Today was a 'down' day in Whitehorse.  We woke up to rain and it rained half the day, the temp did not reach 50 degrees, and we had to limit our activities to indoor events.  Some of the places we wanted to visit were closed for the holiday, since the 1st was on Sunday.  But we managed to keep busy,  and we spent much time in a couple museums which were worthwhile, plus a couple of historical films in the museums.  It is hard to believe that Whitehorse is the capital of the Yukon Territory.  Two thirds of the Yukon population lives in Whitehorse. (Pop. about 24,000)

Yesterday's blog did not respond to my wishes.  First, part of the text turned blue, then it turned red. Technology has its frustrations, and last night was an example.  The above photo was supposed to be in last night's blog, but it disappeared.  So you can see it tonight.  We went through the ship yesterday, but today we watched a 20 min. film about shipping on the Yukon River.  Life was difficult in the early 1900's.  The ship used about a cord of wood an hour to turn the stern wheel.

A large sign on the road a couple days ago made us chuckle:  "All those who hate speeding tickets, raise your right foot."  Good advice for all of us.  Goodnight!

On the road again: destination...Whitehorse, YT

Cassiar  mtns, part of Canadian Rockies

Flowers on side of road
Happy Canada Day.  It was a beautiful drive today with good views of mountains, flowers, and one bear crossing the road.  We made some stops...Rancheria  Falls for a walk, George Johnston Museum, and the Tlingit Heritage Center.  George Johnston was a Tlingit native and photographer with an interesting history.  He bought and shipped a 1928 Chevrolet to Teslin before there were roads.  Google his name for more info.  Teslin is a small village about half-way to Whitehorse.  Population 450.  There were few vehicles on the road for most of the trip, and many places were closed for the holiday.  After visiting the Visitor Center in Whitehorse, we walked to the SS Klondike sternwheeler, and toured the boat.  All museums were free today.  Nice for us.

Our B&B is 3 mi out of town, is clean, comfortable, and quiet.  It is owned by a single woman, who came from Amsterdam 25-30 years ago.  She is a trusting soul.  She sent us the code to open the door, since she was gone for the day.  She left a note and we settled in.

Moving on to Watson Lake

Caribou

Stone sheep

A long day of travel today, but we did see wild animals, among them mountain goats, bear, stone sheep,  caribou, and bison.  Photos will help you visualize them.  

Black bear

Bison

Watson Lake

We ended up at Watson Lake, where we are staying the night in former Air Force barracks. Watson Lake's claim to fame is the Sign Post Forest.  There are over 75,000 signs on the posts.  It was begun by a homesick soldier working on the highway in 1943.  He put up a sign saying '2835 miles to Danville, IL'.

On the road to Fort Nelson

The pickup speaks:  It was so welcome to have the day off yesterday, when M & N spent the day in Dawson Creek (DC) and did a lot of walking.  Today I had to work again.  I am getting dirty, but I still look a lot cleaner than the local pickups around here.  Shortly after leaving DC, I was told to get off Hyway 97 and take the old Alaska Road.  I found out why very soon.  M wanted me to drive over a wood suspension bridge built in 1943, and is still in use today.  I was a bit nervous, but M was quite nostalgic, since he had gone over this same bridge 60 years ago.  I do like to drive in light traffic, and except for driving through Fort St. John,  my job was easy.  M & N were quite excited when they saw a moose and her young calf near the road.  I was thankful that she didn't run on to the road and make a mess of me.  I am also glad that mosquitoes don't bother me.  I had to wait in the parking lot for quite a spell, while M & N took a walk in the woods.  I was pretty proud of myself when M & N visited the Heritage Museum in Fort Nelson.  Those vehicles were so old, I felt like a young thing.  And of all the places I am told to go, they had me find a cemetery....again on the old Alaska hyway.  I don't understand this at all, but it has something to do with a cache...geocaching.  M was all excited,  because he found the treasure.  I am sorry about having such an appetite for fuel, especially since it comes to about $5.50 a gallon.  Oh my!  Now I heard rumblings that we will leave early tomorrow, about 6:00.  It will be a long day.  So I think I will say "Good night!"

Today you are getting two posts. (I always have to put in my 2 cent's worth.)  When Mo read the blogs I wrote he reminded me that the wood carvings were chainsaw carvings.  This gives me a chance to show you one more carving.  I am not a particular fan of chainsaw wood carvings, but the one of the eagle was impressive.  In the center there is an inscription that says: 'On Eagles' Wings' (Isaiah 40:31)

A wonderful verse to read, by the way.   Nell

Nell said that it's my turn to blog (is that a verb?).  It was interesting for me to be here in Dawson Creek again.  The last time was in 1952 on my way to Alaska with three other Calvin College freshmen.  We had hoped to work there for the summer.  We spent a little time in Dawson Creek.  In my archives I found an old edition of the Milepost, a photo of Milepost "0" in the middle of DC, (remember that, Ray?) and a pennant with Dawson Creek printed on it.  At the Visitor Centre a woman asked if she could help us.  She got so excited when I showed her my souvenirs of 60 years ago, that she took pictures of them, and said that she wanted to write a story and put it on Facebook.  The museum attached is very good.  You can watch a PBS dvd about the construction of the Alaska Highway. Later Nell and I went for a walk along a trail by a creek.  She is a bird lover, so when we came upon some kind of a sparrow that let us walk right up to it, and actually touch it, she was ecstatic.  I bought some fresh sweet cherries, then found out that they were from Washington.  We ended the day with Nell photographing me by the Milepost.  Mo

On the way to Dawson Creek

On the road again today.  Three highlights come to mind:  the first, a selfish desire, not necessary, but much appreciated....Starbucks coffee! The first coffee on this trip.  The second highlight: the wildflowers in bloom along the side of the road.  I could not stop to take a photo, but the color palette was one only God could create.  Purples, reds, whites, yellows, pinks...at times one color was highlighted, then another, and then they formed a mixed bouquet.  I wish I knew all the names, but three of them were wild foxglove, Indian paintbrush, and wild rose.  How great is our God!  The third highlight was the sight of a black bear cub running on the side of the road.  I think he was in the wrong place, and mama was calling him back.  He vanished into the woods.

  We stopped briefly at Chetwynd, which is known for wood carvings.  There were some amazing carvings, all displayed along the road. Nell