A note, here: We decided to drive _through_ Edmonton--as we had heard that it was "the most beautiful city in North America." Unfortunately, we hit it at night, and could only determine, for sure, that they had a really friendly McDonald's staff--[who were] tickled pink that they got to meet someone heading "all the way to Alaska." :) The place sort of reminded me of the "futuristic Los Angeles" at the beginning of "Blade Runner"--simple _THE_ _BEST_ movie of allllll time.

   But just before that, we saw something the likes of which we had never seen before or since: We were driving along, and there appeared to be _smoke_ rising from every third tree.  This went on for _miles_.  Finally, we were able to pull over into a park, and backtrack enough that we were able to get under one of these columns of "smoke."

   As it turns out, they were *BUGS*--travelling in "SCHOOLS." -It was the weirdest fricken' thing! I found that they were attracted to the bed lights, and was able to bend down one of the "columns"--until it was just out of reach.  The "tube" kept oscillating in width, but always hung together; it was something absolutely astounding to watch.

   They appeared to be mosquitoes, and I was getting bit (Come on, I mean, this _was_ Central Alberta in summertime!)--but not from any of the ones in the "school." -I'm not 100% sure just _what_ they were.  I tried to hit one of these "columns" with the truck--then to look at what was splattered--but I couldn't move the truck over quickly enough, safely, at "highway speed."

   A woman stopped, said she had seen the same phenomenon "for a couple of kilometers," but had NO IDEA what was causing it.  -And we asked a local--and he said that he had never even _heard_ of anything like that.  Anyone with any information on this, please share.  (!) :)

   The start of the Alaska Highway--in Dawson Creek, British Columbia:

   A collection of hats, on the ceiling of the only stop in Toad River, British Columbia.  -I guess "everyone needs a hobby." Norman Bates, stuffed birds. . . .

   Something is wrong with the order, here.  This one came earlier than British Columbia--I think.  I took a picture of this one, because the place had a _really_ cool name--like "Maniac," or something.  -I can't remember, now. . . .  :(

   Again, something is wrong with the order of the pictures.  This is a _REAL_ place--just north of Grand Prairie, in Alberta.  (We took a "jog north"--just to get a pic of this one.  :)

On to the final batch of pictures of the trip back.