Cassiar to Stewart and around Stewart

On the drive to Stewart.

Arrived in Stewart and decided to go to the “Bus” for lunch. This is an old school bus converted into a restaurant. Her husband goes fishing in the morning and what he catches is the menu for the day. The “Bus” is open until she runs out of fish. Must be halibut season, everything on the menu was Halibut(only 4 items) and Oysters. I had the grilled halibut and Tom had Oysters. Both were excellent. 

Rules of the House

 

After eating we decided to go to Salmon Glacier, nice sunny day. A long drive on a so-so dirt road, well worth it in the end. 

Came back and stopped at the Bear Viewing Boardwalk. No bear and no eagles but the amount of salmon in the stream was huge. We learned later that the fish were delayed due to a flood and the bears become tired of waiting and left. We will keep trying but not too optimistic.

On Thursday the rains came and we stayed in. We ate breakfast out at Toasterworks, a very unique restaurant. The owner(not sure who) likes to collect things”, no rhyme or reason. The restaurant is decorated with hundreds of antique toasters and other kitchen items. Really neat.

On Friday, we tried the Bear Viewing again, still no bears. We did eat at the “Bus” again, today Salmon had been added to the menu. We can always get Salmon but rarely see Halibut so we both had Halibut. Today I had sauteed Halibut and Tom had the Grilled. Both were excellent.

This is probably our last fresh fish meals as we are heading inland toward Jasper and Banff.

Today we heard there was 8” of snow in NE British Columbia. Winter is coming.

More of the Cassiar

We are on the Cassier Hwy, a main N/S route through British Columbia. The road varies from dirt, to gravel, very rough, to mediocre. Speed is a wishful 55 MPH, 40 or less is more reasonable. Curves, hills(both up and down) have no warnings, no stripes and no shoulder with a 10’ drop off. Luckily this is a lightly traveled road right now.

There are few campgrounds or services. You need to plan carefully where to get gas(440 miles) and where to camp.

Today we pulled into Kiskana PP, lot more people here than we have previously seen but no problems getting a waterfront site with a great view.

Our View!!!!

Due to the condition of the road we are taking our time. Traveling about 100-150 miles per day. We are in no rush as we are a little ahead of our theoretical schedule. We don’t want to get to Jasper and Banff until early Sept.

Our Camp Attendant came around to collect the nightly fee. She offered us 2 nights for the price of 1, have no idea why but we are unable to accept. Too bad.

Our next stop is Meziadin PPfor the night and then on to Stewart(BC)/Hyder(AK). These are 2 interesting towns. Stewart, being Canadian, is well organized and neat. Hyder, being the US, is kind of a mish-mosh. You can think of the towns as one since most of the people in Hyder shop in Stewart. There is no US Immigration post but there is a Canadian post so we need to carry our passports.

The main draw of Hyder is Salmon Glacier(really in BC)and the Fish Creek Wild Life Observation Site(NFS) bear watching area. This is a boardwalk above the stream and you watch the bear fish while the salmon are running(now). We are looking forward to this and to take a break since we will have been traveling for 6 days solid.

Ths Cassiar Highway

Went to fill up with gas, canopy too low. Really needed gas as Cassier Hwy has minimal facilities for 440 miles. Went back to Nugget City, 3 miles, their gas pump was broken, on to Watson Lake 15 miles away, fill up and start again. Cassier Hwy road was chip seal, horrible 35-40 mph, no shoulders, no guard rails, no striping(45 miles), 25 miles of beautiful new pavement, back to chip seal for next 50 miles, very slow going.

Stopped at Jade City, went to pull in to get to free campground and was blocked by an Adventure tour group rig, got out to find number 7(all have numbers), tour director was there and went to look for #7, she came out and moved her rig, tour was all woman, part of RV Women's group.

We needed to stop early as we had a problem with the MH. One of the attaches to the front hood had come off. After inspecting it, we discovered it was glued on. No screws. We did the best we could but can’t even email Winnebago as we haven’t had, nor will we have, cell phone or internet on the Cassier Hwy. 

This is a tourist stop with a huge amount of jade and other antiques.

A piece of jade

Not going to move this table

Smaller pieces of jade

Jade turns green when polished

 

Leaving Carcross, heading for the Cassiar Highway

Today we left Carcross and stopped at Big Creek Yukon Territory Park. We met our neighbor from the campground there when we went for a walk. Small world but we have noticed that before, you keep meeting the same people for a few days in a row and then part company. This was just a driving day on our way to Stewart/Hyder. A long way away.

Pictures along the road. 

You feel like you are falling off a cliff

Typical "heavy" traffic

Visit to Carcross

Today we drove to Carcross to visit the town of Atlin and the next day visit Skagway. Both are supposed to be scenic drives. Tomorrow we go to Atlin, and the next day to Skagway.

The next day we went to Skagway, a beautiful drive but there were 4 cruise ships in Skagway. A mob scene. Since our primary goal was to do the drive for the scenery we were happy. 

The drive to Skagway was very scenic but the last 10-15 miles was all downhill with minimal flat spots. We dropped from 3800’ to sea level. Happy we were driving the car and not the MH. 

 

Atlin was a very neat town right on a lake, the drive not so much but at least it as paved. On our way back from Atlin our sun roof glass flew off onto the road. When we arrived back at the campground we put a trash bag and a lot of tape over the sunroof. We will get repairs made when back in Phoenix.

Llewelyn Glacier on a back road in Atlin

We ate at the only restaurant in Atlin, as usual, great food and friendly people. Everyone was talking to everyone else. Had a good time.

The next day we went to Skagway, a beautiful drive but there were 4 cruise ships in Skagway. A mob scene. Since our primary goal was to do the drive for the scenery we were happy.

The drive to Skagway was very scenic but the last 10-15 miles was all downhill with minimal flat spots. We dropped from 3800’ to sea level. Happy we were driving the car and not the MH. 

Before returning to the MH we drove to Emerald Lake. The lake is mostly limestone which accounts for the colors. We also stopped at the Carcross Desert. Yes, desert. We had noticed the ground was very sandy in the area and here was a desert in the middle of Yukon. 

 

We ate lunch in the restaurant attached to our campground. It was very good. I am always surprised by

how good the food is in these small towns. Probably some of the best we have ever had. Limited menu but so good.

Pictures from our trip to Skagway.

Train to White Pass, neat ride, we did it years ago, drive just as good

House has a great view and a very solid foundation

After Skagway we stopped at Emerald Lake and the Carcross Desert, yes desert!!

Emerald Like, limestone gives it the color