DAY SIX - June 30, 2017 - Rita's Circle Tour

We left Grande Prairie after having the van serviced and crossed into British Columbia shortly after (but we're not quite sure when since there was no welcome sign - they must have been warned we were coming).

Today's Big Stupid Thing is the beaver in Beaverlodge.

Glad we got that out of the way early in the day!

Our next find was an elk.  It's farmed and not wild, but we're not choosy at this point - haven't seen much in the way of wildlife.

Kind of excited when we reached the start of the Alaska Highway.  This is the welcome sign for Dawson Creek, but not actually mile "O".  The picture below it shows the cairn at the actual beginning of the highway.

Our next stop was in Taylor, B.C. at the Visitor's Centre where Rita the travel guide took our picture.

Although we were just 18 kilometres from our destination of Fort St. John, Rita convinced us that we should get there instead by a 400 kilometre circle route.  What great advice!

First, we retraced our route for 23 kilometres to the Kiskatinaw River.  Rita pointed out that we had come across the river on a new bridge and that the old bridge was farther north and closer to the river.  It is the only remaining original timber bridge on the highway.  It was a work of art considering the frantic rush to complete the highway in 1942!

We then entered the Tumbler Ridge Global Geopark.  Pictures don't do the area justice.  It can best be described as like driving in Yellowstone Park, without the thermal features.  

The Town of Tumbler Ridge has a dinosaur centre displaying the raptors, their tracks and other fossils that have been discovered in the area.  Small facility but well done.

Our next stop was Chetwynd, where a local artist has placed dozens of his carvings along the town's streets.

Our final hour of the circle route followed the valley of the Peace River.  

An absolutely awesome day, thanks to Rita!

Have lots more pictures which could have been included but we're dealing with "no speed" internet tonight and I'm in my second hour of inputting so it's time to say good night.

Tomorrow we head for Toad River, B.C.  We're leaving Fort St. John before their Canada Day parade starts, and there's only one significant town between here and Toad River (which is a one toad hamlet so to speak) so our celebration of Canada's birthday may be muted.  We'll have to see.  Enjoy your day everyone!