Adventures with TJ

08/21/2024

Yukon Alaska 2024
August 19& 20th
DAY 14 and 15

The Dempster Highway is a magical place.

After storing our travel trailer in Dawson City we headed up the Dempster through the Tombstone Mountains, Eagle Plains, the Arctic Circle.

The previous day in DC had been 28c and it dipped down to 8c on our travel day. Needless to say the cloud and drizzle didn't allow us to see the peaks of the Tomstones ( hopefully we catch those on the return) the scenery is stunning and just a little eerie !
We had a fun dinner at Eagle Plains and headed to our camp spot along the Sheep Creek, about 20 km NORTh of the ARCTiC CIRCLE...yup, we still got game, or so we decided!

We slept in our truck canopy and it was a tad chilly at only 6c in the morning. By the time we reached the next summit,near the Northwest Territory border we had our parkas on again and the wind was howling at 2c.

The scenery is something out of Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit.

We crossed the Peel River by cable ferry and the second ferry at the Mackenzie Delta and Arctic Red River. These ferry experiences were truly unlike any other.

Jonathan and I often " take the backroad" and my childhood and teenage- hood was spent in the bush, much of the time, but this location is absolutely the most remote we've ever experienced.

7 hours later, and many stops we reached Inuvik and have an adorable little cabin at Arctic Chalets.

Tomorrow we explore.
Side note : ironically, we saw no large game...just ptarmigan and Swans. It is hunting season already up here..those guys are smart and laying low. 🫎

08/19/2024

08/19/2024

Yukon-Alaska 2024
Day 10/11/12

August 15-17

Swift River- Whitehorse- Dawson City

An epic few days starting with our Grizzly Bear sighting just out of Jake's Corner. We headed into Whitehirse to restock with fuel, gas and groceries before heading out to stay with our friends North of WHITEHORSE.
We even snuck in breakfast with friends from Williams Lake when we were posted there, who just happened to be in town at the same time.

We had a great visit, went fishing at Lake Laberge and the Fox Lake to kayak and try for a Grayling.
We then headed North to Dawson City and took in the sights...Bonanza Creek where gold was discovered starting the Klondike Gokd Rush, Diamond Toothe Gerties, the Keno Sternwheeler and tomorrow we are off to the Dempster enroute to the Arctic Ocean!

08/18/2024

Yukon-Alaska 2024
Day 9
August 14th
Watson Lake to Swift River
147 km traveled today.

Jonathan headed to the dock about 7 am and caught his first ever Northern Pike before breakfast! He learned how to filet the "5 piece method" thanks to the " googler"
Had a nice morning touring the Signpost Forest, ( and we finally found the sign that Emily and I posted last Spring), the Visitor Centre and then had tea with and old friend.
Off we headed to another magical off-the-beaten- path site at Swift River for the night.
Thanks for the brocoli Jenny!

08/18/2024

Yukon-Alaska 2024
Day 8- August 13
Liard Hotsprings to Watson Lake, Yukon Territory

We traveled a mere 70 km today. The day started out with smoke in the air and actual ash on our truck.
We left Liard at 11 am, 15c.

To date we have traveled, 2058 km so far!
Right out of the park we saw two black bear and two herd of Woodland 🦬 Bison.
After that 1 roadkill grouse along with a porcupine, then some very " alive" grouse...8 of them.
We arrived in my old stomping ground, ate some Chinese took Jonathan to all the sites, visited some friends at the cemetery and camped at the territorial campground.

08/18/2024

Yukon-Alaska 2024
Day 7- Liard Hotsprings

We left Muncho Lake late morning for a short 70 km drive to Liard Hotsprings. We snagged the last reservation at the Provincial campground and had our first dip in the springs that afternoon. There was smoke in the air fir the Fort Nelson fire and by evening the skies were quite red with wildfire smoke.

We ended up driving over to the Liard Lodge for a cup of coffee that turned into fries and gravy and shared our table with a couple enroute to Whitehorse.
We decided totake Gryffin up the highway for a run and then backtracked to the Liard River. Crossing back over to the south side of the bridge we did some 4x4 ing to the rivers edge (our poor truck). I spotted a creek across the way and a few fins 🐟 in the water so off we went to try our hand at some river fishing.

