Almost and R & R day at Klondike River Lodge

Marc from France feeds some R.I Red chickens at Moose Creek Lodge

Unique decorations at Moose Creek Lodge

They had hot coffee and homemade snacks ready for us for our mid-morning break.  Restrooms were a bonus!

Today, August 10 was such and easy day, it seemed almost like and R&R day.  We were into Klondike River Lodge/campgrounds by 1 p.m.  We left Pelly Crossing this morning at 7 a.m. as usual and David and I had slept in until 6:25 so we hustled only to wait in line as the convoy units left.  We are in the fifth unit so we had time to eat our bowls of cereal, even with bananas while in line.  The  Klondike river was soon seen and we followed it for part of our journey today.  Later, we were lucky to have a rest stop at Moose River Lodge and they had coffee and pastries, even sausage rolls, so it was a good morning not to have time to eat much.  We t raveled in fog for several hours before the sun broke through and it has been a beautiful day since. We pulled into our overnight spot by 1 p.m. after a quick lunch by beautiful wetland's lake called Gravel Lake. I spent sometime searching the lake for some rare birds, American coot, Ruddy Duck, and others mentioned in the Bird Guide.  I think I saw the American coot.  It is in the migration path for some species, but it is a little early.   Right now we  are sitting, doing WiFi outside the Lodge here in shirtsleeves.  But it is getting cooler as we get into late afternoon.  We have a catered dinner tonight here at the lodge but are camping out back so breakfast will be quick again. 

Klondike River at beginning of journey to Arctic Circle

Tomorrow and the next day we will be on the Dempster Hwy. that goes to Eagle Plains, YT and Tombstone Provincial park.  We will cross the Arctic circle and then turn around and head back and join the Klondike Hwy. into Dawson City for Sunday and Monday.  Then we will finally head into Alaska, first stop Chicken where the book Tisha was set.  Will not probably be back on WiFi for next two days.

A Day of Dust, a Day of Rain

Long hill, tall mountain YT

Two cute boys treating us to muffins & smiles

New friends, welcome unannounced lunch

More smiles & welcomes

Two days worth of YT in one short post tonight.  I need to be done with blogging by 9 p.m. because the grocery store/motel/gas station, in their lunch room is where the WiFi is available tonight.  We are staying next to a community center for the town of Pelly Crossing, YT tonight.  We had to setup the camp table and stove to make our dinner, since only a small walk-up eatery is available.  We made an acceptable penne pasta with chunks of chicken and had canned fruit.  The community of 300 folks are mostly First Nation Native Americans.
Yesterday was a bit brutal, since we drove 225 miles on dirt roads and the dust was unbelievable.  We had to shake out bedding and dust out everything in the ambulance/camper.  There were some gorgeous views but lots of narrow roads with pines and birches right up to the side of the road.  Today, it rained the entire day, and the mountains were cloaked in clouds, but views were magnificent of huge lakes, Little Salmon River, and finally the mighty Yukon!  Pelly River, too, is not a small river.  We even went by an unusual salt lake when we were almost to Pelly Crossing.

 The highlight of the day was when some of the citizens with little boys from Faro met us at a rest stop outside their town and provided homemade muffins, for a welcome stop.  It was a double hit, since the ladies even got rest room facilities, albeit, pit toilets.

Watson Lake , YT small but Welcoming

Sign Post Forest where over 78,000  signs i.d. hometowns.

Old equipment near Visitors' Center and Sign Post Forest

Log cabin church in Watson Lake

This was a day of rest for the Convoy to Alaska and it was wonderful to sleep in until 8 a.m.  We were into Watson Lake within the hour to enjoy all the sights and for David to install a radio for one of the repair teams.  During the day, we put up the sign that 17 year old Mark Toland carved for us for Sign Post Forest, visited the Welcome Center which had a good display of Alaskan Hwy. construction plus a movie and many free brochures.  One on the wildflowers is impressive.  We had a vehicle display and the town's historical society sold burgers and hot dogs while it was happening so many of the town's folks were in attendance.  The Northern Light Museum had interesting displays and a planetarium where they showed two different Avmovies on rounded ceiling on space exploration and Northern Lights.  The local grocery was good for a quick lunch and a take out dinner.  Finally a quick thunderstorm in the evening will quiet the dust as we are going to be on dirt/gravel roads for the next two days.

Seven times into Yukon Territory!

Muncho Lake in B.C,

Only remaining suspension bridge built in 1943

Bison were on both side of the road

Overlook of Liard River

Dedicated to the engineers and surveyors of ALCAN

Old hanger at Watson Lake built in 1942

Unbelievable but true, when one enters YT via the ALCAN Highway, your vehicle goes back and forth across the border.  Watson Lake is the official entry point where we are staying tonight.  This is the home of the Signpost Forest and we attend to put our town up in the Forest tomorrow.  I have a young 17 year old boy  who was carving his address, so I enlisted him to make one for us.  We are also going to have a static vehicle show for all those who want to participate.  It gives time for laundry, grocery shopping, and visiting the Northern Lights planetarium as well as the Watson Lake Airport which was on the NW staging route to Russia for lend lease airplanes during WWII.  Over 7000 planes passed through this small airport.  David and I went out there this evening since tomorrow will be busy.  He is installing a radio for the maintenance truck.  He will also check his fluids on his vehicle and the brakes.

