The Adventure North in Dora the Explorer

Wednesday, Day 11 

dry roads

Determined to reach the Alaska Highway today we are on the road at 7:30 AM after sleeping like babies along side a freeway. The traffic slowed down after 10 and we were out like lights and didn’t rally again until 6:15 this morning. We fill Dora with petrol and set out for Fort St. John via route 29, where we will once again enter the Alcan Highway. Déjà vu, haven’t we done this before – how many times? The first 250 miles passed in a flash. A full gas tank will get us 400 miles, but we stop every 200 for a potty break. Today the roads are dry, the sun is out and the temperature is a balmy 45 degrees.

sunbathing

We reach Fort St. John and turn left onto 97N, next stop Fort Nelson where it all began last fall. We know it well having been stranded in a snow blizzard for three days. Boston Pizza, a cold beer, and an Internet connection await us. I can’t believe the difference in weather since our fateful trip out only six short months ago. The Canadian Rockies are beautiful, the roads are dry and there is minimal brown snow on the roadside. Instead of the 25-35 MPH on this stretch between Ft. Nelson and Fort St. John, we are now cruising at 65-70 MPH and there is absolutely no traffic! Last time we saw a slew of cars that had lost control and rolled over the side of the cliff. Every time we saw one, our speed reduced another 5 MPH, making our traveling speed for this 200 mile trip as low as 20-25 MPH and it took forever! My neck was stiff from clenching the steering wheel so hard. What a contrast today! We arrive at our destination around 7 PM after a half-marathon run. Tomorrow will be the full Monty, a 650-mile run to Whitehorse. Yikes!

But for now, the dogs are walked and fed. It is my turn to sit down with a White Ale, a salad and my laptop. Things are simple in a van called Dora and I am content to enjoy the little things such as a beer and a writing exercise to relax. It is so warm here that we won’t need to turn Dora on tonight to stay warm. Again, we are looking forward to another night of good sleep. The dogs are troopers with their minimal exercise program but they have done this before and know the drill. There was some excitement in Dora today when we passed a herd of Bisons on the road. 

The Big Boy

the herd

Zippy giving her opinion

We will once again get up and hit the road first thing in the morning. Only 1200 more miles to reach Tok, Alaska – is this normal or am I insane? Although I am content knowing the wanderlust will never end, I wonder when will this road trippin' with six dogs in a van called Dora stop? I'm exhausted and my nails are a mess!