I caught three Arctic Graying and Jon caught a trout, lost a grayling. We released all but one of each and ate a 9 pm dinner of fish...no veggies, no potatoes...just fish.

The sun set behind the bridge as Jonathan cast his line amd Gryffin looked on as the perfect fishing companion.
It was a beautiful night, one where the years of hard work make the days of this kind of enjoyment worthwhile!

The Northern Lights did not disappoint that night along with an enormous shooting star, so orange it was more like a fireball!

What a day!☄️🌠

08/18/2024

Yukon-Alaska 2024
Day 5 and 6 - Muncho Lake

Back in cell/wifi we are catching up on a few days if travel.

Warm at 30 c.
We got a full service site, lakeside at Northern Rockies Lodge. This was a treat after a number of nights off the grid, we even used our AC !

Gas price was 229.9 ( with a .20 cent per litre discount for Lodge guests) ⛽️

Showers were divine an Alaska Highway bargain at a loonies for minutes of warm water! 🚿

We fished.
We kayaked.
We swam.
We painted and played guitar.
We read.

That sums up our two days in the majestic mountains of the Northern Rockies.

08/17/2024

Yukon-Alaska 2024

Day 4 - August 9th
We left Pink Mountain after 464 km the previous day. We boondocked at a private location on the old Alaska Highway. We departure at 7:20 am and it was 12c .
Shortly after we came upon some interesting looking folks in the middle of no where( Prophet River) who we determined to be mushroom pickers/foragers.
Along the way we saw an enormous Horned owl looking for breakfast.

Next stope was Fort Nelson for gas, a bargain at 168.9 and Tetsa River for a $8 Cinnamon Bun! A truly lovely little location and the best Cinnamon Buns ever!

We then arrived at Stone Mountain Park where the scenery is so gorgeous it is truly difficult to keep between the rumble strip due to sightseeing!

We then camped on the shores of the stunning Muncho Lake, my favorite part of the Alaska Highway.

Day 5 and 6
August 10 and 11th
We spent kayaking, fishing and swimming.
The following morning we gassed up at $209.9
Northland bound to Liard Hotsprings.

08/10/2024

Yukon-Alaska 2024

Day 2- AUGUST 7th

We left our Boondocking spot just North of McLease Lake (at Macalister) at 8 am and just minutes later saw two deer, then another minute down the road, a black 🐻 bear.
It was 11c at the start of day and we hit Quesnel
For a fuel stop: $174.9 per litre, Dennys for an omelet and Wal-Mart for the vitamins that we left behind!
It doesn't matter how many lists you make, there is always something left behind! Jonathan also got a impact socket adapter to use the drill to make lowering and raising the stabilizer jack's quick and easy. Thank you Canadian Tire!

By the time we arrived in Prince George it was 22c and Gryffindor was in dire need of a run. We decided the airport would be a good spot.. Years before our Maggie's ran in the same field of yellow dandelions with a photo to match Gryffs. 💜
FUEL ⛽️ 169.9/litre

Along this stretch we followed the mighty, muddy Fraser River.
FACTOID: the headwaters of The Fraser are near Mt Robson and from there it travels over 1300 km to dump into the ocean at Vancouver.

Our nature count continues with us spotting 6 more deer and a very chubby groundhog.

Through the Pine Pass, near MacKenzie we came upon some rainshowers and spectacular fork lightening. Stunningly beautiful, but a bit disconcerting when you are pulling a 25 foot metal box on wheels!

We gassed up, yet again, at Chetwynd and continued about 25km North to amazing riverside site at the edge of the Pine River.

It was a former Provincial parks complete with a boat launch. The river was low enough for a swim and although we saw fairly recent bear sign...no bears.
Gryfin did have his bear bell though, so hopefully that jngling kept them away.

Jonathan has never been, by road, North of Prince George so this has been all new territory for him.

