WATSON LAKE, YUKON

We're still not in Alaska but we're getting closer.  We have seen some wild life and that makes everyone happy.  One of the stops along the way is Watson Lake.  While the GIs were building the Alcan Highway, one of them hung a sign from the town he was from.  Well, a tradition was started.  Far be it for us to stray from traditon, so Ken made a sign and we had all the guests sign it so it now has a place of honor among the signpost forest.

TAILGUNNER KEN AND ASSISTANTS CHUCK AND DOUG REPAIRING THE SIGN

US

FORT NELSON AND LIARD HOT SPRINGS, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Our drive from Fort Nelson (an overnight stop)which is home to The Heritage Museum and then  to the Liard River and Liard Hot Springs was about 200 miles but it was an easy drive with beautiful scenery and lots of wild life.  We stopped for lunch at the Northern Rockies Lodge overlooking Muncho Lake in BC and it brought back memories of our first trip up here in 2004.  Muncho Lake is where we met 3 couples from Florida who are now our good friends and fellow members of Sassy Sams - our Good Sam chapter. It is because of them that we have such a great time and keep busy in the winter in Florida.  Taking a dip in the hot springs at the end of the travel day was very relaxing.

JUST ALONG THE WAY

STONE SHEEP

LIARD  HOT SPRINGS

ALASKA HIGHWAY, MILEPOST ONE, DAWSON CREEK BRITISH COLUMBIA

Our next stop was Dawson Creek, BC.  This is where it gets confusing because, although it is the start of the Alaska Highway, we don't get to Alaska for another 1200+ miles.  For those of you who don't know, the Alaska Highway was built in about 10 months, mostly by American GIs in 1942 after we entered WWII.  It was built to get troops and supplies to Alaska.  Tradition has it that everyone gets their picture taken at "Milepost 0" so that is what the group did.  While in Dawson Creek we also visited a game farm and had a dinner prepared by the owners.  The dinner was excellent and consisted of sweet and sour wild boar, elk steak in gravy and bison chili as well as several salads and some really great desserts.  After dinner we walked around the farm (in mud) to see the animals.  We were told that the area has had the rainiest spring and summer in about 100 years. 

THE GROUP

US, FRED AND  MARIE

NAN IN FRONT OF MILE POST ZERO

BEN AND JAN INFRONT OF THE ORIGINAL 0 MILEPOST

CANOLA FIELD

HOTEL ALASKA

SAW THIS GUY ON THE SIE OF THE ROAD BEFORE WE GOT TO DAWSON CREEK

WAITING FOR THE BUS TO THE GAME FARM

THE BELOW PICTURES ARE ALL FROM THE GAME FARM

REINDEER

ELK

FEMALE ELK

MUSKOX