Watson lake

Watson lake (2,145 km from home)

Since Watson Lake was only 3.5 hours away, we were in know rush to leave Liard. 

Driving was very easy as we are still on the eastern flank of the Rocky Mountains, in the foothills and boreal forest area. There was no shortage of lakes and rivers en route, and a good number of roadside bison to keep the drive interesting. 

At Watson Lake we pulled into the town Rv park. Only $20 with full services. Formerly a town of 8,000 people, it now boasts only a little over 1,000. The 8 pubs have dwindled to none, with none of the businesses looking too healthy. The former mining Center now has a reduced reason for being as nearly all the mines have closed. 

Tourism now supports what is left. Even the trucking industry has shrunk dramatically as ocean barges take over much of the coastal shipping traffic that once used the Alaska highway--our next question was why are they working at 4-landing it??!!

Watson lake's one claim to fame is the over 10,000 directional and name signs that fill the many posts planted in a park at the centre of town. A person could spend a good hour looking at the creative work of thousands of tourist from all over the world who have left their mark. Amazingly we only found one from Kelowna, a person by the name of George Hewlett. 

Of course we had to get some wood and leave our mark. The painting of Julie and Ade will mark our place in history on that day!!

...back to te RV's, dinner and another weak effort at crib by Terry and I.