles in 8 Months!

It's amazing how the landscape can change so fast.  The rolling hills of eastern British Columbia begin to lose their shape... 

and melt into these wide, open, farm fields. No matter how you search the horizon, there is no trace 

of those beautiful Canadian Rockies. 

Stopped and got some information at this neat little Visitor's Center.  A little old lady was so helpful in giving us maps and information.  She even offered to make us some coffee.

There are lot of oil and natural gas industries in British Columbia.  The little old lady at the Visitor's Center said that the oil company in their town processes it and gas at the pumps cost more in their town than it does in the town down the road where it is shipped.  She said it doesn't make sense.

This is where the Alaska Highway started...in Dawson Creek, BC.  It extended from here to Delta Junction, some 1,700 miles away.  The highway was built as the result of Japan bombing Pearl Harbor on December 7,1941.  The Aleutian Islands of Alaska were closer to Japan than the mainland of the US and our government was concerned about an invasion.  The US needed a route to send the military and supplies and that's how the Alaska Highway was built and completed in less than 8 months in the year 1942.   It's unbelievable such an endeavor could be possible.  The highway was opened to tourists in 1948.

Right behind the 0 marker in the middle of the square is a museum that tells the story of The Alaska Highway.  It is estimated that 30 men died in it's construction.  17 of those 30, died when a ferry they were on sunk as it was transporting materials 

across a lake at Fort John.

I'm  sure there a lots of stories about building and working on the Alaska Highway.

There's that Willys again!

We are camping the night in Valleyview, Alberta tonight.  The countryside is so beautiful with its huge, green fields. It is one of the  3 prairie provinces.  Even though Alberta has a lot of agriculture, oil is its main economic resource.  We are at a cozy campground with Wi-Fi! As I mentioned...I am blogging behind!  We checked in, parked close to the office to guarantee Internet service and......Bill can get it and I CAN'T!  I can if I sit by the office and get eaten by mosquitoes.  Bill was able to hook up some kind of booster and I have it!  Finally!  Besides getting hooked up and deblogged...the motorhome hasn't rattled for 3 days!  Nothing like being deblogged and derattled!  

  

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