Day 10: Dawson Creek BC to Fort Nelson BC Hwy 97; 500kms

Dawson Creek to Fort Nelson

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Dawson+Creek,+BC&daddr=Fort+Nelson,+BC&hl=en&geocode=FeO9UgMdjF_V-Cm5hwd-NpmRUzEwMXsqFTUBBQ%3BFRlLgQMd7Mmv-Cn9hqANka3uUzFwAF69WEIuXw&mra=ls&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=16.441396,56.513672&ie=UTF8&z=6

We started up the Alaska Hwy @ 8:30 in 3 degrees C under sunny skies.  At km 27 we took a side trip to see the Kiskatinaw River Bridge one of the highway's original curved timber bridge , 531 ft or 162m long.

About 30 minutes later we crossed the Peace River Bridge which spans 2130 ft. The entire length is a metal grate not a motorcyclist's favourite surface.  All you can do is let your arms turn to spaghetti & let the bike find its way across.  Thank goodness it was dry. Unfortunately, we could find a place to take a decent picture of this impressive structure.

This part of the highway was kind of boring; not much in the way of interesting scenery.  Parts of it were like hwy 11 near North Bay which I found  interesting last year on the way to New Liskherd. Funny how things change.  The escarpment on the right was similar to the Niagara Escarpment near Milton.  We stopped for gas ( $1.54/litre) near Pink Mountain which I couldn't find no matter where I looked.  When I went inside the young female cashier had on a pink top.  Maybe that was it?

A cowboy served us lunch @ the Buckinghorse Rivr Lodge. Rather appropriate.

We continued with the foothills on our left, passing a couple of cars that had flipped over for not apparent reason.  Two dead moose reminded us that they could be present.  We actually did see a large female back in the woods.  However, the best part of the day was a young black bear & her little cubs munching on the grass near the highway.

Eventually we arrived in Fort Nelson with the sun still shining, 31 degrees C.  The shorts came out in a hurry.