Just a little past Liard Hot Springs we had to stop at The Tetsa River Lodge to try out their legendary cinnamon buns. I liked it so much I got two more to take with me, and ate one for breakfast for the next two days! They’re so perfectly gooey and sweet and covered in icing. Don’t miss this stop if you’re driving by!
Then on Saturday we made it to Dawson creek. This marks the end of the Alaska Highway for us. But for many (headed north) it is the beginning of the highway. We had to make a stop for a picture by this sign commemorating the highway. We also visited the Pioneer Village in Dawson Creek. It has the feel of an early village (1912-1950) and is made up of original buildings moved from the surrounding countryside as well as replicas that were rebuilt. It was super interesting walking around and getting a feel for how people lived back then. Some of the houses seemed like they may have been quite comfortable, although much smaller than today’s houses, and lacking modern amenities. One of the buildings had excellent displays about building The Alaska Highway. It’s the closest thing to an Alaska Highway Museum we’ve come across. The Pioneer Village entry is by donation and it’s well worth a visit.
Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Global Geopark
After Dawson Creek we visited the town of Tumbler Ridge. In the summer of 2000, Tumbler Ridge was a struggling mining town when two young boys discovered dinosaur tracks there. That discovery changed the fortunes of the town and in 2014 it was designated a UNESCO Global Geopark. Now there are a huge number of outdoor activities to do. If you have the time, stop by for beautiful hikes, mountain biking, boat tours, and so much more. Stop by the visitor’s center in town. They are super friendly and can recommend good activities.
Soda Creek Sweet Corn
Driving south from Tumbler Ridge we took a short detour down a gravel road to find Soda Creek Sweet Corn. This place was so much fun! It’s a you-pick corn and vegetable farm. You drive out to their corn fields which are overflowing with ripe sweet corn. Pick as much as you want to eat in the field. It’s delicious raw, right off the stalk! Then pick more to take home with you. For just $5/dozen, the corn is a great value, and you won’t find fresher corn anywhere! They also have a vegetable garden where we picked some swiss chard. That, combined with a steak produced from cattle on the farm made for the perfect dinner.
Current location: Clinton, BC. We’re just about six hours from home and hoping to make it there tonight. I plan to follow up with more information about our van, such as how we added a battery to power the Starlink and our laptops.