Today's mileage: 544 km


Day 3 AUGUST 8th

We had a later departure this morning at about 930 am.
We spent quite a whilewatching a hawk that had decided the wind guard on our truck was a good perch. For a while we thought he was injured, but after a good while, he ir she left and flew without incident to a nearby Aspen Tree.
We headed to Dawson Creek to take the traditional photos at the Mile '0' Alaska Highway sign...we really were on our way!

The highway winds throught Taylor and Fort St John and industry is very evident. The Alaska highway feels three times as wide as it was when I last drove it in 1999. And it is so much smoother!

FACTOID: the Alaska Highway was originally built in a 10 month period between 1942 and 1943 by both military amd private contractors, after the bombing of Pearl Harbour.

We gassed up at Pink Mountain at $192.9/litre and found ourselves another boondocking site on the old Alaska Hwy behind a beautiful row of trees. Quiet and private with lots of roaming area for the 🐕.
We had a 2km walk to stretch after the drive and saw a white tailed deer along the way.
We were off for an early bed.

Today's mileage: 333 km

08/07/2024

DAY 1
We traveled 646 kilometers today from Nanaimo to Tsawwassen (via BC Ferries) to a pullout just north of McLeese Lake (just North of Williams Lake). We are "boondocking" for the night.

Due to the great response from people, we will try to update our newly created blog as often as is available to us, with technology.

As with other blogs we've learned from, we hope to share the sights we see and lessons learned along the way.

Each section will have the " Nitty Gritty" which will include items like prices of fuel, road conditions, weather etc. If you aren't planning to travel this route anytime soon and find this part boring..we hope you stay for the pretty photos!

Nitty Gritty:

⭐️BC Ferries
Truck and overheight trailer
50 feet long
$351.10
ONE WAY

⭐️Important lesson learned today. Transport Canada regulations do not allow a travel trailer to carry more that one 25 litre gerry can. (Sadly we had two)
If we were hauling a boat, no problem...you can carry two?
Our options were to either leave the terminal, dump our 25 litres fuel at a service station and fill the gerry can with water...or give it away.
I asked the nice folks following behind us if they wanted 25 lites of free fuel. They had a truck and we're more than willing to take it off our hands.
We were then allowed to pay our fare, get our receipt and enter the terminal.

Somewhere in the fine print on the BC Ferries website this must be posted. We did not see it...so learn from our mistakes!
Needless to say we held up the line at the wicket a a bit, but even before 7 am had learned one travel lesson of the day!

⭐️FUEL
Unleaded

Hope, BC
$169.9 per litre

Cache Creek, BC
$189.9 per litre
Box of Fruitloops Cereal $11.99

⭐️ROUTE

After watching the Drive BC website closely, we chose the Hwy 97, Fraser Canyon route vs. the Coquihalla.
Despite the flooding in the Chilcotin river and possibly the Fraser River and the SHETLAND Creek Fire ( near Spences Bridge) there were no road closures.
We love the scenic Canyon over the Coquihalla and the elevations)
⭐️
Not that we didn't do some major climbing....and we are heavy! We have full fuel tank, , full drinking water( 30 gallons) two 25 litre gerry cans. Yes, we were reunited with our gasoline ⛽️!. We have two extra spare trailer tires and two for the truck.

It was also 32c in the Canyon so the AC was running quite a bit!

⭐️Our truck is a 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 and our trailer is 25 foot Springdale, weighing about 7000 lbs wet (our water tank full)
Our gas mileage today was about 25.2 litres per 100 km. 🥹
All and all, a good first day.

08/06/2024

Welcome to my first entry of my travel blog! I am excited to share our travel adventures with you along the way.

After my last "official" day of work this past Friday, this guy and I embark on our first retirement trip tomorrow!
Riding shotgun will be our trusty, Gryffindor.

Our truck and travel trailer have never been more ready with spare tires, fuel and everything we might need to "McGyver" it along the way.

The Yukon-Alaska playlist is 39 hours long, but based on our planned route...8,832 kms, we may need to keep adding!