Sign Post Forest, Watson Lake, YT

Stan . . .

The Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake was started in 1942 by one of the US Military soldiers that was stationed in Watson Lake as part of the many military personnel involved in building the first Alaska Highway from Dawson Creek, BC to Fairbanks, AK (approx. 1600 miles) thru an area that had not had any previous highway system. What began as a simple signpost with signs posted by several of the military personnel in Watson Lake in 1942 has grown to an estimated 65,000+ signs today.

Just a sampling of the many signs found while wandering throughout the "forest".

The town located closest to Caprock Canyons State Park.

Our hometown from 1984-1986.

Robert & Stan beginning to look at some of the thousands of signs as we just entered the forest.

One of the "unique" named Texas towns---name supposedly came about based on the routine activities that seemed to take place most Saturday evenings at the local "drinking establishments".

One last signpost honoring our hometown (1974-1976) of Simcoe, Ontario.

Additional Scenery Between Fort Nelson & Laird Hot Springs

Stan . . .

Connie & I standing alongside the shoreline of Muncho Lake enroute to Laird Hot Springs. The waters of the lake were an extremely deep emerald blue color very reminiscent of the waters in the Mexican Caribbean.

We were told that the ice on Muncho Lake had only begun to breakup within the past few days when we arrived (that's ice piled up on the shoreline!)

We encounter lots of snow capped mountain ranges along our route from Fort Nelson to Laird Hot Springs that were simply indescribable!

Not sure of the name of this lake, but the ice had not yet broken up on it as it had already done on Muncho Lake.

Fort Nelson to Laird Hot Springs

Stan . . .

Traveled about 190 miles from Fort Nelson to Laird Hot Springs and were treated to some wonderful wildlife sightings along side the highway right of way ! The black bear pictured above was very close to the edge of the highway and was oblivious to our stopping on the other side of the road to take his picture----he was more interested in eating the yellow dandelions that were scattered all along the right of way.

Another picture of the black bear as he wandered along side the road eating dandelions.

We encountered these bison several miles further down the road, also intent upon eating as many dandelions as they could.

Our campsite at Laird Hot Springs Provincial Park was well back into the woods and was our first night of truly boondocking (no water, electric or sewer hookups) since we left Texas starting this adventure.  We used our generator setup for the first time and everything worked exactly has expected and the boondocking experience was a very pleasant one.

Sikanni Chief, BC

Stan . . .

More of the awesome scenery found throughout this part of British Columbia between Dawson Creek and Sikanni Chief.

Sign announcing the entrance to Sikanni River RV Park where we stayed for 4 nights over the Canadian Victoria Day holiday on May 24th. Our campsite was right along side the Sikanni River.

View of our campsite at Sikanni River . . . the river is about 30 ft. behind the rear of our trailer. The campground had 20 amp electrical service and water at each site. We used the dump station to drain all our tanks on Monday morning when we were departing for Fort Nelson, BC.

Murals in Downtown Dawson Creek, BC

Stan . . .

There are murals painted on the sides of many buildings and alleyways in the downtown Dawson Creek district. Pictured here is just a sampling. The above mural depicts the arrival of U.S. Military troops to start the construction of the Alaska Highway.

This mural was located on the back of a building at the end of an alleyway--note that the telephone pole and guywire located just in front of the wall were painted to blend into the mural.

Just another of the murals on the side of one of the downtown buildings.

Standing on a corner in Winslow, AZ Dawson Creek, BC (to paraphrase a lyric from the Eagles).

Dawson Creek, BC

Stan . . .

Arrived today in Dawson Creek, BC today and checked out the Visitor Center and did some picture taking at the Mile O markers recognizing the start of the Alaska Highway that was built over a nine month period by the US Military in 1942. The Alaska Highway started in Dawson Creek, BC and covered approximately 1600 miles terminating at Delta Junction, AK just short of Fairbanks, AK.

There are two different Mile O markers in Dawson Creek. The first one above is the actual starting point of the highway, while the second picture is several blocks away located in the center of an intersection in the downtown area (rumored to have been placed there in an attempt to draw the tourist trade into the downtown shopping area).

This sign is located just to the right of the first picture located at the traffic circle which was the official starting point of the Alaska Highway

A picture of one of the picturesque buildings in the downtown area of Dawson Creek.

Chetwynd, BC - Chainsaw Sculpture Capital of the Workd

Stan . . .

Chetwynd, BC refers to itself as the Chainsaw Sculpture Capital of the World, and this is just a sampling of the approximately 75-100 sculptures that can be found all over town. Chetwynd annually hosts a chainsaw sculpture contest, inviting 10 sculptors from around the world to enter the competition held over a 4 day period each summer. Chetwynd provides the wood for the sculptors and all of the sculptures must be completed during the competition, and are then judged to determine the annual winner.

All the sculptures remain the property of Chetwynd and are then displayed at various locations throughout the town each year after the close of competition.

Just an old Cowboy.

Connie & I sitting on a remarkable bench of eagles with outstretched wings.

Prince George, BC

Stan . . .

We arrived in Prince George, BC on May 12th and left on May 15th. Prince George is the largest city in the northern part of British Columbia with a population of approximately 75,000 people. We were able to choose between several large supermarkets for our grocery shopping as well as get service work done to the truck (also had work done on an balky EGR sensor that would intermittently give a check engine warning light). Prince George also has a Costco, so we also stocked up on various bulk purchase items on our trip to Costco. The above picture is a rather imposing wood sculpture located outside one of two Prince George Visitor Centers.

The chainsaw sculpture in the above picture was located inside the second Prince George Visitor Center. This sculpture was on loan to the Prince George Visitor Center from the city of Chetwynd which is touted as the Chainsaw Sculpture Capital of the World.  We hope to be able to see many more of these chainsaw sculptures as we will be traveling to Chetwynd after we leave Prince George

Boston Bar, British Columbia

Stan . . .

We spent our first two days in British Columbia, Canada at the Canyon Alpine RV Park located just north of the village of Boston Bar.  The first picture is of our campsite which was situated among some beautiful pine trees and was a very peaceful setting.  Several miles south of Boston Bar along side the Fraser River is an area referred to as Hell's Gate due to the narrowing of the canyon walls causing the river waters to cascade down the river at a "gallons per minute" rate supposedly greater than the rate of water flowing over Niagara Falls.  The second picture above of Connie and me was taken just before we boarded the aerial tramway to take us from the cliffs on one side of the river down to the lower cliffs on the other side of the river.

The two of us "posing" inside a gondola basket "suspended" over the rapids of Hell's Gate.

After getting off the aerial tram on the lower side of the cliffs there was several buildings housing a restaurant, a gift shop, a museum and a pretty garden area that had numerous hummingbird feeders that had a very active group of hummingbirds swarming all around the feeders.  I was able to capture this picture of one of the hummingbirds actually sitting on the feeder instead of hovering.