California to Alaska: The Puppy Dog Edition is an eight part series. If you missed the start of the trip, Day One, click here. Today we are Yukon-bound. For notifications, subscribe to the Retirement Monkeys Newsletter.
Today’s Itinerary—
Morning walk around Muncho Lake
1st Stop: Watson Lake, Rec center field
2nd Stop: Whitehorse, YK, Canines bluff dog park
Lodging: Haines Junction Alcan Motor Inn
We’ve been on the road for 6 days now. Over two-thirds of the way done and in the road trip groove now!! Yukon-bound today! We awoke to pouring rain and it’s been raining all night. It is our first day of bad weather for the whole trip. After a quick walk to potty the dogs, we loaded up the car and headed out. It was foggy and wet. I had intended to stop at the Liard Hot Springs, about 30 minutes from the lodge, but decided to skip it on this occasion. It is definitely worth a stop though, one of the highlights of the Alcan. Maybe next time.
Instead, I kept driving through the early morning mist and rain. We still saw bison and sheep, deer and elk. No bears today. But no matter the weather, the scenery is spectacular. The mist adds a lovely layer of mystery to the mountain vistas.
Watson Lake Signpost Forest
Watson Lake is our first stop. We gas up and then head to the famous sign forest. With humble beginnings as a single signpost pointing out distances along the road, in 1942 a soldier decided to personalize the signpost by adding a directional and mileage sign to his hometown in Danville, Illinois. Other soldiers and crew began adding their own hometown signs and soon travelers along the Alcan were adding their own signposts, license plates and hometown memorabilia. The “forest” has grown to almost 100,000 signs from all over the world. Every time I visit, I remember that I should have brought a sign of my own to post from home! Next time.
As far as I can tell, Watson Lake doesn’t have a dog park. However, whenever I can’t find a dog park, I’ll look for a recreation field or playground. Since the pups are young, I don’t quite trust that they will come to me in all circumstances. These areas may not be fully fenced but they often have fields that are partially fenced. Three quarters of a fence is better than none. Or at least that is my thought process. I ALWAYS potty the dogs first so the only thing we are doing in the field is running and chasing the ball for 10 – 15 minutes. You can look for a field and make your own judgement on how appropriate it is for your dogs. Otherwise, leash walking is the alternative.
There happens to be a recreation field right next to the sign forest in Watson Lake. We take a quick break there and then it is back on the road. The Yukon is where you start to feel the expanse of Canada and the isolation of the Alcan. The towns become further apart; the cars less prevalent on the road.
Yukon-bound
Shortly after we leave town, I see a grizzly walking along the side of the road. But I don’t stop for a picture. No need to wake the sleeping puppies for a bear as big as our car! A bit further down the road, I see my very first Canadian moose. I don’t know why but I never seem to see moose in Canada. They are a dime a dozen in Alaska but apparently, they are shy in Canada.
Whitehorse is our dog park stop. The Canines Bluff dog park is right downtown. It is an interesting park. Located on the side of a hill, it is filled with trees and holes where something has burrowed a home under the trees. I worry that when the dogs are roughhousing or chasing the ball they will run into a tree and knock themselves out. It hasn’t happened yet but seems like a genuine possibility. There is no running water at the park so bring your own. The dogs have a blast chasing the ball up and down the hill. Before long they are tuckered out and it is back in the car.
Haines Junction is our stop for the night and is only another hour and a half. We stay at the Alcan Motor Inn right on the main road. There is a nearby recreation center and playground where the dogs can run around before we head in for the night. There is no sign but there is a dispenser of poop bags so I’m guessing this is the town’s “dog run”. It isn’t fenced but it is off the road so works in a pinch.
Early to bed since tomorrow is the rough road day. The section from Destruction Bay to Tok is traditionally the roughest part of the Alcan. I’m expecting a bumpy ride tomorrow!
