Day Nineteen - back to Fort St. John

Image: Signpost forest in the town of Watson Lake

Wednesday June 11th 2008
Drive from Watson Lake to Toad River to Fort St. John
556 miles – estimated 11 hours driving time


Image: An accidental self portrait
Considering how many photos I uploaded to flickr, deleted, or stored on my computer this self portrait is very much a statement on who I was and what I was doing on this trip.


Back on the road again... Frost heaves in the pavement can be quite steep, thankfully the Alaska-Canada highway people put little flags on the side of the road marking the heaves. If the flags are on both sides of the road then you know it stretches across both lanes. I heartily approve of this custom!


Image: Adorable and young mule deer, spotted close to Fort St. John.


Image: The art of clouds
There weather was perfect for driving most of the time we were on this trip. It was cloudy with bits of rain and bits of sun. Not so much sun that we needed air conditioning, nor so much rain that we couldn't see. It was PERFECT.


Image: Of course, it wasn't always perfect, not bugs but the smeared remains of hail on our windshield


Image: Black bear by the side of the road minding his own business, but willing to pose for pictures. Yes of course we stayed in our car.

Toad River Lodge is a place you can get gas, grub and souvenirs. It is completely dotted with trucker hats. They’ve been nailed to the walls and ceilings it is a stupendous array. They are also coated with a nice layer of dust. Still, by the time you’re here in the middle of nowhere dust is not longer a concern.


Image: Momma and baby moose


Image: Big Horn Sheep

Most of the wildlife in these photos were spotted in the Muncho Lake vicinity. I'd love to spend more time in this National park!


Image: And another moose...


Image: Bison

I always think of Bison as being part of the Yellowstone ecosystem. I was a bit shocked to find them here in northern Canada.


Image: Black bear

Eyup it really is. It is missing the grizzly bear hump, is substantially smaller and has the lighter colored muzzle. Other photos show his sleakness so go check out the photoset. Black bears come in all kinds of colors. Brown or Grizzly bears come in a variety of shades too, though never, as far as I know, black.



Image: Remains of a Moose v Car argument

This was a day of driving and looking. I was definitely noticing man made stuff more on the way back than on the way up.

Image to right: Caribou

Best Western Coachman Inn
8540 Alaska Road
Fort St John, British Columbia V1J 5L6, Canada

Receipts:
Belvedere Hotel – Watson Lake YT
Petro Canada – Watson Lake YT
Great Northern Oil (gas) – Toad River BC
Toad River Lodge (lunch) – Toad River BC


Wildlife & Birds:
Black Bears
Mountain Goats
Bison
Caribou
Moose
Bighorn Sheep
Mule Deer
Elk

Image at right: Bighorn Sheep

The small photos are not clickable. They are included in the photoset in the link at the bottom, and come in larger sizes on Flickr.

Common Mergansers
White Winged Crossbill

It’s a little funny that I noticed more mega-fauna than I did birds. Possibly because it is HARD to identify birds at 50 mph.

More photos can be found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157605667495195/

Day Seven - Fort Saint John to Watson Lake

Image: Muncho Lake BC
(Muncho Lake is one of the most scenic places on earth. I must go back soon.)

Friday May 30th 2008
Drive to Fort Nelson to Watson Lake
556 miles – estimated 11 hours of driving

When I planned our trip I started with smaller drives and expanded as it went on. Also there was just the problem of distances from point a to point b. And of course the costs associated with taking longer and the time too. In the end, there were some seriously crazy driving days. But on the whole it was do-able.

Nick and I both had our mp3 players and headphones. It was quickly apparent that we weren’t going to agree on what to listen to. Frequently, I just wanted to watch the scenery. I just don’t seem to have the craving for sound all the time that others do. He had loaded his player with tons of old radio programs and seemed to enjoy them.



Considering that we were heading North to Alaska, we put one of Jack London’s short stories on the radio transmitter. It was one about the dog Diablo. It was a bit grotesque and disturbing and that was the end of Jack London stories for the trip.

We stopped at the fabulous Fort Nelson hotel for lunch. This was a very picturesque place with big log construction and interesting diners.

Dinner at the hotel’s dining room was not so grand. The town and hotel seemed a bit run down. Still, a clean room and a bed was all I really needed.

Belvedere Hotel
Box 370, Watson Lake: Yukon Y0A 1C0
Central Reservations Office: (867)536-7712
$119 Reservation via phone May 21

Miscellaneous thing to look up on the internet:
Umbrageous
Crepuscular

Receipts:
Best Western – Fort St. John BC
Safeway (gas) – Fort St. John BC
Fort Nelson Hotel (lunch) – Fort Nelson BC
Esso (gas) – Fort Nelson BC
Belvedere Hotel (dinner) – Watson Lake YT

Wildlife & Birds:
3 Caribou
Black bear - juvenile
Mule deer
Bighorn sheep
Bison

For more photos see: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157605435409999/

This was our first up close and personal with caribou. They are gorgeous and their movement is very light footed and swift. It looked like dancing up the hill, not running.