Watson Lake

A nights stop in Watson Lake.  During WWII and the building of the Alaskan highway, to protect Alaska from the Japanese attacking its borders, the GI's based in Watson Lake got homesick.  So they put up a sign post with their hometown and how many miles away it was.  Just for fun and to have a way of thinking about home.  Now, almost 75 years later, there are over 80,000 signs in the Sign Forest.  Anything from peoples governmental roadside city population signs to trash can lids to wooden signs and even a few toilet seats.  We found an old car license blank and put our information on it to post.  The Northern Lights theatre puts on a good show and information about the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis.  Too bad it's best seen in the winter, as it is on my bucket list.  Too many hours of daylight in the summer to get dark enough. But it makes for great 2am dog walking when I forget to close the bedroom door to block out the light.  Not much else in Watson Lake but a nice stop over.  Of course, we had to make our own sign to post on the famous wall.

The scenery along the next part of the drive to Whitehorse was beautiful.  If not for the large number of bugs that gave their life on my windshield, the pictures would have turned out better.  Curvy roads with their share of pot holes and washboard sections.  Muncho lake was beautiful.  Wish we could have stopped and kayaked, but we wanted to get to Whitehorse before it rained.

On The Alaskan Highway

 Finally starting down the Alaskan Highway.  There are many stops and interesting places along the way.  Even with my 3 years of planning and learning about our trip it never really hit how much time we would spend in Canada.  "We were going to Alaska!!"  More like "We are going to Canada, with a run through Alaska."  Or at least that's how it is feeling with a few weeks behind us and many more ahead. Roads are paved in many areas and where they are trying to fix or patch, just gravel.  They try to mark the bad spots with road signs. Our short stop in Fort Nelson was a beautiful drive and an interesting stop at the local museum.  The  owner/curator was a long white bearded senior gentleman that has a wonderful knack of re-inventing things into new uses, and a great collection of antique vehicles and items on display.  My favorites were the garden items. Old bathroom sink attached to an outside wall with dirt and flowers in it. Wash machine drum with dirt and flowers in it. Old drilling pipeline with old chair back attached for a bench like seating area.  Gives me good ideas!  Short 2 hour stop but off we go. There were signs posted along the side of the road for bad pavement areas, or sometimes orange flags - but great to have the heads up.
 

Spent the night in a pull off on top of a mountain pass.  Huge areas for pull offs and there were 2 other motor homes already there, so figured this must be a good spot.  Beautiful views, until the clouds moved in and stayed.  Quite a few semi's came in but they didn't run their generators all night so made sleeping easy.  Up and off in the morning by 8am after Randy wipes down all the vehicles from the dew. A quick stop at Toad River Lodge to see that thousands of caps stapled to the ceiling and many along the walls.  Small 6 table restaurant with a tiny gift shop.  Took a few pictures and on our way (Well we had to nab a Cinnamon roll too for Randy's breakfast). 

Liard Hot Springs - Pulled into the huge parking lot (which was empty) across the road from the springs.  Many vehicles pulled into the springs but we weren't sure we would find parking large enough.  Found out there is room, if not a busy day with caravans or tour buses.  So we had about 1/2 mile walk or less to the springs.  Wonderful boardwalk over the wetlands and there is this very modern building with bathrooms and changing rooms.  Steps down to the river.  We learned quickly to start in the river way left, as the water is "cooler" 100-102 degrees and work our way to the main area 107-110 degrees.  We didn't spend much time in the main area, too hot for us.  When we had a hot tub 101 degrees was our setting and too hot for Randy at times.  Beautiful clear water and surroundings.  There is upper spring's area to soak but they had it closed off due to bears.  Makes for a great visual:  Family of bears on "holiday" just woke up and walked miles to the berry patch.  Oh says Mama Bear, a bath.  Papa bear says, great place to rest my tired feet and back.  Baby bear says, Cannonball !!!  Probably not, but it's what my brain thought.  Quick lunch in the parking lot, and off we go to put on some more miles today.

Dawson Creek - Mile 0

 Dawson Creek and Mile 0 (Zero) of the Alaskan Hwy.  Only 780 miles into Canada and 1398 miles to reach Alaska.  We learned the history of the highway and how it got built in 1942. The Alaskan dog sled team that took 6 months to travel from Alaska to the World's Fair in Chicago 1933 and another 3 months to make it to Washington DC to get his Congressman to get the highway built.  But it took a War (WWII) and the threat of Japanese in the Aleutian Islands off Alaska's coast, to get it build.  Dawson Creek went from population 600 to 10,000 in a few days.  The U.S. Army 11,000 troops, started and needed civilians to help - the job posting stated, "Men hired for this job will be required to work and live under the most extreme conditions imaginable.  Temperatures will range from 90 degrees above zero to 70 degrees below zero. Men will have to fight swamps, rivers, ice, and cold.  Mosquitoes, flies and gnats will not only be annoying but will cause bodily harm. If you are not prepared to work under these and similar conditions, do not apply."  Amazingly many applied, 16,000 hired.  The initial road was completed in a little over 8 months.

