Our seats in the coach were only a few metres from the washrooms and a local woman came walking back to her seat across the aisle from us and casually mentioned there was someone passed out in the washroom. I immediately offered that the conductor was in the dining car and she should get him. The local woman was very nonchalant about it and commented, “We hate it when this happens” leading me to believe it happens with alarming frequency and her to wish she hadn’t said it that way. Another woman checked the washroom again and reported the comatose woman was still there and we shouldn’t worry about it, “She’ll wake up”. I would have expected a little more concern and an attempt to help the woman. It really is a different world here…and these ladies were not helping the perceived stereotype some have of our indigenous people.

As we left, I had to stop as a bird walked so painfully slow across the road. I shut the engine off because I knew this was going to take some time. I finally got fed up and started the engine. That bird ran like there was no tomorrow. I have a friend who would know instantly what this was. My guess was a ptarmigan or some sort of grouse. We were close enough to Saskatchewan at this point so let's just call it a prairie chicken.

I loved Corner Gas and still do so even though the main gas station/diner set was disassembled years ago their site is marked by a colourful sign right across the road from the grain elevator which still (in 2019) proudly bears the name Dog River. Sadly, it burned to the ground in November 2021.

Many of the buildings on the show were not sets. The structures are recognizable and maintain the names from Corner Gas with plaques crediting their Dog River personas. Nevertheless, it felt good to be in Dog River.

I asked what it was like at the divide. As we talked he kept looking at our tires. We asked if he thought this car would make it. Again, he smiled and said it depended on our confidence level and added you might need to change a tire or two. I feel it important to mention he was driving a full-size four wheel drive SUV, filled with camping equipment and about 25 gallons of gasoline in several jerry cans strapped to the back of his vehicle.

We were also informed that entry to and departure from Alaska was a little unusual. You can enter freely, no checks, searches or anything but returning to Canada was subject to the standard border crossing ordeal. Leaving was humourous to me. Asked the standard questions of how long were you there, where did you go, what did you do...the officer had a plain, direct view of the entire town and everybody in it so it took near superhuman effort from me not to blurt out, “C’mon now, you could see me the whole time!”.

Even though they're bird brains these birds are not stupid. They know they will be rewarded with food and gentle handling if they do what comes natural to them – fly. The young woman conducting the demonstration was fantastic; so well-spoken, knowledgeable and professional. She also had a great sense of humour cautioning, if you think the predator might fly into you, it might fly into you – so you'd better duck. She added that we should duck forward not backward as we’d fall off our benches if we did so.