Dawson Creek to Watson Lake

6/26/17


We left Dawson Creek at 8:10 a.m. (even I am impressed at our early departure).  A long driving day from Dawson Creek to Fort Nelson - about 283 miles.  It was a beautiful green drive through the thickly forested land. The Alaska Highway is literally carved out of the wilderness.  There were lots of oil and gas encampments of men and equipment, as well as lots of lumber trucks. 

Road through the wilderness

Fields of canola (which is bright yellow) bloom along the highway (this is what is made into canola oil). 


Canola fields

At about 148 miles out of Dawson Creek, we saw the area that was once called 'Suicide Hill'.  It had a sign at the entrance which said, "Prepare to meet thy maker."  Here is a picture of the original road. 

 

Suicide Hill

The road has been improved and moved since then, so there is no more 'suicide hill'.  Just saw a pair of red foxes running across the road, and I was too slow to get a picture of it.  I will have to be better prepared! 


We stopped at Shepherd's Inn for breakfast and fuel.  The bread was homemade and the eggs were perfect. Ymmm!

Arrived at Fort Nelson around 2:30.  We got set up and then walked next door to the Heritage Museum.  It was highly rated according to our Wagon master, but I didn't think much of it.  There were lots of old stuff - sewing machines, antique kitchenwares, clothing, and equipment.  Since I am not a big fan of antiques, all I saw was old,  and in many cases, rusty, junk.  Tom, however, found the garage and an old man (at least 90) who collected old cars.  They were all in running condition, and Tom really enjoyed himself.  He even found an old engine, which powered a generator, that Tom said was as big as our rig.  We went over to the Café in the front of the campground for buffet dinner, but it didn't look that enticing to us, so we went back to the RV and had our own dinner.

6/27/17


Happy Birthday to Skyla and Matt today.  Wish I could call, but we do not have any cell service yet.  We left Fort Nelson, heading to Muncho Lake.  The roads were in pretty good condition.  A few gravel patches, but mostly they were fine.  We had many steep upgrades and steep downgrades, averaging 7-8%, but a few at 10%.

8% Downgrade

  We stopped at Tetsa River Services for hot cinnamon buns - they were the BEST ever!  Also stopped for some pictures, but the skies were overcast and it rained a lot, so the pictures aren't that great.

overcast coming into Muncho Lake

Arrived at Muncho Lake RV park.  Wow - this place is gorgeous.  The water in the lake is crystal clear and surrounded by snow-topped mountains.


Looking back at the RV park from the lake  

Crystal clear water at Muncho Lake

 

Penny in Muncho Lake

Penny could hardly contain herself.  We let her go into the lake and let her swim on her own.  Nobody seemed to worry at all about it.  The tour suggested that we take our cars and drive to Liard Hot Springs for a dip in the hot water.  A few of the group did, but not many.  With rain, fog, and a lot of mosquitos, we weren't very interested, so we didn't go.  Our neighbors tried, but turned back because they said the road was in terrible condition, and the rain didn't quit. 






At 6:00, our Wagon master had a meeting.  They started out with music piped throughout the campground with lots of 50's and 60's music.  We all gathered for our Wagon master talk about the drive tomorrow, then we got to make 'Smores'.  Tom brought out our automatic marshmallow turner to impress everybody.  He got a lot of laughs.   We had a late dinner and more cards.









6/28/17


Left Lake Muncho at 8:50 this morning.  We got to sleep in a little because the drive today is so short - only 163 miles.  The Wagon master had warned us that the first 47 miles out were bad roads, so be careful and drive slowly.  He wasn't kidding....we hit all the construction and had to stop and wait for a pilot car to take us through.  We waited about 10 minutes for our turn, then went very slowly through a lot a loose gravel, dirt, and rocks.  Here is what it actually looked like. 

  

Pilot car

Dust from graveled road

The signs on the side of the road kept warning us of wildlife beside the road, but up until now, we hadn't seen any.  First, we came upon a herd of Rocky Mountain sheep.


Daddy of the Rocky Mountain sheep

Herd of Rocky Mountain sheep

 

The daddy of the group broke off and crossed the road to go his own way.  The rest of his family was left on the right side of the road.  Next, we saw bison on the road.

Bison beside the road

The lady back at the Heritage Museum told us that the bison would definitely be on the road in this area, and that Fred was always there (he is the alpha male).  And there he was, Fred came across the road and I got a great picture.


This is Fred

  Finally, I spotted my first black bear, lazily eating grass on the side of the road.

First Bear spotted

Here we crossed the Liard Bridge over Liard River (a suspension bridge). 


 

Liard Suspension Bridge

Liard River

Down the road we saw a moose and her baby, and more black bears.

Moose and her baby

more black bears beside the road

 

One buffalo didn't seem to mind us at all.  He was sunning himself and having a lazy day. 

A buffalo sunning himself

 We just hit the border of the Yukon Territory.   

Welcome to Yukon

 
Here is Lucky, sleeping on the dash (nothing seems to bother him).

Lucky sleeping on the dash

We arrived in Watson  Lake early (ahead of the Wagon master).  We stacked up on the streets, waiting for Chris, our Wagon master to arrive and check us in.  This is a dirt, side-by-side, parking lot with no trees, and no grass - - dirt UGLY.  But, it does have good internet service, so I can get the blog out tonight. 






At 4:00, we met up at the Wagon masters' RV for a walk to the Sign Post Forest, a tourist attraction here in Watson Lake.

Sign Post Forest

People come from all over the world to hang their sign in Watson Lake.  It stays there as long as it continues to hang on the post.  Here is our sign for this caravan.


Our sign for this caravan

If you can blow it up on your computer, you might "Tom and Linda Harris #17-CA" at about 2:00 position.  Here is a very funny sign, put up by Martinez, who "broke down in Watson Lake in 2015".  He added his broken alternator to the sign. 

Martinez sign

And here is a big picture of one part of the whole sign forest.

One side of the Sign Forest

We walked back to the coach and rested for a bit.  Then our tour leaders served up grilled hot dogs at a cookout, along with potato salad and beans.  It was really good.  Then, at 7:00 we all walked back past the Sign Post Forest and across the street to the Northern Lights Center for a documentary movie on a curved ceiling.  It was really good.  We then walked back to the RV.  We were both pooped!  To much walking for one day.  I finished up on this blog, we both got showers and hit the sack.  Tomorrow is another day, and we head to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.