Next Stop...Watson Lake

May 30, 2014

As we approached this day's journey, I couldn't wait to get to Watson Lake.  I guess, because I have heard so much about it.  Our trip was only 120 miles, so I didn't have to wait long.  But, oh, the things we saw before we arrived in Watson Lake.

There were

buffalo and

momma bear and her cub, and

a fox out for breakfast!

Even though we were only going 120 miles, we still made our

stops along the way.  Thank goodness for those long pullouts.

And, finally, one more milestone...we crossed into

Yukon Territories and made it to Watson Lake.

We headed straight to the business of the day, and the reason for stopping in Watson Lake...the

Famous Sign Post Forest.  This was the stop I was waiting for, and it truly is a forest.

We wandered up

and down and in and out row after row of signs that have been placed here over the years.  The first sign was placed here by Carl K. Lindley of Danville, IL, a U,S. Army Solider, working on the construction of the Alaska Highway in 1942.  Visitors today are still adding signs which now number over 72,000.

Be careful Mark...

don't get lost!

We found the perfect post to hang

our sign, and were glad to help

keep the tradition going!

Mark and I found a sign from our

hometown.  We added our name to it as well.

It is also said, that while you travel the Alaska Highway, you will probably meet up with others you know that are also traveling to Alaska.  And, today, we found that to be true.

First, we saw

Chuck and Kathy...then came

Mark...with another sign for the forest.  Dennis, Carol, and a whole group called the Loosy Goosey's were there for the

hanging of their sign.

  Now that all the signs were officially hung with care, it was time to get settled in the big town of Watson Lake...population 1,563.

We stayed at the

Downtown RV Park...it was downtown and was nothing more than a big parking lot.  However, it was a good overnight spot with a place to do laundry and Wi-Fi...nothing like catching up with the outside world after several days of being off the grid.

After dinner Bob, Molly, Mark and I took a drive up Highway 4 to find the lake, when we were sidetracked by this guy

out for his evening walk.  We watched him for a good while...of course,

he was watching us too!

After a while, we thought we might scout out an new campground...

Molly and I decided it wasn't down this road...hey guys, time to turn around!

Meanwhile, back at the Downtown RV Park where

the day is winding down... it is 9:00 p.m. and way to light to think about sleeping.  However, tomorrow is a travel day...so, we pull down those blinds and close our eyes on another day in the Yukon.

Jasper to Liard River Hot Springs...

May 27, 2014

Too soon we found ourselves

heading out of Jasper National Park.  I will return...

what beautiful country!

Today's travel destination would take us just 250 miles up the road to Grand Prairie.  The day started off cool and

cloudy.

We were able to catch sight of some 

wildlife before the

 

sky darkened and the

 

rains came.

By the time we arrived in Grande Prairie, the only thing on Mark's mind was

finding a truck wash for the motor home and

 

jeep!

Bob wasn't

 

far behind.

Thank goodness we found that truck wash!  With clean vehicles, it was time to pick out our site at Camp Wal-Mart.  Of, course, this is the most expensive free campground around!  And, yes, we did pick up a few things we thought we really needed.

Lunch at Five Guys and a leisure afternoon rounded out the rest of this travel day.

May 28, 2014

On Wednesday, we were up and ready to pull out by 7:00 a.m.  Today's travel plan would put us on the

right track.  Not far up the road we made our way into

 

British Columbia.

We stopped along the way for  Mark and Wanda to

pass out  morning snacks.  I think they have a new friend.

Time to get back on the road...places to go!  Next stop

  

Dawson Creek...Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway!

We also made stops at the Historic

Kiskatinaw River Bridge.  This 531 food structure is the only original timber bridge built along the Alaska Highway that is still in use today.

A pretty amazing

job of engineering this curved wooden bridge!

I guess those morning snacks didn't last too long, because by Mile 72, we were stopping at

The Shepherd's Inn for lunch and a nice break.

Once we were back on the road, we enjoyed a nice afternoon of travel...we saw

workers sweeping the highway...cleaning up the gravel from the winter and

several

bears playing along the road.  And, lots of signs

to beware of of wildlife...however, other than the bears, these two

took the prize!  I was moaning because I haven't yet seen a moose!

We found a great

pull out just outside of Fort Nelson.  We decided to own it for the night!  We put out our lawn chairs and

set up camp.

Thanks Bill

for cooking the hotdogs!

Another great finish to a great travel day!

May 29, 2014

This getting up by 5:30 in the morning and being ready to leave before 7 is getting to be a habit.  Today's journey took us straight into Fort Nelson...we all needed fuel.  This was our $$$ fuel stop so far at $6.00 a gallon.  But, what was ahead of us, made the pain at the pump go away!

From Fort Nelson, we traveled into the Northern Rockies and as we were enjoying the beauty of the

 

mountains, we rounded the corner and headed down the hill to

Muncho Lake!  There are no words to describe the sight we saw.  The reflections

 

were awesome!

And, just when we thought the day could get no better...

Our day's end and

 

campground came into sight...Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park. Our $24 for the night got us no water, no electricity, no sewer...but, it did get us a nice spot to park and a

dip in the 100 degree river turned hot tub!  It was so wonderful, we went back after

dinner!

And, yet another amazing day for the books!

On To Jasper National Park

Tuesday, May 26, 2014...

It was still

rainy this morning.  And,it was cold enough that

I had to pull out the winter hat that my friend Sue, from Minnesota, let me borrow.  Thanks Sue, it sure felt good today!

As every other day, the gang was up early and ready to get on the road.  We traveled from Lake Louise on 93N...destination, Jasper National Park.  And, Oh, the things, we saw!

Thank goodness on this late in May day, the winter travel conditions were showing

Good, because, we saw

yet another frozen lake and

lots of snow covered mountains.

I wish we could have seen the

them hiding behind the fog and clouds.

This stop...at still another frozen lake and glacier

prompted a

little fun in the snow...do I see a snowball fight in the making?

Here, I met a

Raven that tried to hitch a ride north.

Back on the road, the mountains became

more majestic...just breath taking.

Soon, we were at the

Visitors Center for

The Columbia Ice Field.  Can you find the bus that takes you on the glacier?

More mountains

 

and snow, and

magnificent waterfalls made up the morning.  And...

We weren't the only ones

out today enjoying the views.  This guy stopped traffic in both directions.  This was taken right out the front window of the motor home as we waited for him to get across the road.  Yes, pedestrians do have the right away!

From here is was on to

Whistlers Campground in Jasper National Park...this is the second night in the park system.

As the routine goes...once we were settled in, it was time to hit the local streets.  Today, in the little town of Jasper, we found

lunch of burgers, fries, and

salad.  Yummy!

With full tummies, it was off to do a little walking,

shopping and

hanging out with the local bear in town!  And, he gave us a little tip about where we could take an evening outing...and

find the real thing!

In addition, we saw

a deer, who by the way, was watching the bear as well!

Today was another great day...from the snow covered mountains to the Canadian wildlife, we just wonder...how can tomorrow be better than today!