ALASKA HIGHWAY - Mile 0

Well, we finally made it to Dawson Creek, the start of the incredible Alaska Highway. The Highway, constructed by the US Army in only 8 months in 1942 as a direct result of the Japanese bombing of Pearl harbor. The route provided a method of getting protective troops & equipment to defend the extreme northwestern approach to North America from possible attack. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Highway

Although we spent a day & a night here in Dawson, the town didn't offer much interms of local interest, mainly a place to buy groceries & supplies for the long drive up and over to Alaska. We did manage to find both "signposts" for the start of the Highway, so nothing would do other than to have photos of each...

We took turns shuffling trailers and cameras and laughed at each other for making all the fuss about this momentus event. I began to wonder "maybe we should save all the celebrating for the other end!"
So, that being said, we found ourselves moving ahead on the famed road the next morning, and to our surprise, the Highway was in much better shape than suspected.

There was very litle traffic along the route, and many small establishments were closed & boarded up....I guess those high gas prices really are starting to have an effect....

While Kim & I found stopping at the stll ice laden lakes fascinating, Bob & Joy spotted another "lifer" bird, the Harlequin Duck...

The drive was relaxing and beautiful.... with many, many spots like these along the way.