Day 28 Watson Lake YT to Toad River BC 203 miles
We left the hotel and went to the Sign Forest. Such a fun place to visit. It started when the Alaska Highway was being built In 1942. When people come to visit they post a metal or wood sign somewhere in the forest. There are signs from all over the world. Some are small and some are large. Some are even license plates. Tall posts have been placed at the north end of Watson Lake. As a post fills up new ones are added. There are now over 77,000 signs. There is no charge to wonder through. There is also no charge for putting up a sign,
Today is mostly sunny but as the day progresses the skies get more cloudy. No rain however.
We spotted a large dark object up ahead. Most likely a rock or roots of a downed tree, Then the tail moved. It’s a wood bison. Then it moved more and revealed a calf. A closer look found several other bison in the trees. Wood bison are smaller and darker in color than the plains bison found in Yellowstone.
A little further down the road we spotted a small black bear. We guessed it might be a yearling. Amazing two big wildlife sightings in the same day. By the end of the day we saw one more bison and three more bears. Very exciting day. They were all in the large right of way next to the road.
We have noticed that the number of campsites is much less than in the Yukon. There are still lots of RVs on the road. Today seemed to have more really big RVs. Another tour group is headed north. We could tell because they had a sticker in the upper corner on the driver’s side.
All of them were large motor homes or large fifth wheel trailers. If they are headed to Dawson City they won’t be able to park in the Gold Rush RV site like we did. They are all too big.
We stopped at Coal River for fuel and realized we had stayed here two years ago when we drove coast to coast in Canada. We did stay for lunch. We each had bison burgers with onion rings. Very tasty. This time there was not a herd of bison right outside of the dining room window.
Major construction is taking place on the last suspension bridge remaining on the Alaska Highway. They are drilling out all the places where the concrete has broken. They should have just done the whole thing. They have more holes than remaining surface.
We did a second fuel stop at Rockies Lodge. We had stopped here before as well. We tend to fuel the car more often than in the States. Quite a few of the gas stations on the Alaska highway have closed down.
One last piece of construction near Muncho Lake. It didn’t require a pilot car just one lane of traffic. Muncho Lake today at least was a beautiful shade of green. A heavy runoff must occur each spring because large gravel channels come out of the mountains and down to the lake. Not only would these hold lots of water there were lots of them.
The wind really picked up at this point too. The roads have been more bumpy since we arrived in British Columbia. When you combine bumps and wind it makes the ride a bit rough. Rob kept checking for a flat tire. Over 5,000 miles now without a flat and life is good.
We came to the complex called Toad River. They have it all. Gas, restaurant, gift shop, cabins and RV park. They have no remaining drive throughs at the RV site so we took a cabin. It has one window that looks out on the river. The driver/mechanic looked like he needed a rest. We just finished supper and the navigator is already asleep.
Spoffords Travel 