Dawson Creek to Rosco’s RV Park in Fort St John, British Columbia

Not what we had planned!

We drove our coach just 46 miles / 74 km, about one hour of driving, from Mile 0 Park in Dawson Creek to Fort St John, British Columbia, Canada… where our truck’s front frame broke off while leaving a fuel stop, leaving our truck behind while being towed! So we stopped for the night at Rosco’s RV Park.

Here’s a map showing our route, heading northwest:

Route map

An interactive map, with potential stops pinned:

The Mile 0 RV Park site was rather unlevel, which may have contributed to the failure, though perhaps not:

The Mile 0 RV Park site was rather unlevel

The Mile 0 RV Park site was rather unlevel

Wildlife corridor:

Wildlife corridor

Kiskatinaw River bridge:

Kiskatinaw River bridge

Kiskatinaw River

Steep grades ahead:

Steep grades ahead

10% grade:

10% grade

Taylor bridge over Peace River:

Taylor bridge over Peace River

We attempted a fuel stop at a Co-Op Cardlock station, as they alleged they accepted credit cards:

Attempted fuel stop

But we couldn’t get the machine to accept a credit card:

Couldn't get the machine to accept a credit card

The truck was still fine here:

Co-op Cardlock fuel fail

We gave up on that, and headed to a Petro-Canada station:

Heading to a Petro station

Petro-Canada fuel stop:

Petro-Canada fuel stop

Soon after leaving the fuel stop, the front frame broke off our truck, ripping off the bumper, and leaving the truck behind:

Soon after leaving the fuel stop, the front frame broke off our truck, leaving it behind

Broken truck

Stay tuned for a post in a couple of weeks with a summary and update on this incident.

We took the truck to a nearby Chevy dealer, but it was beyond them. They referred us to an auto body shop, but they didn’t have availability to help any time soon, though were kind enough to take a look at it, and investigate whether or not it could be fixable:

Took the truck to an auto body shop, but they couldn't help

We looked around for a nearby RV park, and found Rosco’s RV Park just down the road. We drove the truck there to check in, then went to get our coach, which we had left in a yard near the incident.

The managers of the RV park were very friendly and sympathetic, as were everyone else we encountered.

Our site, #67:

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

We stayed there two nights, while waiting to hear back from the body shop and insurance, and deciding what to do.

Dawson Creek’s Alaska Highway Mile Zero

We visited the Alaska Highway Mile Zero monuments and other Canadian icons in Dawson Creek, British Columbia.

Mile 0 Alaska Highway marker:

Mile 0 Alaska Highway marker

Mile 0 Alaska Highway marker

Mile 0 Alaska Highway marker

Mural:

Mural

NAR Park:

NAR Park

NAR Park

NAR Park

“You Are Now Entering the World Famous Alaska Highway”:

You Are Now Entering the World Famous Alaska Highway

You Are Now Entering the World Famous Alaska Highway

You Are Now Entering the World Famous Alaska Highway

Stickers:

Stickers

RVs:

RVs

Visitor Centre:

Visitor Centre

Visitor Centre

Canadian Tire… not just a tire store, but more like Ace Hardware in the US:

Canadian Tire

Canadian Tire

Canadian Tire

Canadian Tire

We went to Tim Hortons to get some coffee and Tim Bits:

Tim Hortons

Tim Hortons

Tim Hortons

Tim Hortons

Then felt like lunch, so went to A&W‘s drivethru for lunch:

A&W drivethru for lunch

A&W drivethru for lunch

A&W drivethru for lunch

The Surveyor Statue:

Surveyor Statue

Surveyor Statue

Passing by the Alaska Highway sign again:

Passing by the Alaska Highway sign again

Prince George to Mile 0 Park in Dawson Creek, British Columbia

We drove our coach 263 miles / 423 km, about five hours of driving, from MamaYeh RV Park & Campground near Prince George to Mile 0 Park in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada.

Here’s a map showing our route, heading north then east:

Route map

An interactive map, with potential stops pinned:

Leaving MamaYeh RV Park:

Leaving MamaYeh RV Park

Prince George’s mascot:

Prince George's mascot

Hart Highway:

Hart Highway

Paladin sitting on the couch:

Paladin sitting on the couch

A newer Tiffin Allegro Bus:

A newer Tiffin Allegro Bus

Snowy mountains:

Snowy mountains

Bears!

Bears!

Bears!

A stop at Bijoux Falls:

Bijoux Falls

Bijoux Falls

Bijoux Falls

Snowy mountains:

Snowy mountains

Snowy mountains

Snowy mountains

We stopped at Azouzetta Lake Lodge for lunch:

Azouzetta Lake Lodge stop for lunch

Azouzetta Lake Lodge stop for lunch

Azouzetta Lake Lodge stop for lunch

Chetwynd has lots of chainsaw carvings:

Chetwynd has lots of chainsaw carvings

Chetwynd has lots of chainsaw carvings

Pine River bridge:

Pine River bridge

Welcome to Dawson Creek:

Welcome to Dawson Creek

Arriving at Mile 0 Park:

Mile 0 Park

Campground map:

Map

Our site, #36:

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Very unlevel:

Very unlevel

They had just finished making our site somewhat more level (I hate to think how bad it was before), and were working on the neighboring site when we arrived:

Working on the neighboring site

Other sites:

Other sites

Other sites

70 Mile House to MamaYeh RV Park & Campground near Prince George, British Columbia

We drove our coach 206 miles / 332 km, about four hours of driving, from a boondocking spot in the parking lot of Mount Begbie Fire Lookout near 70 Mile House to MamaYeh RV Park & Campground near Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.

