Beautiful Steward - Cassair Highway., the alternate route to Alaska.

A few small patches of road work we had to deal with.

More rain ahead, but nothing new there.

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Beautiful Driving

Time to set up camp

Sunday, May 14, by Jolene.  We woke up to 34 degrees this morning and rainy.  We had planned to cook breakfast, but decided it was too cold, so went to a Subway (only thing open with wifi and an outlet to plug in computers, phones, etc.  We got caught up on a few things there, then went to a Mennonite church (First Mennonite Church) – used to be with Mennonite Church Canada.  We thought they were with them, but just this past year they left them.  It’s a dying church – used to be 300 people in the late 80’s, and this morning maybe 30 were there.  Roger talked with several people about the history of the Mennonites in the area, and the conservative churches that were started here in the 70’s.  He thought they had folded up for the most part, but they are alive and well it appeared.  We saw several Mennonites in downtown, and Roger was upset that he didn’t stop and talk to them.  There are two churches here that are connected to the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church.  After church we left and stopped at Smithers at a McDonald’s to catch up on our blog.  We then drove through rain showers again all day, and slept at a Rest Area near Bell II.  We saw some wildlife today – the first 110 miles on the Steward – Cassair highway we saw 10 bears along the road, 9 black bears and one grizzly.  It was a good drive on the Steward – Cassair Highway that goes up to the Alaska Highway just west of Watston Lake, YT.  It’s only been paved for 8 or 9 years.  We met two Australian women that also slept at the rest area – in their car.  It was rainy again – just in and out of showers all day again.  We talked to several people in the past days about how unseasonably cold and rainy it has been this year.  It is colder and wetter than usual.  There has been flooding and some roads were closed.  There was 6 inches of snow on the Alaska Highway last week, and the road was all snow covered a few days ago where we crossed on route 16, but it was all fine when we went through – rain but fortunately no snow!  Today we drove 330 miles. 

Lunch and a break.