Airstreaming to Alaska – Chapter 20: South to the Lower 48

Posted August 5, 2023 – Narrated by Jim

Our Alaska overland adventure, beginning in San Diego, had finally come to an end – but endings don’t come fast in Alaska. The adventure isn’t really over until you reach the lower 48, almost 2,000 miles away.

It’s like that time you hiked up to Half Dome and looked down into the valley from the summit and realized you were only halfway home and it was getting dark. It felt like the finish line kept moving farther and farther away. This part of the trip would be a push.

Weather predictions of snow and rough weather snapped the whip. We gave ourselves ten days. With plenty of sleep and down time, we should make it back safely.

As we turned south, the car-talk took a “Holy Cow! We did it!” turn as we logged notes about the journey, everything from the moment we made the decision to go to Alaska; the years of research, planning and prepping; the delays due to COVID and closed borders; and what we learned while there. We were grateful to be heading home, victorious.

We will miss Alaska…

but it was comforting to pass through Yukon and British Columbia again. These provinces hold their own in splendorous glacial scenery and a warm welcoming nature.

Leaving Alaska

Leaving Haines, our journey took us through British Columbia for a few miles…

then, into Yukon…

where we boondocked off the Alaska Highway in a gravel turnout near…

Haines Junction

Just in time for Happy Hour, we poured the last few splashes of a well-traveled bottle of homemade limoncello – a gift, from our friend, Trish – into the hand-carved ice glasses from Chena Hot Springs and raised a toast to Alaska.

In keeping with tradition, we dashed the glasses on the rocks to celebrate.

Teslin Rest Stop

The scenery from Haines Junction to Teslin, Yukon, is breathtaking.

As we passed through Whitehorse, Yukon, we ducked into the Burnt Toast Café , our favorite spot for a good, hearty bite.

Then, pulled into the same rest area we stayed in June, across the bridge from Teslin with a magnificent view of the lake.

We left the Alaska Highway near Watson Lake and turned south onto the Cassiar Highway.

The scenery on this highway is beautiful …

but the road was a challenge due to snow heaves and ongoing repairs.

That evening we settled in for a free night’s sleep in the parking lot of

Jade City

a settlement, well known to rock hounds. After buying a small gift for Carmen’s dad, we set out for a day of jaw-dripping views

and took an overnight pause at

Mehan Lake Rest Area

for a quiet night by the lake.

We would have been alone on the lake, but at dark we were joined by a group of hunters heading north for the opening of Elk season.

The following day, the views kept our heads turning.

That night we hit the wall on long travel days, so we stopped for two nights at the

Fort Telkwa Riverfront RV Park

Our site overlooked the beautiful Bulkley river.

One of the campground owners greeted us with sad news. A few days earlier, her husband – in his late 70’s – had died while attending to maintenance on the shoreline. Campgrounds offered “for sale” by elderly owners was a common sight – one of the reasons why full-hook-up campsites were so few and far between.

Leaving Fort Telkwa, the scenery changed dramatically as we continued deeper into British Columbia. Civilization greeted us with the blessing of harvest-time. This familiar latitude warmed our hearts and made us smile.

Prince George Walmart Parking lot

Ah, civilization! We nestled happily into the same comfortable spot at the Prince George Walmart parking lot where we stayed in May.

100 Mile House Municipal Campground

The next day we gingerly picked our way through logging country, pulling over frequently to concede the road to people with jobs. Our view was fairly consistent …

all the way to 100 Mile House.

The next day we stopped in fascinating Kamloops where we spent the night as Harvest Host guests at

Mount Paul Golf Course

There, our friends Laura and Doug greeted us. They drove almost 100 miles from their lake house. We all went out for dinner and enjoyed a tour of the city of Kamloops, where we hope to visit again.

Crowsnest Vineyards

Now, on the final stretch, we followed the Amalfi-like shoreline of beautiful Lake Okanagan.

where we had our first introduction to British Columbia’s famous Wine Country.

These picturesque mountains and lake valleys with hillside vineyards and orchards captured our attention. We could have crossed the border that day, but we had to make a Harvest Host stop at Crowsnest Vineyard in Cawston.

British Columbia Lake Country is now on our short list for Spring-Fall seasonal camping.

Fortunately Crowsnest had a table open at their world class restaurant where we enjoyed a celebratory “back to the lower 48” meal.

Now, just 14 miles to go. We used the quietest U.S. border crossing in Washington State, the Nighthawk Port of Entry in Loomis.

The U.S. customs officer grilled us for more than 30 minutes, warning of heavy fines if we did not disclose a written list of each and every item of potential contraband in the truck and trailer, “You RVers are the worst offenders,” we were told. But we had no potential contraband or food. We’d taken our licks and learned that lesson in Victoria. After a very polite (and long) discussion we were waived a hand’s on inspection and allowed back into the States. Just before we pulled away the officer congratulated us on the condition of our rig. We were the best looking outfit he’d seen coming from Alaska. “Most of ’em are wrecks, barely able to drag their axels across the border,” he said.

Well okay. If that’s a Welcome Home, we’ll take it!

Stay tuned! The last chapter in the Alaska series, Lessons Learned, will be released soon with the details of what we wish we’d known or paid more attention to before we set out.

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You can see our exact route on this map.

*photos in this post (unless otherwise noted) were taken and copyrighted by Living In Beauty.

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