Alaska Highway, Part 1: Dawson Creek

So after being on the road already for what felt like forever, we finally made it to the START of the Alaska Highway.  Dawson Creek, BC, "The Mile Zero City".  We rolled in just before sunset.  The first thing we saw was the Lakota Agriplex, which we had been researching & felt we had a decent shot of finding overnight horse boarding.  We hadn't been able to actually contact anyone though.  So it was much to my surprise when I jumped out of the truck to talk to two ladies over by the entrance and one of them says, "Are you Andrea?".  Apparently she had gotten my messages but I hadn't been able to get hers back.  Not only did we get overnight horse boarding, but the facility was amazing and everyone there was soo nice!

Stormy and Gaefa enjoyed some turnout to stretch their legs after the day's trailer ride.

They weren't able to stay outside, but the stalls in the barn were really roomy and they were able to be across from each other.  It's funny how attached they've gotten to each other already.  Stormy more so, since he tends to be more nervous anyway.  Staying in a big barn like this was a different environment for these two who are used to being outside 24/7/365.  But they went along with it & handled it like champs.

So where were the humans staying, while the horses were in such luxurious accommodations?  In the trailer in the parking lot, of course.  Priorities.

The place even had SHOWERS, like for humans, of which we most certainly availed ourselves before leaving the next morning. 

Then it was time to be tourists for a little while.  We saw the Mile 0 marker in the center of town, took selfies in front of the "Welcome to the Alaska Highway" banner, and got oodles of cool stuff from the visitor's center gift shop.  Every single person we met in Dawson Creek- the Agriplex folks, the waitress at the restaurant, the visitor center lady, even the gas station guy- was absolutely awesome.  I was so impressed by this town. 

And then, we were off!  Driving the Alcan at last!  It was a different feeling right away.  It finally felt like we were actually getting closer to Alaska.

Next stop, Fort Nelson, where we had horse accommodations lined up at the home of a friend of a friend of the person who picked up the phone at the Ft. Nelson Chamber of Commerce.  2 things were amazing about that: how everything seemed to be falling into place with the horses after worrying about how we were going to handle it, and how nice and hospitable and friendly and awesome everyone is up here!  Total strangers just go out of their way for you for no reason.  An excellent start to our Alcan journey.