Day Six - Westlock to Fort Saint John

Thursday May 29th 2008
Drive from Westlock to Valley View to Grand Prairie to Dawson Creek to Fort St. John
391 miles – estimated 8 hours of driving

I’m so used to the interstate system of the United States that I thought that Canada would have it too. WRONG. The population density just doesn’t support the need for it. So two lane highway with lower speed limits was the norm. Alberta is a sea of grass dotted with lakes, ponds, and stands of deciduous trees mixed with conifers. It is gorgeous, green and fragrant with the clean scent of trees. I LOVED it. I’m sure that May/June is a good time to visit and January isn’t.

I started noticing all of the “Licensed” restaurants on the road to Fort St. John. I believe they use the phrase to denote those that are allowed to sell alcohol. Another interesting difference was the inclusion of “high balls” as opposed to "cocktails" on the menu.

This was the hotel that had the overpowering scent of air sanitizer/scent. It was a bit nauseating. Dinner at Mr. Mike’s Steakhouse was expensive but yummy.

Best Western Coachman Inn
8540 Alaska Road
Fort St John, British Columbia: V1J 5L6, Canada

For more photos see: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157605346199000/

Miscellaneous thing to look up on the internet:
What are engine brakes?
What is domestic garbage?
When did Alberta burn?

Receipts:

Best Western – Westlock AB
Shell Gas – Slave Lake AB
McDonalds
Mr. Mikes Steakhouse – Fort St. John BC

Wildlife & Birds:
We drove the interesting way up to Lesser Slave Lake where we saw Bonaparte’s gulls, assorted terns and 2 coyotes.