This was the official start of our trek.
The alarm was set at 5.00am and we were surprised to find that it was already light.
Our convoy group consists of 2 x blitz's, 2 x GMC's and 6 x Yankee Joes. There was a 5 minute gap between each convoy group leaving the departure point and the convoy must have stretched for miles. There are 10 groups including pathfinders.
We drove along the Alaska Highway for approx 34 kms and then diverted onto the old original Alcan Highway (now known as the Alaska Highway) and crossed the Kiskatinaw River Bridge. The bridge is a 531 feet long curved structure and one of the first of its kind in Canada. It is the only original timber bridge built along the Alaska Highway that still is in use today. We drove for several miles until it joined up with the Alaska Highway again.
The drive through the Peace River area was amazing with the beautiful mountains and valleys.
The Peace River Bridge is 712 metres long with a metal mesh deck. Bridging this river was one of the first goals of the Alaska Highway engineers in 1942. The original bridge collapsed in 1947 due to erosion and the bridge was rebuilt in 1960.
Our morning tea stop was just over the bridge at Taylor which has a population of approx 1200. This was the first main army camp for the 341st engineers. Before the Peace River was bridged in 1943 the ferry from Taylor served as the major link across the river. The original Peace River suspension bridge, the longest bridge on the highway, collapsed in 1957.
One of the GMC's had trouble getting to the convoy speed of 35mph because he was towing a trailer fitted with a camper. After the lunch stop his support vehicle towed his trailer.
We then drove on through Fort St John and were surprised at the large light industrial area. It is obviously the centre for supplying trucks, equipment etc for the gas and other industries in the area. We had been told that we would come across a lot of trucks carrying gas.
One of the most treacherous hills on the original highway is Suicide Hill which is noted for its ominous greeting "Prepare to meet thy Maker". The trucks are very slow going up the hills and the concern is that they may overheat.
We saw an eagle, 1 dead moose and smelt a few others. It is a case of suffer and don't breathe for awhile when you are driving in a windowless truck!!!
We spent the night camped in the fields at the Buckinghorse River Lodge. The restaurant is the original US army dining building from 1941. Dinner was roast pork, vegies, salad, icecream and iced tea. After a chat amongst our convoy members it was early to bed.
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