Tuesday 17th-day15

Sorry no pics today, unfortunately the contrast between yesterday and today were very dramatic. Yesterday without a doubt was the best day of the trips and one of the most enjoyable days of my life. I didn't sleep to well with the visit of my nocturnal furry friends. I took a Valium which helped my fall to sleep, but left me kind if groggy this morning. The day started out sunny, but was cold. I headed out of Jasper with my sights on Dawson Creek. About 30 miles down the road, I saw rain clouds forming, I stopped put on my rain gear and sure enough it started in. It rained for most of the day and was chilly. The rain and cold is tolerable, but I have been having troubles with water getting into my boots. I have been looking for new boots, but it is difficult to find size 14EE off the shelf!

I finally got to Dawson Creek around 5pm, around 400 miles for the day. I found it interesting that I saw little wildlife today, which was fine seeing it would have been difficult to avoid any on the road. I did find it interesting that the 3- animals I did see today were bears. It is definitely bear country. They have a joke up here.

You know what bears call motorcyclists? Meals on Wheels! They don't really bother me, as I have had encounters before, but these brown bears are much bigger that the little black bears I am use to.

I find it interesting how well the Canadians Drive. I have been asking around in regards to driving and rules. First of all it is not only fairly difficult, but also expensive to get a drivers license. The fees are nearly $200.00 you have to take a written and driving test, and if you fail either one, when you take them again it is another $200.00, none of this take it over the next day for free like in the states. The other thing I see is that there is pretty much zero tolerance for all infractions. When the speed limit is posted at 90KM, that is the max. If you are going 91km you will get a ticket. No warnings, no 10km over buffer zone, etc. No aggressive driving is allowed, etc, in all reality their laws and speeds are pretty much the same as ours, but they are enforced to the maximum.

It it really is quite nice, because everyone so far drives just like they should, everyone is courteous, no on is on cell phones or distracted. If you are a pedestrian and just standing on the side walk looking like you are going to cross a busy road everyone will stop. Going down the highway, no one tailgates, or passes you like you are standing still. The hole time I have been here in Canada, I have not heard a single horn honk or have I had to use mine. The couple of times I did see inconsiderate drivers were the other day in Jasper State Park and both of them were from the US.

The metric system is used here, which can be a little confusing, but I am familiar with it. When you wake up in the morning and the forecast is for sunny skies and 20 degrees, you have to think twice, then you know it will be a nice day.

The money looks funny! Very colorful. There are no dollar bills, just fives, tens, 20s and I think hundreds, there are $1 and $2 coins. The cost is much higher here on most things, with the exception of gas which is pretty much the same price. Everything else is approx %35 more. Due to the weak dollar the exchange is about the same, I noticed that when I withdraw $100.00 Canadian from an ATM the cost to my account is $93.00.

Overall it is a nice country, there are subtle signs that freedoms are not what they are in the united states, and every Canadian I have talked to agrees that we have more freedom, the other common thread is that the general feeling is that Americans do not appreciate the freedoms which they have, with that I have a tendency to agree.

From here to Alaska is approx 1200 miles so it looks like 3-4 days. I'll keep updated as best as I can.

Tim