July 17, 2014 – Ft. Nelson, BC

We left the RV park around 9:00.

We stopped in Watson Lake to coin-op wash the trailer (mud, bugs, road dirt, etc!!). The wash is a Tooney for 4 minutes ($2). I took 7 Tooneys and we left Watson Lake at 10:00.

The drive started well – then we blew a tire!! This tire was the spare that I put on two days ago because the original tire looked like the tread was about to separate. This tire had never been on the road!! Brand new!! Oh well. It could have happened at a much worse location. In 15 minutes, we were back on the road :-)

Then...construction, construction, construction. We were delayed at 3 locations for ½ hr each. Oh well – it could have been worse.

We did have several sitings, though. Apparently there is a herd of woodland buffalo in northern BC. We found it!! We counted 110 buffalo along side the road. We also saw 8-10 black bears along the road. We figured that the vegetation along the road is easier picking and tastier than the stuff growing in the thick timber.

We know we have mentioned the scenery...but it is magnificent!! We drove Hwy 97 through some of the highest peaks and past glacier lakes. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!!

This area is also quite remote. No phone lines, no power lines, etc. When our tank was down to ½ empty, we decided to stop at the next available gas stop. We pulled in and were absolutely shocked to see $1.75/liter (that equals $6.09/gallon in US $$$). I would not pay that amount, so we drove on.

The terrain is very rugged. Grades exceeded 10% and you could literally hear the gas being sucked form the tank. At ¼ empty, we decided we had better get gas at the next available stop. Muncho Lake Lodge and Resort. Boy, we sure showed the last place!! The gas at the resort was $2.00/liter. ($6.85/gal.) I stopped the pump at $150 and we drove on to Ft. Nelson.

The Ft Nelson area scenery is quite different than what we have been seeing for the last month. The crags and spires have changed to lower, rounded mountains and farm ground – mostly hay ground. And all surrounded by pine, spruce and tall birch trees. Very neat and nice looking.

July 16, 2014 – Waston Lake, Y.T.

We left Haines Junction about 9:00 and drove the 368 miles to Watson lake.

Not long after leaving Haines Jct., a young grizzly bear crossed the road ahead of us and stopped on the roadside. As we approached the young bear started grazing along the roadside. He was not at all concerned about our presence. Along the way we saw two more black bears.

The drive from there on was uneventful. The scenery was good and we got back into the lodge pole pine forests. The mountains reminded us a lot of northern Montana.

We arrived at the RV Park around 5:00, set up the trailer, and drove into Watson Lake to make phone calls for our next stop – Fort Nelson, BC. On the way to town, we saw a young black bear beside the road. On the way back, the bear was still feeding. We stopped right beside it – no more than 15' away. Gayle again got some great photos.

July 15, 2015 Haines Junction, Yukon Terr,

We drove the 300 miles from Tok today. It was a very sloooow day as there was 110 miles of intermittent construction, some with pilot cars. If it wasn't construction/pilot cars, it was very rough roadway – frost heaves and settlements – that slowed us at times to 25 km/hr (that's 15 mph for you in the lower 48). The 300 miles took us 10 hrs - ugh...

We arrived in Haines Jct around 8 PM. The RV park is nice enough, although a little bare. However, the back drop for the park is stunning!!

Tomorrow we will drive to Watson Lake, YT.