We walked and drove over the Kiskatinaw Bridge.  A historic curved wooden bridge built in 1942 on the original Alaskan Highway and the only original timber bridge still in use.  Great marvel of engineering and almost 75 years old.

Of course, everyone stops to get their picture in front of the Mile marker, but we had to get our picture taken in front of the tourist marker and then the Real Marker - requires running into the middle of the intersection between green/red lights. There are museums and a great pioneer village in town to visit.

We drove 60 miles to the city of Chetwynd for their chainsaw carvings.  Unfortunately, they just had their International Championship Chainsaw Carving contest 2 days earlier.  They keep all the top 12 carvings on display throughout the town all year round, approx 130 carvings.  Beautiful talented people from all over Canada, US, and Japan competed this year and many annually. 

Many RVers in town, many heading north to Alaska - hoping we get to know a few and can meet up the road and swap ideas and traveling.  While there is only 4 hours of "night" which actually looks like dusk.  I purchased numerous sheets of black poster board to cover all the bedroom windows.  Gator waking up at 4am and ready to roll has got to stop.  So this worked!!!

Jasper National Park and Columbian Icefields

So we left Banff and headed north to Jasper.  A much quieter and laid back city then Banff.  Stayed at Whistlers Campgroud - an Alberta Canada "state park" type campground.  Beautiful.  We stopped on the way to see the Columbian Icefields and Athebasca Glacier.  One is the layer of ice on top of the ground, the other is the flowing river of ice underneath.  But I don't remember which is which?  Took the SnowCoach onto the glacier.  Really a neat, upclose view of lots of ice and snow.  Actually, it started to snow as we left the base.  June + snow, just doesn't seem right!  They had piles and piles of rocks off to the sides, we thought maybe they were piling it up for some landscaping or changes. Learned that the glacier actually moves the under gravel every year and it moved it into piles, not humans.  Also took a walk on the Glass Overlook.  It was that first step that took me forever.  Not a fan of heights.  Randy walked right out!  Awesome views, but still snowing so the clouds are actually snowfall.

At our campground in Jasper they warned us that there were Elk in the campground protecting their calves from the grizzlies that are hunting them.  And by the way, the grizzlies have been seen in the campground too.  GREAT!    Sure enough, Elk walking through the sites with their calves daily.  Randy was taking pics of them and soon realized that 3 had surrounded him.  He slowly backed out of the "group" and came back tot he car.  I had thoughts rushing through of honking the horn, reving the engine, or backing into the elk, if they tried anything.  That and trying to keep Gator from barking at them.  He seemed to behave, must have known they were a bit bigger than him.   On the way back to the campground from a day of sight seeing, we saw the grizzly.  Not the hugest but big guy anyway!

Beautiful drive through the area and lots of lakes, canyons, waterfalls, and rivers.  Seems to be a major "holiday" spot for the Eastern and Western Canadians.  We call it vacation, they call it "holiday".  Every language you could think of is being spoken around us, and I don't speak a one.  Well, English but even with that people question where we are from with our "accent"?  Yes, we speak MidWest.  

This was a bridge over the freeway, fenced, so wildlife can cross the freeway without getting hit.  Ingenious idea.  Didn't see anything crossing at the time.

Banff National Park/Lake Louise

Mon, June 8 - Rally over and off to Banff we go.  Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court campground.  Sounds bad but no mobile homes just a nice campground with huge pull through sites.  Electric/water/sewer. Trees interfered with Randy's satellite so only 2 local stations viewable.  Sites in 100 row could get signal, but I convinced Randy we would be gone most days and we could "rough it".  No Wi-Fi at campground so we would make the daily trek into town (3miles) to sit outside the Visitor Center for free Wi-Fi, that or inside a tiny version of McDonald's for free Wi-Fi. I had to finish up my teaching course for Ohio Univ so checked email daily for student questions and grading. 

Tues, June 9 - Drove the hour plus to Lake Louise.  As many suggested we took Hwy 1A (scenic old road) versus Hwy 1 Freeway.  Slower route (35mph) but beautiful views, pull offs, wildlife, and stops.  Took the 3 mile trail (round trip) to Johnston Canyon.  Great paved and bridged walk through the canyon and to the lower and upper falls.  Saw kayakers planning their route through the rapids and down the river. Looked like a scare route!  Lake Louise was beautiful, but looked smaller then on the pictures I had seen.  Lots of people and not speaking English, so must be a world destination.  Gator took the 3+ mile walk on flat trail half way around the lake (all the further you can go without scaling the mountain). He did great with people but upset he couldn't stop and play with all the dogs.  He even got some splash time on the edge of the lake, loved it.  Someone told us that staying at the Chateau on Lake Louise was $300+ a day. WOW.  Short drive to Moraine Lake and a photo stop. It is just a beautiful area and looks too beautiful to imagine.  God is just so awesome in his artistry and design.  He could have made a flat, plan world but He chose to give us this beautiful world to enjoy.  And we do!    Saw 2 Black Bear, Elk, Mule Deer and tons of ground squirrels today.

