July 28 Driving and Totem Poles

Today we left Stewart around noon. We had not had phone service in forever but today we got to talk to Mike on Skype. Our washing machine gave up the ghost and flooded the kitchen and laundry room. Sibley alerted Mike and Lisa before in got the den. Mike and Lisa went and got us a new one. He got to shoot his .45 Model 1911 at a rat snake the other night a good time was had.
After talking to Mike we went and got gas and a few groceries. In spite of the late start we still got in 248 miles today. The Tioga continues to get good mileage at 9.68 mpg on this tank. That will decrease some as my speeds get over 60 mph with improving roads.
The drive out of Stewart is on a spur of Hwy 37, the Cassiar highway. That stretch is know as the Glacier Highway because it has so many Glaciers on it. Some come right down to the road. It is a beautiful drive.
Later in the day we stopped at two native villages about 10-15 miles apart to look at totem poles. The village of Gitanyow had a large collection of nice totems scattered over 1/2 a block. The village itself was run down. The village of Gitwangak had fewer totems but they are very old original totems. Sadly three of the old ones were on the ground with weeds growing around them while they waste away. They should be cared for by someone.
Within a couple of miles of the totems we completed our journey on the Cassiar Highway and turned on to the Yellow Head Highway, Hwy 16. The road conditions are much better than what we have seen for quite a while. Consequently speeds are a little faster also. The downside is the drivers are crazy on this road. This will take us on to Jasper National Park and the Ice Fields Parkway. From there we will make our final push to re-enter the US in eastern Washington about Monday. More miles tomorrow!