1,000 Reasons

There were 1,000 reason not to take this trip but one good reason to go - Pappy.

We have been on a 10 day vacation to travel the Alcan Highway in Canada. Pappy helped to build the Alcan Highway during WWII as part of the 341st Engineer Battalion. He operated mostly a DC-8 CAT that cleared the trees out of the way. In honor of Pappy's upcoming 90th birthday, we decided to travel the part he help build- Fort St John to Fort Nelson.

Pappy on a Cat 1942

This multi generation trip was a huge undertaking a 10 day trip with four adults and two children that would take us up through Britsh Columbia, Canada and through the towns of Prince George, Chetwynd, Dawson Creek, Fort St John, Fort Nelson, Liard Hot Springs and all the way back to Prince George by car. We figured we traveled roughly about 1/3 of the Alcan Highway.

Pappy 2010 beside a CAT that was similar to one he used in 1942 at Fort Nelson Heritage Museum

It was a genuine opportunity to get know history of this time period with someone who had been there. How cool was it for someone to tell us that he was there when a explosion leveled 1 city block minus 1 building in Dawson Creek. A rock rolled right by him. Or that he missed the makeshift boat that sank on Charlie Lake because he was late. I think we all are all thankful for that. Or how he buried his CAT but was able to escape in the nick of time. I learned so much about this time period and my kids really soaked it up too.