 

 

 

 

Wed, June 10 -  Off to town for Wi-Fi.  Got an email that our mail was delivered at the campground in Cochrane.  One of the hazards of living on the road. We requested our mail be sent to the campground 1 week earlier, forgetting it had to go through Customs and wouldn't take the usual 2 days to receive.  So we trekked back to Cochrane got our mail.  Good time to stop at WalMart and stock up on groceries.  Our fridge and freezer had been packed for the rally and now was empty. So we filled her up for the long trip ahead.  Banff is sooo over prices and under supplied for groceries. So our return trip was good.  Got back and took the evening trip on the Banff Gondola (discount pricing). Smooth and gorgeous ride to the top.  As far as you could see, beyond Banff, there is mountain, evergreens, rivers, and snow.  No other towns or signs of humans - gorgeous.  Who thinks "Hey, let's just stop here in the middle of nowhere and put a town"  Blows my mind….

Thurs, June 11 -  You guessed it, back to town for Wi-Fi.  Trying to text the kids, but no guarantee they will be able to respond when we are still connected.  So communication is rough. I can't believe how reliant we are on the Internet.  Thoughts come up and I want to jump on Google, can't.  So we have started making lists of things we want to look into or research before heading to town.  Like the days before cell phones, internet - when my mom would go on vacation and we would only hear from her via a postcard (that usually arrived after her return).  We are so blessed to have the instant communication we have now, until we lose it - say like in Canada. Today is a driving tour of Banff, via Gypsy Guide Banff Townsite Tour.  They also have an Indian Fur Trader museum and Royal Canadian Mounted Police store we plan to stop in.  Maybe a hike day on the trails around the campground for Gator.

Calgary

Thurs, June 4 - A short drive to our campground (135miles). It actually was in Cochrane a community 20miles NW of Calgary. Whether our group drove on Hwy 2 or Hwy 2A we all hit stop/go lights and traffic.  No easy bypass around Calgary. Cochrane is a suburb type town with new developing shopping area and less traffic.  We stayed at Bow Rivers Edge Campground. Narrower sites but long and nicely landscaped. They let us use their "Corral" building for meals and activities. A great dog walk area with a trail right along the Bow River, a major fast moving river throughout southern Alberta. Our activities included a cookout in "the corral", they even gave us use of their massive gas grill, tables, chairs, and propane heaters if it got cool (stayed in the 70's so we were good).

Fri, June 5 -Had arrangements for a Calgary city tour with Round the Block Tours. Because Calgary has the second highest parking fees in the world, second only to New York City, we parked for free at the Calgary Olympic Park or COP, as the natives call it.  Our tour bus/van picked us up and gave us a wonderful tour of Calgary and all the interesting stops like Heritage Center, Calgary Stampede, Zoo, China town, many others during our 4 hour tour. Our driver dropped us off at the Calgary Tower for our lunch reservation in the revolving Sky360 restaurant. 45 minutes lunch and one revolution.  Our server was a bit slow and our 45 minutes lunch took 1hr 15min.  So we had to scramble to find our tour bus and let her know. She returned for our last hour of tour and to drop us off at COP.

Sat, June 6 - We did a driving self tour to Banff.  IPad app Gypsy Guide has a free Calgary to Banff tour that works off GPS and the narrator gives commentary about history, locations, wildlife, etc on the way.  Made the 63 mile (100km) trip go fast.  We took the Lake Minnewanka Loop Drive which highlights the mountains, lake, and some wildlife.  We saw a mountain goat and an elk. Next we drove to the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, or "the castle" as I call it.  We had reservations for lunch on the Lookout deck. Beautiful views and great food.  A bit windy when the sun was in the clouds but as soon as it came back out, no wind!?! Everyone was on their own after lunch and we went downtown Banff to walk the town.  Kind of like downtown Wisconsin Dells with the touristy shops and eateries everywhere.  Our stop was at BeaverTails - to get a Beaver tail (like an Elephant ear with toppings) had to stick with the Beaver theme for the rally.  It was delicious. We were coming back to Banff on our own for 4 days later so back to the campground in Cochrane.

Sun, June 7 - Breakfast with the group and options for church or free day.  We followed the leader (us) into the West side of Calgary for the Jubilations Dinner Theatre "Oh Boy, Buddy Holly".  3 hour show and dinner (soup, salad, meat/veggie, and dessert) Funny musical, comedy theatre.  Great show.