Day 9 July 10, 2025 Dease Lake British Columbia to Continental Divide Motel Yukon Territories 218 miles
We fixed breakfast in the motel’s small kitchen dining area. They have coffee, hot chocolate and hot water. Also available is a microwave and toaster. Connie had huckleberry bread toast and Rob had instant oatmeal.
We filled with gas before heading out. More construction. We had a short wait for a pilot car. We were the only vehicle. We followed much longer than sometimes. Work was going on in multiple areas.
We saw a couple of squirrels, what we think is a gopher and what we think was a fox. The fox ran into the brush before we got a good look.
Then more construction. This time was short with no pilot car. We just drove on the left until we passed the last of the new gravel. Not much more than a city block.
We took our mid morning break at a rest stop with a historical sign about the gold rush. A 4.5 pound nugget had come out in the area. That was the largest ever found in British Columbia.
The roads are somewhat flatter today. Still up and down hills but shorter climbs and descents. Still lots of lakes and rivers. The mountains are further away and not as rugged. Only a little snow on top.
We came to a large area that had burned in a forest fire. It must have been very hot because the trees were all burned. Not much new growth yet either. It went for miles in all directions.
We have now reached the Alaska Highway. Traffic has definitely increased. We stopped for gas at the junction. We stopped here last year too. The attendant was the same person. Most of his teeth are still missing. He must live on a liquid diet. (Beer?)
For several miles are the remains of words spelled out with rocks. Many of the rocks are missing so the words are impossible to read. Many are most likely names or initials. We didn’t stop to add ours. (Just another rocky road.)
Then up ahead we saw a black bear. It was on the side of the road. We slowed way down. It just looked at us and then crossed the road in front of us. It quickly disappeared on the other side.
We made it to the Continental Divide Motel. We could remember staying here but it wasn’t the place we thought. They are very basic rooms but are probably the cheapest we will stay in. They have laundry facilities that are also much cheaper so we decided to do a load. Didn’t really need to yet but it was a good time to do the jeans.
Rob did some routine maintenance on the car. He cleaned the windshield, added some air to one of the tires, and greased a couple of things. Sometime today we got a rock hit in the radiator. No fluid leaks so far.
We ate hamburgers at their small restaurant for supper. The free internet is only available at the very small store and restaurant.
Spoffords Travel 