Here’s a map showing our route, heading north:

Route map

An interactive map, with potential stops pinned:

Begbie Summit elevation 1232 m (4041 ft):

Begbie Summit elevation 1232 m (4041 ft)

Barn and 130 Mile Lake:

Barn and 130 Mile Lake

Williams Lake rest area:

Williams Lake rest area

Turn to Prince George:

Turn to Prince George

Interesting rocks:

Interesting rocks

Bridge over Quesnel River:

Bridge over Quesnel River

River and BC-97 highway:

River and BC-97 highway

Arriving at MamaYeh RV Park & Campground:

MamaYeh RV Park

MamaYeh RV Park

MamaYeh RV Park

Campground map:

Map

RV park playground:

Playground

Our site, #1:

Our site

Not particularly level:

Not particularly level

But very long:

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

That evening we went into Prince George for dinner at A&W:

A&W

A&W

Root beer in frosty mugs, grass-fed beef burgers, and fries; all very tasty:

A&W

Back to our site:

Our site

Lynden, Washington, USA to a boondocking spot in the parking lot of Mount Begbie Fire Lookout, 70 Mile House, British Columbia, Canada

On our way towards Alaska, we entered Canada! Oh, so full of hope and plans for the next three months.

We drove our coach 238 miles / 383 km, about five hours of driving, from Lynden / Bellingham KOA in Lynden, Washington, USA to a boondocking spot in the parking lot of Mount Begbie Fire Lookout, 70 Mile House, British Columbia, Canada.

Here’s a map showing our route, heading north:

Route map

An interactive map, with potential stops pinned:

Canadian Border Inspection:

Canadian Border Inspection

Canadian Border Inspection

Canadian Border Inspection

Welcome to British Columbia, Canada:

Welcome to British Columbia, Canada

Maximum 100 km/h:

Maximum 100 km/h

Trans-Canada 1 East:

Trans-Canada 1 East

Circle Route British Columbia Heritage Discovery:

Circle Route British Columbia Heritage Discovery

Welcome to Hope, BC:

Welcome to Hope, BC

Yale rest area:

Yale rest area

Yale Tunnel:

Yale Tunnel

Saddle Rock Tunnel:

Saddle Rock Tunnel

Saskatchewan train:

Saskatchewan train

Sailor Bar Tunnel:

Sailor Bar Tunnel

Spuzzum Tunnel:

Spuzzum Tunnel

Spuzzum Tunnel

Two tunnels in quick succession:

Two tunnels in quick succession

Two tunnels in quick succession

China Bar Tunnel:

China Bar Tunnel

Wildlife Corridor:

Wildlife Corridor

Thompson River:

Thompson River

We attempted to fuel at a Esso card lock pump, using our Open Roads fuel card, but it didn’t work:

Esso card lock fuel attempt

A little later, we had better success at a regular Wesco diesel pump, albeit having to do three separate $250 transactions (yes, our coach takes a lot of fuel); fueling our coach was an ongoing hassle in Canada:

Wesco fuel stop

Arriving at the boondocking spot:

Boondocking spot

Welcome to Mount Begbie Lookout:

Welcome to Mount Begbie Lookout

Our boondocking spot, where we spent the night with no hookups:

Our boondocking spot

After breakfast the next morning, we walked on the trail up the mountain:

Trail up the mountain

View partway up:

View partway up

Cell tower at the top:

Cell tower at the top

Lake view:

Lake view

Fire watch tower:

Fire watch tower

Fire watch tower

Fire watch tower

Fire watch tower

Fire watch tower

Fire watch tower

Back to our coach:

Back to our coach

There’s a larger area below where we parked, but it wasn’t very level:

There's a larger area below where we parked, but it wasn't very level

Our boondocking site

Our boondocking site

Shelton to Lynden / Bellingham KOA in Lynden, Washington

We were on our way to Alaska! (Or so we thought.) Our first leg was to get just south of the border with Canada.

We drove our coach 206 miles, about four hours of driving, from our home base near Shelton to Lynden / Bellingham KOA in Lynden, Washington.

Here’s a map showing our route, heading north:

Map

An interactive map, with potential stops pinned:

Oakland Bay near Shelton:

Oakland Bay near Shelton

Joining I-5 North:

Joining I-5 North

Tacoma Dome:

Tacoma Dome

Rest area with RV dump stations:

Rest area with RV dump stations

Rest area… with a clueless car and a van in the truck parking:

Rest area... with a clueless car in the truck parking

Lunch:

Lunch

Seattle skyline:

Seattle skyline

T-Mobile Park, home of our Seattle Mariners, with a closed roof:

T-Mobile Park, home of our Seattle Mariners, with closed roof

Heavy traffic:

Heavy traffic

Tunnel under convention center:

Tunnel under convention center

Zuck’s megayacht:

Zuck's megayacht

Rest area:

Rest area

I-5 bridge over Skagit River:

I-5 bridge over Skagit River

Almost a collision:

Almost a collision

Arriving at Lynden / Bellingham KOA:

KOA

Narrow driveway:

KOA pond

Our site, #6:

Our site

Our site

Our site

The site was so short, we had to park our truck over by the office (I think the first time we ever had to do that):

Truck parking