The drive is going to be bumpy, loud and slow moving.

But Olympia resident Bill Gifford could care less; there's no other place he'd rather be than in the driver's seat of his 1944 GMC CCKW 2 1/2 ton vintage Army cargo truck.

"The ride is not plush by any means," Gifford said with a laugh. "They were built for endurance."

Gifford, a retired Washington National Guard first sergeant, is preparing to take his truck on a 4,200-mile journey in August to honor the 70th anniversary of the Alaska Highway. The road was originally built mostly by the U.S. Army as a supply route during World War II.

"It's going to be an adventure," Gifford said of the trek.

The retired Guardsman plans on joining up with 96 other vintage military vehicles in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, for the historic convoy, which will then travel up to Watson Lake, Yukon (the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories), before circling back.

"They're all military vehicles of one kind or another, ranging from the 1940s to the 1990s," Gifford said.

Military vehicle enthusiasts from all over the world are coming to B.C. for the drive, which is being put on by a national military vehicle collector club.

"There are tons of great World War II military vehicles driving around Europe," said Gifford, who saw many fine examples when he visited there in 2004. "(Collectors in the U.S.) just drool when they see all of them."

Gifford, who is also a member locally of the Friends of Willy and Joe living history club, has been paired on the drive with a guy from New Zealand who he has yet to meet.

While the trip is still a few months away, Gifford is working hard to get his vehicle ready. A friend of his is building a camper setup for the back of the truck so the veteran will be able to sleep in the vehicle and camp along the way.

The drive through B.C. will be one of leisure. Gifford's truck, which is equipped with a 94-horsepower inline six engine, cruises at a top speed of about 45 mph.

"They were built for off-road driving," he said. "You name it, the Army hauled it in there."

Gifford expects to spend about $5,000 on fuel, as the truck also gets around five miles per gallon. But it is worth the price considering the neat experience the trip will be, he said.

"They'll be some great camaraderie out there," Gifford said.

Photo: Washington National Guard veteran Bill Gifford stands next to his 1944 GMC CCKW 2 1/2 ton vintage Army cargo truck during an event at Joint Base Lewis-McChord last year. Gifford is preparing to take the truck on a 4,200-mile drive through British Columbia to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Alaskan Highway.