Day 43 (Wednesday): August 21, 2019
Got up at 5 AM, after shaving and morning routines, checked the map, and driving direction today’s destination to Purdue Lake Provincial Park, where we will have our new camp tonight. Drove on 93A, 93 then 16 to Prince George direction. Stopped at Moose Lake then about 10 miles after we made a short hike to Fraser River’s Overlander Falls, then continued to Mount Robson’s lookout. Mount Robson is the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies. Drove on 16 west to Rearguard Falls, which is a serious drop of the Fraser River. We were impressed with both Falls. Stopped at the Small River, got gas at McBride then drove to Purdue Lake Provincial Park, where we got a challenging backing sloped site, but we managed the trailer to the flat top part. After preparation for dinner, we made a hike to the Lake and took few nice photographs. Enjoyed our dinner at the campfire and recalled the day’s memories. We were tired especially when we drove through a heavy storm with strong wind.
Day 44 (Thursday): August 22, 2019
Got up 6 AM (Pacific time zone) and after my coffee and tea, hiked down to Purdue Lake and photographed a quiet area with sticks and fog-covered water surface just before sunrise with my 4×5 on black and white. After the rain, the forestry area looked like a rainforest, with massive moss ground coverage and water dripping berry bush leaves. Beautiful! After breakfast, we packed and drove on 16 to Prince George then turned north on 97, stopped at Crooked River Provincial Park at Davie Lake, Whiskers Point Provincial Park at McLead Lake at Bijoux Falls then through Pine Pass to Chetwynd then on 29 to Moberly Lake Provincial Park, where we stayed one night. After a good dinner, we worked on our plans for tomorrow. Started to rain at late-night…
Day 45 (Friday): August 23, 2019
The rain stopped early morning, but everything was wet. Ate a good breakfast and started to clean our gear and pack, then left at 9 AM. Drove on the steep and winding 29 to Charlie Lake Provincial Park then started our journey on Alaska Highway (79). The first part of the road was filled with logger trucks and other speeding fearless trucks… but we managed our way safely to Sikanni River camp, where we learned that a few days ago was a heavy 3 days long snow storm causing a lot of difficulties on the road, they had 3 feet snow, everything was closed… Luckily we were not in it. Continued on Alaska Highway to Buckinghorse River Provincial Park, where we planned to stay, but we did not like it and decided to drive more, up to Fort Nelson and stayed in the 3G Hideaway RV/camp. On the road, we saw 6 black bears, sandhill cranes, and a Trumpeter swan. Ate a good dinner at the Family Restaurant and took a good hot shower, removing our three days’ dirt… Relaxed at the campfire, we had a partially cloudy, starry night. We are happy.
Day 46 (Saturday): August 24, 2019
Woke up early, but slept again till 6:30 AM. Started to pack and after morning coffee, tea, and breakfast, then chatting with neighbor travelers, we left our camp at 11 AM. Drove on Alaska Highway, stopped at scenic spots, mostly when we arrived in the Northern Rocky Mountains, then Toad River. Continued on 79 to Muncho Lake. The weather was rainy, stormy, we passed it, but the storm followed us, but we continued carefully on the windy, rainy, steep, winding road. What a challenge with the trailer, but we made it to Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park, got a nice spot, and set up our tiny house in rain. What a difference between setting up a tent in rain, or opening up our Titan! When we finished our dinner, the rain slowed down and we walked on the boardwalk to the hot springs in the rain, but the view was outstanding and I took few photographs. Walked back, set up our bathing stuff and walked again on the boardwalk trail then immersed ourselves into the natural pool of the hot spring. I got tired after the day’s drive and relaxing in the hot natural spa. We had a great day, filled with good memories. The rain started again, clouds covered the sky, no way to see the Northern Light.
Day 47 (Sunday): August 25, 2019
Woke up early again, but slept again. We had an overcast, rainy day, 50 oF. After making coffee and tea, I went to the boardwalk, hoping I will get the same magic steaming view as I saw and photographed yesterday. However, I just got that special gift only yesterday. Back to the camp, then after a good breakfast, we packed our gear, then left Liard River Hot Springs camp about 11 AM. Drove on Alaska Highway to Watson Lake, stopped few good and interesting spots. We drove slowly because we drove in rain and had strong wind, which was not too fun on the slippery winding road with the trailer. We started to feel we are somewhere on the Wild West. We stopped at Coal River, Fireside, Contact Creek, Iron Creek, and about 4 PM at Watson Lake downtown camp, where we set up our tiny house. The rain started again but passed about half an hour. Bought few supplies in the local grocery store, then walked around, enjoyed the simplicity of the old town. We ate a Lexi cooked a good dinner, then washed our dirty clothes and cleaned ourselves under a good hot shower. Nice treat! Good day! Cold night.
Day 48 (Monday): August 26, 2019
Woke up at 7 AM, after a great hot shower, coffee, tea, and a good breakfast, we started to pack, and closed our camp. Drove to Watson Lake Visitor Center where we received much useful information, then loaded with gas and drove on Alaska Highway to West, passing through the high mountains of the Northern Rocky Mountains. Stopped few nice areas such as Continental Divide, Swift River, Swan Lake, Morley River, Teslin Lake, Teslin, Teslin Heritage Center, Johnsons Crossing, Marsh Lake. The summer is over, the leaves started to change to yellowish, brownish, reddish, showing a beautiful fall color display. We tried to get a camp spot near Whitehorse at Wolf Creek camp, but all sites were occupied. Continued to Whitehorse, loaded with gas then drove to High Country RV, where we stayed. Set up our tiny house, ate leftover food for dinner, then enjoyed the refreshing hot shower and worked on our pictures and journal. We were tired, but happy, slept very fast. Partially cloudy, starry, cold night.
Day 49 (Tuesday): August 27, 2019
After my 6 AM bathroom routines, hot shower, coffee, tea, and breakfast, started to pack and left our camp at Whitehorse. Drove on the Klondike Hwy, stopped at Lake Laberge and Fox Lake, Braeburn Lodge, which is an official checkpoint for the world’s toughest sled dog race from Fairbanks to Whitehorse. Drove along the Norderski Old River, stopped at Carmacks, and Yukon’s Five Fingers Rapids, about halfway between Whitehorse and Pelly Crossing. The aspen trees are yellow and in many places, the whole mountain and valley are in fall color. Many places the road was challenging, drove through narrow, deep soft dusty gravel, the 4×4 was on all the way up to Pelly Crossing, where we stayed in a free no services camp, but we were prepared for boondocking. Lexi made good dinner, I made a strong campfire because our neighboring campers told us, the Aurora Borealis was visible yesterday around 1-2 AM. We were excited about the Aurora, we wanted to see, I was up, enjoyed the clear starry sky, and checked the northern sky often.
