It’s a Sign of the Times…

Another early morning, but I’m getting used to it. Several members of our group leave the campground right at 6am to start their drive. Most are out by 8am and then we rinse out the coffeepots and get going. I have to tell you that there are many mosquitos up here and I wear bug spray all day every day. I still have some impressive bites. As we drive there are a variety of bugs smashed on the windshield and the front grill.

Today is good for wildlife viewing and we saw a moose family including a papa with antlers, mama and calf. Then we saw two black bears, one was crossing the road just ahead of us and scampered into the woods as we approached. We also saw two different herds of bison and two adult males were roughhousing and butting heads. We could hear their horns clanking against each other. The calves are so cute and run alongside their moms.

Again the scenery is breathtaking with me going ooh and aah around each curve. The highway is easy to drive since it is constantly improved and straightened. Portions of the original highway can sometimes be seen and it is curvy, bumpy and now overgrown with grass.

Today was a shorter drive and we arrived in Watson Lake before 2pm. At 3pm our group walked over to the Signpost Village. This has become a popular attraction and is a large tract of land with signs that tourists have left from all over the world. The first sign was put up by a homesick GI during the highway construction and the idea caught on quickly. I was amazed by how large and orderly this site is kept. Locals support the place by erecting new poles for the visitors to attach their sign or license plate. We saw some messages on gold pans, hub caps, frisbees and even a chamber pot. It is surprising how many folks have stolen highway or city signs and brought them up here. Our group made a sign with all our names and hometowns and it is now proudly hanging in the forest.

Later we visited the town museum and then the rest of the day was spent doing laundry and checking e-mail. We haven’t had internet service for days and now we do. Of course you have to stand near the office/laundry to get access. After dinner we walked Ziggy to a nearby park and now we are off to bed. It is 10:15pm and the sky is still very bright.