14/15JUN15 - Fort Nelson, BC (w/side trip to fort liard, nwt)

Sunday, 14JUN, we got an early start to Fort Nelson, BC.  Unfortunately since there are few to no milepost markers on the road, we did not know when we were near or passing:

-Blueberry Hill Control Station

-Suicide Hill where US Army posted during WWII - Prepare to meet thy maker!

-Sikanni Chief River Bridge

-Muskwa River Bridge, lowest point on the AlCan

After arriving in Fort Nelson & setting up camp Dan headed to the Visitor Centre; later Corrie headed to the grocery store.

Monday morning we jumped in the Toad & headed to Fort Liard, Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada.  Why?  Because everyone who drives to Alaska from the USA can say they have visited British Columbia & the Yukon Territory (& maybe Alberta); but how many can say they have been to NWT?  To Dan this is more than enough reason to spend five hours in the ToadJ

So the choices were drive the RV their & camp, or park the RV in a “bigger” town for two nights & drive the Toad.  Choice two was chosen & for us was the best.  The RV could have made it, but Corrie said she would have walked across the single lane wooden bridge encountered on the highway, while Dan drove the RV across?  Dan said to insure not being stranded, she should disconnect the Toad first.  She thought that was excellent idea if the situation should arise in the future.

The drive as someone said could be described as – nothing but miles & miles of nothing.  Fort Liard, NWT, is small – about 650 people & consists of one store/motel, visitor centre & a CardLock fuel filling facility.  At the BC/NWT border the road goes from paved to gravel/dirt.  We did encounter one construction zone where we had to wait for the pilot/escort car – both coming & going we were the only vehicle in the convoy behind the pilot car.  The license plate design for the North West Territories is the neatest we have seen.

Upon return to the RV Dan took the Toad to RV park’s car wash to insure the dirt/mud/grime did not turn to concrete.  Dan then walked over to the Fort Nelson Heritage Museum.  As their website says:

“The collections now consist of more than just antique cars and trucks. Hundreds of license plates donated by locals, travelers, truckers and from "junkers" adorn the walls in the car display building. Antique heavy equipment primarily used in the building of the Alcan Highway is an ever increasing collection.

The museum grounds provide space to display historic buildings and artifacts. Whether they be log cabins, an old Northwestel building used for local telephone operators, a turn of the 20th century Hudson's Bay factors house or diesel generators used to power the towns first electrical service, there is a place for them on the grounds. There is even an old derrick used for the drilling of oil and gas wells in the "patch".

The main building for the museum also houses smaller collections. From mineral samples to antique hand tools to stuffed animals and many more. The collection even includes a stuffed albino moose. Come see it! It's fantastic...!”

http://www.fortnelsonmuseum.ca/index.html

For dinner we decided to try the RV park’s restaurant, pretty good!  Corrie went with the straight burger, Dan went with Newfie fries – think poutine w/stuffing, beef & onions added.  For desert Dan discovered there is a Dr Pepper licorice candy (who knew?).