- Remaining kilometers on the Cassiar Highway north
- Stop in Jade City
- Marvel at the sign forest of Watson Lake
- Another sighting of six individual black bears right on the street
- Continue on the legendary Alaska Highway to Teslin
- Photographing bald eagles at the campground
Today we sleep in again, it was urgently needed. Just stupid, the kids next door make a lot of noise before 8 a.m. But then calm returns and I sleep almost until 10 a.m. Breakfast in the sunshine, that hasn't existed for a while. My big journey continues north.
There are some wonderful, crystal clear lakes before I arrive at Jade City. The name says it all here. Jade in every imaginable shape can be bought here, but otherwise there are dead pants here too. Soon after, I leave British Columbia and reach the Yukon Territory and the legendary Alaska Highway. This is much better developed and has slightly fewer potholes than the previous Cassiar Highway. I take the 20km detour to Watson Lake.
There I visit the vast forest of signs. An unbelievable 78,000 signs are now hanging here and more are being added all the time. Mostly there are place-name signs, but all sorts of own creations, name plates or conventional road or prohibition signs have been nailed to posts here. In any case, the whole thing is much bigger and more impressive than I imagined. That would have been enough to immortalize yourself here! Unfortunately, I didn't think of that in advance. In addition to the many North American signs, German and now and then a Swiss place-name sign can also be seen. After another tank of fuel, a little shopping and an extremely informative visit to the Visitors Center, the journey continues.
The Alaska Highway leads through a hilly landscape with untamed rivers, swamps, brooks and that all embedded in the almost endless coniferous forests of the north. An absolutely great backdrop that cannot be diminished by the rain that is now falling. Or as the advertising slogan so aptly describes it: Yukon - Larger than Life! Again, a fabulous six times I see a black bear right on the roadside. This time I also manage to take some great shots of the grazing bears. How we couldn't see a single one on my first visit five years ago is slowly becoming a mystery to me.
In addition, as I have often done in the last few days, I fight the countless mosquitoes. A real plague, at least I have the weighty advantage over the annoying insects that it's not about life and death for me =)
I briefly visit the moderately spectacular Rancheria Falls. On this trip I have already seen waterfalls that are far more impressive. Without noticing it, it is already 7 p.m. The days have become noticeably longer. In the small intermediate town of Teslin I find an RV campground right on the lake with the urgently needed shower. I warm up leftovers from the previous days and do the dishes. I discover a bald eagle flying overhead. It lands a little further on in a fir tree. Of course, I cannot miss this situation, grab the camera and take pictures of this majestic bird. As is often the case today, I am asked about the roof tent on various occasions. Most North Americans are amazed that there is such a thing and think it's a great thing.
Once again it is noticeable how the people here are more open to a little conversation with complete strangers. It doesn't matter whether it's a retiree who drives a motorcycle from New Hampshire to Anchorage to see his daughter or the couple in Colorado who are pursuing a similar project as me. I spend the rest of the evening with them and we exchange travel plans and experiences. Now take a shower and then when it gets dark at midnight, I go to bed.
