I promised that you would learn the reasons behind our “radio silence”. This is it. The day that changed it all.
The plan for today was to do some grocery shopping and laundry before leaving Grand Prairie. We got that done, got gas at Costco and even tried Tim Horton’s coffee for the first time. I don’t need to have it again. Once was enough.
After putting the groceries away and folding the laundry, we were off. Or so we thought. There was a sign as we left the Rotary Club that all Alaska traveler’s need to be checking the road conditions. I checked the roads we would be traveling that day and everything was good. I didn’t check the roads we were planning on taking the following day.
We made it to Dawson Creek, the official start of the Alaskan Highway. While at the visitor’s center we heard THE news. Highway 97 was washed out. That was the road we were supposed to take the following day. It wasn’t just a little bit broken. It was gone. We spent the next several hours mooching off the Visitor’s Center Wi-Fi trying to figure out routes and places to stay and how this was going to affect the future of our adventure.
After coming up with “plan B”, we walked around Dawson Creek, looking for a much needed beer, but alas…. nothing was open due to the Canada Day holiday weekend. Time to head to Fort Saint John where we will be staying for the night. It’s our fist time at a Harvest Host.
Oh. My. Gosh. As soon as we made it to the Harvest Host location called “Haabagan Lake”, we felt the stress of the day start to melt away. Hosts Virginia and her husband Steve are so kind and generous. Their property is amazing with multiple lakes: one where they jet ski, a different one for swimming with a diving board, and a bunch of others all with specific purposes. There is an airplane and hanger, a bunch of walking trails, amazing gardens, and even a trebuchet. An absolutely beautiful location and we feel so lucky to have been able to stay there.
Braxton smoked some hot dogs on the Traeger for dinner, we went for a walk around the property exploring, and Braxton decided to take a swim. He didn’t give it any second thoughts, just ran off the diving board and in he went.
What a crazy day. Tomorrow we begin our plan B. The Cassiar Highway.
