Day 8, 1000 Truckers Can’t be Wrong (?)

Stats:
Fox Creek, Alberta to Buckinghorse River, British Columbia.
Distance: 385 miles

Well yesterday’s mega-effort results in today’s late start – hey we earned it. We drag ourselves from our deluxe accommodations at the Grizzly Inn, noting that it is not named for the animal but rather the material condition of the building.

We make a quick meteorically assessment, i.e. look out the window and say: rain. Cold, gray and rainy – that’s motorcycles live for. Added to the mix is a new threat: moose. There are Beware of Moose signs everywhere. The today’s forecast; it’s Raining Moose, (wasn't that a disco song?). We become extra vigilant, keeping an eye on the tree line and the V–ditch in the median – wary and watchful for any movement. Any event involving a motorcycle and a moose cannot be good.

It rains most of the morning and we take a quick break at Grand Prairie. This is the center of the oil-patch boom – another crazy town full of Canadian rednecks. We get out, pronto. It occurs to me that this part of Canada is reminiscent to the US several decades ago: all industry is natural resources based: oil, lumber, mining, farming and all of the services that support those industries: trucking, engineering, supply, etc. This part of the world has, to me, very much of a blue-collar industrial feel. The places we see and the people we meet are very much involved with the hard work of making and building things. No software sales-weenies here. (Sorry Eric, those are Tom’s words, not mine. He wasn’t talking about anyone in particular. He’s just another insensitive engineer from Ga. Tech.)


Another change is occurring – Alan, myself ant the bikes are starting to take on the traveling look. Dirty, wet disheveled and grinning. The dirt here is a black color and the mud dries gray. Because half the vehicles on the road are semi-truck we are constantly sprayed with this grime-mist. It’s great – were starting to look like all those guys that write about riding a motorcycle to Alaska. Go figure.

Next and big destination: Dawson Creek, BC. Why you ask? Because this is the start of the Alaskan Highway, Mile Marker Zero in downtown. See the adventure is just starting. We learn our lesson from last night and, checking our target mileage for a destination, we call ahead for a room reservation - something called the Buckinghorse River Lodge. Sound good, no. This establishment tag line is, “1000 truckers can’t be wrong”. If that isn’t a good housekeeping seal of approval I don’t know what is.

Well, we ride through more rain – cold rain – turning to hail. And arrive. Being the diplomat that I am lets just the Lodge is rustic. However, the folks are nice and the food reasonable. Early bed is on tap – we make our first pass at the Rockies tomorrow.