Monday June 21 Mile 0 Alcan Highway

Today is the longest day of the year. I don't expect to see dark until
around 11:30. We gained an hour today as we passed into another time
zone. It is 9:30 here and 12:30 back in NC. It is hard to completely
adjust because your body keeps time for you although you don't realize
the extent. Poor ole O just knows when he is accustomed to eating no
matter what the clock says.
The big news is today we reached Dawson Creek. This is the starting
place for our adventure on the Alcan Highway. We went into town and
took some pictures as you will see, went to the visitors center, and to
Wal-Mart. Tomorrow we start the drive up the Alcan to Alaska, a dream
come true.
The Alcan was started in March 1942 when they realized after Pearl
Harbor that we needed a land route to move men and military to Alaska to
protect that territory. 10,000 were soldiers were sent to build it.
Part started in Delta Junction, AK and headed South East. Part started
in Dawson Creek British Columbia. On October 29, 1942 they met at a
place they called Contact Creek. The first crude road was finished
against tremendous odds. They fought mosquitoes, mud, snow, and cold to
minus 60 degrees. It cost around $19 million. The project used 904
tractors, 2374 trucks, 374 graders, and 2790 dump trucks. The originial
road was a little over 1450 miles. I am not sure of the length today but
I'll let you know. The road has been under continous improvement since
that time.

To me this road represents all the things that made America the
greatest country on earth. I don't know if we could do it today, sadly,
I seriously doubt it.

We are now 3453 miles from home. We have burned 428 gallons of
gas.(slightly more as the tank is only half full) The fuel cost to date
is $1198.58 and rising. I still thing the trip will be between 10,000
and 11,000 miles total.

Today I added 9 states to our map. North Dakota looks empty up there.
The one big one I want to add is still empty but not for long. Alaska
here we come!!. We are having the adventure of a life time. I will
continue to babble the next time we can get internet. Take care everyone.