Monday Aug 20th Heading Home Fast

Starting about 80 short of Creston along hwy 3 into Fernie BC ski resort fuel up at $1.20 the lowest in BC  and given the spare ensure that I avoid buying fuel in Alberta.  Fire zone once again, although on the mountain side there does not seem any local effort to put it out. Onto Crowsnest pass which I though was a much harder climb, it seemed to go by pretty easy.  On the Alberta side it has become a whole resort area.  After this pass the mountains are behind me, low rolling hills.


Hwy 3 links up with the Trans-Canada at Medicine Hat and I continue on the Trans-Canada until Wayburn turning onto Hwy 39 south east.  Highway 39 is a road that is your alignment is perfect you could like go to sleep for an hour or two and still be on the right ride of the road. At it widest from the Trans-Canada is drifts 98km south but it links into hwy 18 and that end in the south east end of the circle road around Winnipeg.  Allowing me to avoid the traffic nightmare of both cities. Finishing today's drive about 80km east of Kenora.   The last time I drove highway 18 the oil boom was in full force, hoppers everywhere pumping fast, small farm towns extremely busy with pick-up trucks and local bar advertised drinks at $18 on a large sign outside. Today quiet the housing development offering lots for 50% off and the bar scene nothing. Many hoppers were either shut or pumping slowly.  What a difference 2 years makes.

Big driving day today 1997km a new personal longest 1 day drive.