May 20 - being tourists in Fort Nelson

Today was a kick back day.  We were in a quandary as the weather is supposed to take a turn for the worse tonight around midnight.  There are a couple of possible problem places on our way to Muncho Lake.  So we either had to drive without seeing this town or take our chances.  We decided to take our chances.  They have good websites on the traffic conditions and so far

Today good traveling is still predicted.  This morning they were only predicting 1.5" to 3" of snow.  Our first stop was to pay for another night. 

Triple "G" Hideaway RV Park, note door handles are rifles.

So for our day of relaxation, we started off on the bicycle.  We didn't get very far as the Fort Nelson Heritage Museum was close by, and we made it our first stop.  It was a great place.  We spent hours there. 


A guy in blue overalls takes an interest in the tandem as we come in and chats with us.  Turns out he was Marl Brown, a primary mover and shaker in getting the museum and historical society going.   Most of the cars on display are his; he continues to work there.  We took an interest in a bicycle he had...unique because it was made with two steering forks.  Front and Rear steering.
 
 Marl encouraged David to try the bike.

It didn't go well, but I think a lot of it was the hard plastic bottoms and cleats on his shoes.   He didn't have any "stick" on the pedals.  So Marl takes off to show him out to do it.

and NO, he did not fall.  I didn't ask how old he is, but I'm thinking he is in his 70' or 80's at a minimum.

 Marl started out as a mechanic on the Alaskan Highway.  In 1982, at a Fort Nelson Historical Society event, the organizer started an auction for Marl Brown's beard.   They raised $10k

Most of the cars (and there were lots) are owned by Marl Brown.

This canoe was built in 1977 from one piece of spruce bark.  The photos underneath show the construction process.

This engine was used to generate electricity.  There are five like this still in use as back-ups.  The huge generator and tailpipe are for this engine.  The yellow circle to the left is the fly-wheel.  That is David peering down a cylinder bore.

Lots of cars...

More bikes.  This one was special because it had wooden wheels.

I never heard of a Cockshutt tractor before.

They didn't have any history on this piece, but it looked like the cemetery organ that Di had stolen from her car.

They had one cabin on the history of telecommunications.  These reminded me of when Janet was a telephone operator.

 After spending so much time in the museum, we headed "cross country" back to the RV park.  The idea was to avoid the highway, but you know about the best laid plans.  The front tire hit something soft that grabbed the tire and tossed us over.  We put on quite a show for a group of people waiting to dump their RV tanks, I'm sure.  David is going to have some boo-boos to kiss tonight.  Fortunately, nothing broken and nothing bleeding.  We just got up and rode on.  But after lunch we walked the town instead of riding.

 One thing we first saw in Dawson Creek was the Greyhound buses with trailers.  We saw this one today, so thought we'd share something we felt was somewhat unusual.  The way they pulled in at the Dawson Creek Greyhound station, they had to back out.  That seemed like a recipe for disaster to me, but apparently it works for them. 

Canada is such a LARGE country.  We have been here a week and still have not gotten through the first province.  In a couple of days, we should be through British Columbia and entering the Yukon Territory.  Top of the World Highway is still not open.  We are going to have to make a decision in a few days if we are going to cross Dawson City and that route off our list or to completely revise our plans and reverse some of the order.  We haven't been able to get any info as to if there is any possibility of the highway to open up in a week or two.  At the visitor center today, we were told to check at the visitor center in Watson Lake.  They are in Yukon Territory and we are told would have more info.