Day 4: The Deh Cho Route: Valleyview, Alta - High Level, Alta

This route connects the Alberta Highway 35 with the Mackenzie Highway. We came up Hwy 43N then turned onto 35N. When we got to the intersection we were suppose to turn left and go into Grimshaw to officially start the Mackenzie Highway, Mile 0, but, due to a brain fart, we turned right and continued on. Hence, the photo you are seeing is actually out of a magazine. aarrgg

Then the signs letting us know its a long ways to High Level, where we will spend the next 2 days golfing. Its hot as hell here, 35C which is unusual and there is a lot of smoke from the forest fires. Oh well, when we see ash falling, then we will go the opposite way from the wind. All is good.

For hours and many kms, this is what we saw. Its flat, but bright and beautiful (and smokey).

Manning, Alta: We stopped at the Visitors Info in search of the famous mighty moose statue affectionately called "Morse". The ladies playing cards at the info centre said 'the moose is a horse, wearing horns', hence the combination of moose/horse = 'Morse'

Manning was named for the 1947 Premier, Manning. This town is a service centre and jumping-off point for hunters and fishermen in the 'Land of the Mighty Moose."

Peace River: Oddly enough, this town is located on the Peace River. Actually, it looked like a pretty cool little town. Population approx. 6,700. It serves at the centre for government services in the region. Area industry: farming, pulp mill, gas and oil. We missed the statue of 'twelve foot Davis'. He was a gold miner who stuck it rich on a 12 foot wide strip of land between 2 larger claims in the Cariboo gold fields. I do remember passing his grave when we went through Donnelly.

High Level: We stayed at the Aspen Ridge Campground and without a doubt, this is probably THE best campground we have ever camped at in all our years of travel. Its very well thought out, easy access, best 'shower building' which includes a ping pong table, library, laundry mat, and great showers. Pretty impressed. We pulled in here thinking of golfing all day tomorrow, but alas, the clouds, and thunder moved in over night and it dropped from 35C to 18 with high winds, and spotted showers. It definitely blew the smoke out but there would be NO golfing. We hunkered down, read books, kicked Steve's ass in Crib and watched a movie. Definitely a 'down' day. We have our own Starlink system, our own wine, and we have no agenda. Life is good. Tomorrow, off we go ..destination, Hay River.

Coming up: The Dehcho Region or Deh Cho is one of five administrative regions in the Northwest Territories of Canada. The region consists of six communities with the regional office situated in Fort Simpson. The communities are: Fort Liard, Fort Simpson, Jean Marie River, Nahanni Butte, Sambaa K'e, and Wrigley. All communities in the Dehcho are predominantly Dehcho First Nations. Dehcho means “big river” – the Dene name for the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie begins its 1,600-kilometre journey up to the Arctic Ocean and winds along through some of the Northwest Territories’ most remarkable landscapes along the way. The foothills and spires of the Mackenzie Mountains is home to the Nahanni National Park Reserve.