Beautful British Columbia - July 31 - Aug 4

Well, it was finally time to turn ourselves towards the lower 48; we knew it had to happen sooner or later.  I must admit that Alaska was not what we had envisioned.  I'd anticipated dense forests and verdant greenery much like we know from living in the Pacific Northwest.  What we got was large open acreage of tundra and small sparse spruce trees due to 60% of the ground unsuitable of sustaining "verdant" because of permafrost.  What we got was much more wildlife than we could ever have hoped for and vastly more expansive scenery than we'd have dreamed.  Few place leave me desirous to return, not because they aren't stunning but because we have explored them well due to months of planning.  Alaska, however, is too vast for only one visit, and we have hopes to return someday to spend more time at Katmai, to hike outside the boundaries with the protection of an electric bear fence, to drive into the bush north of the Arctic Circle, and to visit those three national parks which eluded me this trip.  But for now, it's the lower 48 and the adventures I've schemed there.




After church on Sunday, we drove southeast towards the Canadian border retracing our steps to Tok.  Monday we met with "the arms dealer" who shipped Aaron's glock to Bellingham, WA, and then we began the long long drive, first through The Yukon, then south the entire length of beautiful British Columbia. As we traveled south, the permafrost disappeared, the verdant green forests returned, and darkness came once more each night.  The Al-Can (which we drove when heading north to Alaska) is a lonely enough road, but this different more western route we returned on was even lonelier.  One must be careful to plan ahead for gas stops which are few and far between and difficult to anticipate because we have absolutely no cell coverage.  One must also watch for big black bears appearing suddenly from the dense forest to cross the highway and frost heaves in the road which would shred Bambi and secret hidden gems of camping spots just off the already quiet road.  It's been yet another stupendous adventure all week long.







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