Photos at launching ceremony

Official launch

Friday 3 August 2012

All the vehicles assembled in Dawson Creek (Mile 0) for the official launching ceremony. A lot of people circulated around to view the vehicles and talk to the owners - even the women come up and ask questions.

After the ceremony we went back to the camp ground to be treated with a BBQ of hamburgers and sausages supplied by Trimac, a local transport company. There is a shortage of drivers because of the gas and coal industry and they are desperately trying to recruit drivers.

We did the majority of our packing as we were due to form into our convoy group at 6.30am the following morning.

More vehicles

Some of the participants have 1st class accommodation when they travel.  They have their RV going along as well.

Camp Sewell - bottom picture

MVPA convoy vehicles

These are some of the vehicles that will  be travelling from Dawson Creek to Fairbanks.  The bottom picture is of a Blitz that went on the 2009 Normandy convoy with us.

Dawson Creek - Mile 0 Alaska Highway

The start of the Alaska Highway

Canadian convoy

These were some of the vehicles that were on the Canadian convoy that we travelled with from Chilliwack to Dawson Creek. 

Dawson Creek & Rolla

1 August 2012

A busy day in the camp cleaning out and repacking George, washing and general maintenance on the truck. Registrations began in the morning and there was a queue up until closure at lunchtime. Massive amounts of time and energy have gone into the organisation of this convoy.

We received our convoy shirts and goodies and now have name tags so that we know who everyone is or maybe it is so we can remember who we are.  We are a very big group!

There seems to be a continual flow of onlookers driving through the park and stopping to ask participants about their vehicles. Everyone seems to have had a grandfather or relative who worked on the construction of the Alaska Highway and they are very pleased to see the 70th anniversary commemorated. .

So far there are just 2 Blitz trucks in the convoy and there is a Yankee Joe parked next door to us. There are some big military rigs with lots of gear as well - the camera has been clicking continuously. Vehicles are arriving all the time from various parts of Canada and the US and some have travelled great distances to get to Dawson Creek.

In the afternoon we formed a convoy to drive to a little town 12 miles out of Dawson Creek called Rolla which is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The convoy was very long and impressive and that wasn't all the vehicles. Jim had me sticking my head up out of the top hatch taking photos but unfortunately the battery died on the camera. Hopefully we will have managed a couple of good shots, if not I am sure there will be others floating around.

This is a cereal growing area and the crops were thick and green.

We were provided with a burger or sausage in a bun and drinks for dinner and were thoroughly spoilt. I bet the poor cook could see no end to the line. Later we were entertained by a ladies choir. There was a quaint log cabin in the grounds surroundered by statues of a bear, deer and moose. It was a lovely setting and an enjoyable day.

Since being on the track we have passed an enormous amount of timber and coal trucks - both big industries up here.