Day 20 - Watson Lake, YK

Leaving Muncho Lake was bitter sweet. Even though we dry camped for two days we couldn't beat the scenery. The generator I bought in Florida was a blessing. It worked perfectly. But we had to push on with the next destination being Watson Lake, Yukon. Yes, we will finally be in the Yukon.

We continued to follow the Liard River northwest. There's something to be said about rushing water over rocks. I could have sat by this river for hours and just watched it. 

As we continued down the road which was fantastic by the way, we kept seeing signs "Watch for Bison on the Road". Nothing so far. Then we crested a hill and there were three lying on the side of the road. And they were on the right side meaning they were on the drivers side. So I slowed down, pulled over and started snapping pictures. In the Yukon/Alaska it is an excepted practise to stop on the side of the road to take pictures, just as long as it's safe to do so.

We stayed for 5-7 minutes then several vehicles were piling up behind us waiting to take a pics. Being first in the convoy does have it's advantages. About 10 km down the road on the correct side again was a big old black bear filling his stomach on dandelions.

In tole we passed two more very large herds of bison. What a treat. Again we pulled over. The last herd was the largest and had several young ones in amongst them. They were running and playing like young one's do.

Finally we see the sign. We stop to check it out. One side you're in BC the other side you're in the Yukon. Before reaching Watson Lake I read you jump back and forth seven time between BC and the Yukon.

We arrived in Watson Lake around 1 in the afternoon. I have to admit it's a far cry from what we just came from. Oh well, it's just for one night and then we move on again.

Watson Lake owes its very existence to the construction of the military airport in 1941 and the Alaska Highway in 1942. The Canadian Government committed itself to building airfields across the northwest under the Northwest Staging Route.

Today, the Town of Watson Lake is a key transportation, communication, and distribution center for mining and logging activities in southern Yukon. The town is located just inside the Yukon boundary and is the third largest community in the Yukon with a population of 1,563. The main reason people stop at Watson Lake is to see the Sign Post Forest. What is that you ask...well let me tell you. The Watson Sign Post Forest is the oldest and most extensive site of its type. It represents the longstanding tradition off "leave your mark". Carl Lindley started the sign post forest in 1942 when he was a homesick soldier from Danville, Illinois. He posted a sign pointing to his hometown more than 4,300 kms away. Today people from all over the world continue to add signs which have reached over 90,000. We were know different. It was a pretty amazing sight.

The other touristy thing to do in Watson Lake is to take in the Northern Lights show. So after supper we went to the 7:30 showing. You have to remember this time of year, it does not get dark until around midnight. And there are no aurora borealis either.

The Northern Lights are the result of collisions between gaseous particles in the Earth's atmosphere with charged particles released from the sun's atmosphere. Variations in colour are due to the type of gas particles that are colliding. 

The presentation was good but I have to admit it was sometimes a little over my head. The displays of aurora borealis captured on film were stunning. However, it's time for bed and yes its still light out. That is what we find the most difficult.