Miles and miles to go before I we sleep....

A couple of days after we got here we actually got back in the truck and headed north to see some friends. My parents live on Mile 171 of the Alaska Highway and we made it all the way up to Mile 496.  Here's a map to give you an idea of the miles Coop & I have traveled.

So we hit the road bright and early in the morning to drive 5 or so hours. Coop is such a great traveler! We had to stop and wait for a little while for construction so we had a little bathroom break and some fruit snacks.

The drive is absolutely beautiful....you see wildlife like crazy. In fact for about a mile stretch there are Stones Sheep everywhere! They rule the road here!

Later that afternoon we arrived in the big city of Toad River, BC (population 60) for a wedding of one of my parents good friends daughter. It took place at their ranch and it was beautiful.

Pops kept Coop under control

They played peak-a-boo during the ceremony

Pretty proud grandparents showing off "The Coop"

Proud Mama too!

That evening we headed farther up the highway to Liard River to visit this sweet little girl...Cali Schippmann

We spent the night with my parents good friends Chris & Thor Schippman and their sweet daughter Cali. The kids had so much fun together. Cali loves my parents as if they were her grandparents and they love her just the same. She is a year older than Cooper but she let him jump right in and play with her. She even shared her play house with him.

The Schippmann's have a mining crew staying at their place so there was a helicopter there. I think Cooper fell in love....with Cali and the helipcopter. I tried to get a picture of the two of them but they both kept staring at the chopper starting up

Chris found my dad a FREE dump truck so they headed off to load it up and us lafy folk took the kiddos to the Laird River Hot Springs which are just up the highway from their house.

It was a long walk to the pools but Cali & Coop just latched right unto one of Gran's hands and headed that way. The Schippman's come here several times a week so Cali could show us the way. The kiddos figured they better help carry the noodle. Talk about great teamwork.

All "suited" up

Cooper LOVED it. He didn't want to get out. You would not believe how warm the water is. In the picture below we are in the cool end of the pools and it felt like a nice hot tub. I walked up to the REALLY hot end and I could hardly stand how hot it was. Mother Nature really is amazing!

We swam for a good hour or so and hen hit the road to meet the guys so we could head home. They were waiting for us at Muncho Lake. Check out how blue the water is.

We pulled up to meet them and there set the "new", free dump truck....I named him "Bud"

Isn't he cute?

After a quick hug from the Schippmann's....

we were headed home back to the Sikanni! It was a great road trip but after about 1000 miles in the car in 48 hours we were ready to get back!