Today was chock full of wildlife for many of the convoy, but being in about the middle marching unit, by the time we got to where the animals were spotted, they had departed.  We did see a herd of buffalo/bison and two moose on the far side of cabin by the lake in Toad River.

Tonight, we are staying in one of the WWII air corps officers' barracks built in 1942.  It is a strange place, but clean.  The manager makes everyone take their shoes off in the entry way and you have to go in your socks to your room which contains only a TV and a bed and night stands.  Their are communal showers and toilet rooms, a set for the men and a set for the women.  The town has three beautiful lakes but this building is neither by those or the airport.  We gave up on dinner out tonight when we had waited 1/2 an hour to get the menu and drinks.  We plugged in the microwave and had some quick one container meals with applesauce and a cookie for dessert.  I did sneak a cup of wine while David was talking radios with the fellow communication officer on the trip.  It was my decision to walk out of the restaurant.  Dad was about to fall asleep!  No fast food or any recognizable brand names in the town, neither grocery stores, gas stations, nothing, so it is beginning to feel like we are in another country, which, as a matter of fact, we are!

What an adventure we're having, and most of it enjoyable!

Beautiful British Columbia

Tonight, I am writing at the base of some lovely mountains and our cabin faces a peaceful lake.  We went up and down and around some fairly significant mountains today near the northern border of BC and will by in Yukon Territory tomorrow night, I believe.  The wildlife also cooperated and provided viewing of two bears, two moose, including a very large dead one, and two rock sheep.  We were at the lowest point of the ALCAN outside of Fort Nelson this a.m., had a sack lunch provided  by the Elks and IGA of Fort Nelson, time at a wonderful antique vehicle museum, and just enjoyed the beautiful sunny weather and magnificent vistas of mountain ranges. 

I am making this short tonight since the WiFi doesn't work in our cabin so I am trying to stay seated on the picnic table where it does work, and not be carried off by the significant amount of mosquitoes.  Enjoy the photos and I will be back online again in several days. 

Emergency Air field parking

Trying to get a rock sheep photo

Sunday night in Toad River and cabin by the river

David loves early brdiges.

Rest stop at a golf course

John Deere D was a bonus at lunch spot! 

River at our Provincial dry camping August 4

Ready to Roll on the Alaska Highway

Another mural in Dawson Creek

A room of dolls, reminds

Church in Pioneer Village next to RV Camp

Hudson Hub in B.C. with Brad

Electric Jeep batteries

Convoy in a line at the Send off Ceremony at Dawson Creek Art Center

David's day was filled with meetings and problem solving, since he has a repeater radio and is director of the communications between all the vehicles (70 plus) for the Convoy!  My day was more relaxing.  I must have spent 2 hours getting to know Nancy Nelson, wife of David's friend Brad.  We compared notes about teaching and libraries, since she was a first grade teacher until her first child was born and then later became a library assistant and did that for many years.  After lunch, we went back to the cut town of Dawson Creek and I took more pictures of the various murals, flowers, and art. We finally finished viewing the Alaskan Hwy. welcoming museum and also the Wright Settlers Village next to our campground, all very worthwhile exhibits.   We had an official welcoming from many local officials and our leader thanked the city and presented the Tourism head with a Convoy license plate and the mayor with a signed "Convoy Ahead" sign.  We have one posted on the back of our truck.  We were fed an outstanding dinner which included burgers, hot dogs, green salad and potato salad, sponsored again by the same trucking company. Dessert was birthday cake for the wife of  one of the directors of the convoy.  This is not a trip to lose weight on.  7 a.m.is "First Gear" so we will start early. Don't be concerned if there is a break in the blogs.  I believe the next three days, we are in camps with no WiFi.

Since the WiFi is being used by many, the pictures are no uploading so I will try to get it done, first thing in the a.m. before we leave.

Checkin and Celebrating Bulla's Centennial

     Our first "First Gear" meaning our start was a practice convoy 12 miles away from Dawson Creek to Bulla, B.C.  They happen to be celebrating their Centennial of their founding, 1912, and so to heighten the celebration of this tiny town, they invited us to their community center for a barbeque and a lovely serenade by a group of women that call themselves the"Potluck in the basement Singers."  Their harmony was good and their spirit was outstanding, singing our Star Spangled Banner and their National Anthem as well as a goodly number of traveling songs.  Their leader strummed her guitar with gusto.  Free CD's were given to some selected folks including a couple celebrating their 58 anniversary.    The community center was decorated by a local artist who spent over 185 hours on the tribute to their town.  The most enormous grill, in front of  the second mural.  It was a very satisfying adventure and gave everyone at taste of what the future days will hold.  Tomorrow is a free breakfast for all and then check-in continues.
      Many people worked about 5 hours in a cool wind with a smattering of showers to get everyone welcomed with a myriad of items and meal tickets etc.  I became the impromptu treasurer to help the main organizer.  You see our esteemed leader, Terry Shellswell and wife Murial as well as Jeff and Wendy Rowsum, who I helped.

David's ambulance stands out but there is another one, too.

Lined up for First Gear at the RV park

S

Bear and log cabin at Rolla

Rollo celebrates its Centennial with a beautiful mural by local artists.

Wendy Rowsom, Terry & Murial Shelswell, Pat Underwood, front