Day Two - Alaska Hwy: Fort Nelson to Watson Lake

So this morning I was up and on the road early, eager to see what adventures awaited me today.   Within minutes, all signs of "civilization" were behind me and the Alaska Highway lay before me:

 All throughout today, I had the highway pretty much to myself.   If I stopped to snap a photo, there might be - at most - 2 vehicles go by.  Most of the time I was alone.   And that was fine with me.    

As it turned out, the day was eventful all by myself...

Along the highway, I discovered a few stand-alone, old-fashioned general stores.   My Texas friends will recognize these stores; they're still very common in the Texas countryside.   

Walking in to get a cup of coffee, I was often overpowered by the enticing aroma of homemade peanut butter cookies.  OMG!  My mother used to make peanut butter cookies.  They're my all-time favorite.   And the peanut butter cookies at these stores were the size of sundials!!    To hell with tree bark...halleluya!!!

 Sadly, the wildfires in parts of Canada resulted in hazy terrain here and there along the way, but this valley was spectacular despite the haze.






Shortly later I came to MacDonald River:

 
I would really love to find a spot like this 
in the U.S. where I could rent, build or purchase a simple, rustic cabin.  No frills.  

Just a place where I could bring a big stack of books, several pounds of good coffee ... and perhaps a peanut butter cookie now and then after a day of reading, hiking and fishing.  Colorado perhaps?    What do you all think?   Any ideas?    Boulder or Leadville, CO perhaps?  

Today I was treated to herds of mountain goats, moose, bear and bison ... all within literally a few yards of my car.   The mountain goats were friendly and curious enough, but the rest were all too intent on either grazing and non-stop eating, or dozing after a pig-out on the roadside grasses.  Only too well do I know the behavior.  LOL.  :>(((

Way too many photo ops and photos taken, so I'm limiting the posts to just these.






Finally, I departed northern British Columbia and crossed the border into the Yukon Territories.  Yahoo!    

Watson Lake was important during the use of the Alaska Hwy in WWII, but today it's claim to fame is the "Sign Post Forest".

Started in 1942 by an American GI, visitors to Watson Lake often bring street or name signs with them and ask that they be posted.

The 'forest' is now huge, and there is no order to the posts.  Nevertheless, I 'lucked out' at one of the entrances (above right).   If you look closely, you'll see a post that we all should honor.  Need a hint?
Here you go:

   "ROLL, DAMN TIDE, ROLL!"  YEA!

And if you click on the photo to the left and enlarge it, you may discover one sign that had me gasping in shock.   Hint: yellow with red lettering.   You young-uns!!!

The photo to the right will be appreciated by Tom R and by all my friends from The Lone Star State of Texas!