Aug 15, 2012 - Back on the Alaska Highway!

Wednesday, August 15 Got up and packed up, then spent the morning at the Yukon Beringia Museum, which was very good. Finally got on the road about noon. We stopped for ice cream in Teslin, then in Watson Lake we got gas, and checked in at the Visitor Center for info on campgrounds and the next stretch of highway. At the Watson Lake Visitor Center, there is a huge "Sign Post Forest," with signs people have put up listing their home towns. It was started by a soldier working on the highway during WWII. They told us to expect lots of...

Jul 31, 2012 - Day 71 Watson Lake to Liard Hot Springs

Day 71: Watson Lake to Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park. Today we logged 129 miles with partly sunny skies and temps in the low 70's. Three miles outside of Watson Lake we saw a cougar cross the highway in front of us! That was all the wildlife we saw until we saw the herd of bison shortly before we reached Liard Hot Springs. This campground is dry, no electric or water, and yet by 8pm they were full! They actually have an overflow area close by where people can camp and wait for a site to open up. Liard is so popular because with a...

Aug 3, 2011 - Haines and Skagway

Aug 1, 2011 Monday was an exciting day along the Alaska Highway. Just before we left this morning, Gene went out and made some photos of what is left of an abandoned lodge which offered food, gas, and souvenirs to travelers from 1976 to 1989. We spent the night in front of what used to be the gas pumps. The only building left standing is the small “office” for the service station. Everything else has fallen down. We’ve seen so many businesses which are closed along the highway that I wouldn’t be surprised if, in 20 or 30 years, we found...

Jul 18, 2011 - Fort Nelson to Liard Springs

Our day again started with rain and fog but not long down the road there was a rainbow and the sun was on its way. As you can see from the pictures we saw lots of beautiful animals and scenery today. We decided to stay at the Provincial Park at Liard Hot Springs. We didn't have hook-ups but the park was beautiful and very well maintained. We had a nice walk to the springs and a good soak. Janette prepared dinner and it was great....

Jul 11, 2011 - Liard River Hotsprings, BC

We made the short drive north to stay at the Liard River Hot Springs Provisional Park since we've heard this is a must stop. On the drive there we spotted our most wildlife yet: stone sheep; mountain goats; black bears. After getting the RV set up, we walked out to view the hot springs and decided we'd wait until later on, and maybe after it cooled down, to take a soak. These were advertised as two sets of pools, the lower being the alpha pools and further up, the beta pools. Only the beta pools were closed off with a sign showing...

Jun 17, 2011 - Laird Hot Springs

We drove 164 miles to Laird Hot Springs. We had heard this was a 'must' stop. The 164 miles was all about the drive with the terrain changing constantly. There is again lots of different terrain, forest, stone mountains and lakes. We stopped at one of the lodges for a treat. (check the pictures). We have been camping with a caravan of 10 Motorhomes. They are all Trek homes, which is no longer in business. We feel like part of the group. That's the thing with traveling this highway. Most everyone has the same destination in mind. You don't...

Jun 13, 2011 - June 11: Day 8-316 miles: Liard Hot Springs

Johnny wakes up at 4:30AM (he is still on Eastern daylight savings time which is 7:30AM). It is daylight. Johnny talks to our neighbor who told us we had won the daily lottery and he gives us $25. So, we got a free night of camping! We enjoyed camping here and would come again. 34 degrees. We hit the road and see mountains on our left. It starts out as a pretty day. We are in the Canadian Rockies and the weather changes to cloudy and sprinkling. The road is good. The shoulders are very wide and grass has been cut. You need lots of space to...

Jun 6, 2011 - Liard River Hot Springs Part 2

Muncho Lake, although raining, was especially lovely. The highway hugged the shoreline of the lake. We decided to do that which we have never done -- dry camp. We very much want to stay in the provincial parks, and they have no amenities. We were very pleased with this park. It was lovely and by far the best site we have had. Most of the sites would be easy for parking. We were thankful that they were not full. We did visit the hot springs, but we only put our feet in. We thought we would return in the early morning. How was dry camping?...

Jun 6, 2011 - Driving to Liard River Hotsprings Part 1

The warm day began with mixed skies. We were on the road by 10 am. Ft. Nelson is considered the gateway to the Northern Rockies. This drive did prove to live up to its reputation of being beautiful. I will hold judgment as to whether or not it's the most beautiful. It was filled with many breath taking views and numerous stops. Much to our dismay, it did begin to rain. Photography of such gorgeous landscape is difficult when it's pouring rain and the clouds are so dark and gray. We stopped for a cinnamon bun at Tetsa River Lodge. The...

May 27, 2011 - Mountains and Rivers

May 25, 2011 As we traveled west today the scenery changed from the rolling hills of timber to the mountains of the Central Canadian Rockies. Along with the mountains came the rivers. This was a 200+ mile day and it seemed to take forever. We tried to get an early start, but also wanted to maximize our time with the internet. Reluctantly shutting down our computers, we finally pulled away from the campground about 8:30. By the time we got gas it was real close to 9 o’clock. About 9:30, Gene remembered he hadn’t made a couple phone calls...

May 17, 2011 - Liard Hot Springs

Another cool morning as we left Fort Nelson. Big disappointment was that the cable TV at the park wasn't working. Oh well, CBC came in strong and clear with the aerial. On the road for a couple of hours and Marilyn forced me to stop at Tetsa River Lodge for cinnamon buns and bread. Best cinnamon bun we have ever had and huge-see picture. Had a great chat with the owner. He told us how it had been a mild winter (only -45 C with 6-8 feet of snow). They were just getting organized for the tourist season. We are obviously in the first wave (a...

Jul 20, 2010 - Liard Hot Springs, BC

Today Thumper didn’t come by until 7:00 AM. We only had a short drive, so Chuck said we could sleep in. Before we left the RV Park I filled the fresh water tank about half full. Tonight we dry camp and won’t have water or electric available. Our first stop was at mile 70.4. This place was favored for their warm, sticky, cinnamon buns. Since we both love sweets, we decided we had better forgo the buns and we bought a loaf of homemade bread instead. A lot of the RVs were filling up with gas or diesel, but we had plenty enough to make the...