...beyond the Yukon

Once the Alaska Highway was re-opened and the fuel trucks arrived travelers lined up to fill their gas tanks.  This photo was taken while we waited in line at Teslin Junction, not far from Whitehorse.

These buildings along the Alaska Highway in the Yukon Territory were flooded.

This is one of the segments of the Alaska Highway that was washed away.  Twenty-four hours earlier it was impassable.

The Hufford girls amongst the signs of the Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake, Yukon Terrirtory.

Emily, in particular, enjoyed visiting the Sign Post Forest.

There were several acres of signs.  Many were brought from other places and some were made by folks as they traveled through Watson Lake.

This bison was standing on the edge of the road near Watson Lake.

This black bear was eating at the side of the road.  This is the first one we saw.  We ultimately lost count of how many there were as we drove along.

When we awoke on Tuesday morning in Whitehorse we turned on the CBC radio station for an update on the conditions of the Alaska Highway.  We were happy to hear that it had been re-opened and travelers were free to go.  It seemed like there was a mass exodus out of the campground and we were amongst the motorists headed south.  We stopped for fuel in Teslin Junction and had to wait for quite a while as other people filled there vehicles with gas that had just been delivered for the first time in several days.  Then we were on our way to Watson Lake.

We drove the miles sometimes paralleling the rivers swollen with water from snow melt and the huge rain storm combination that washed out the highway.  We came to the area that had been washed away and passed without incident.

In the early afternoon we arrived in Watson Lake and stopped to stretch our legs by walking through the Sign Post Forest.  There are several acres of signs that people have placed here.  It was interesting to see all the places people had come from.  Then we went into the visitor center where we spoke with a very helpful person named Renee.  She told us all about the Sign Post Forest and showed us a map of the best places to buy gas.  I off handedly mentioned that our 'check engine' had been on for a while and she said, "Norm can fix it.  He has a scanner"  Then she picked up the phone and called Norm.  A few minutes later Norm had the scanner plugged into our engine and diagnosed the problem as "non-current, just a one time event."  He said we should probably change the fuel filter but he didn't have any that would fit our rig.  He told us to stop in Fort Nelson and have it done.  "It's a bigger town.  They have all sizes of fuel filters.  The only problem you'll have between here and there is avoiding the bison and bears on the road."  And with that we were on our way.  Norm was right about the bison and he bears.  They seemed to be everywhere.

So, we drove along he road, Mrs. Huffy provided navigation and and interesting information from the Milepost.  We lost count of the number of bears and bison we saw.

We finally pulled into Coal River Lodge, which was just inside British Columbia.  It had a campground and we secured a place for the night.  It was basically a parking lot with some electrical hook-ups.  There were several other travelers there, one of which was a family stranded due to tire troubles on their extremely large RV.  They had two teenagers and two younger children with them.  They were waiting for a repairman to come out the next day.  They didn't exactly appear to be having the time of their lives.  But, they were from South Carolina and on their way to Alaska and were determined to make it.

Other things were interesting at Coal River as well.  We decided to splurge and eat at the small cafe they had there.  We ordered three buffalo burgers and three soft drinks.  Simple enough.  But, when the bill arrived the total was $49.00.  Oh, and I should mention, fries were not included with the burgers.  They cost extra.  We didn't get them.

After dinner we retired for the evening and listened to the sound of the Coal River Lodge generator which runs all night in order to provide electricity for the lodge guests.  There is no other source of electricity.

The next morning was an early wake up and we were on our way once again on the move...beyond the Yukon.