2019 Alaska Vacation Journal (79)
07/29/2019 Travel Day – Fort Nelson
Start Location:
Start Time: 6:41 a.m.
Mileage: 55,529.9
End Location:
End Time: 2:00 p.m.
Mileage: 55,850
Cost Per Night: $47.25 CAD
Weather: 48-66 F Off & On Rain / Sunny
Route:
- Alaskan Highway (1 East)
- 97 South
We were the first ones out of the campground this morning. Our early start was rewarded by a plethora of bison sightings. Luckily, I was prepared and had the camera at the ready. There was no traffic behind us, and Paul was able to slow the ‘Beast’ to a crawl! It was super exciting.
For most of the trip, there was no one in front nor behind us. It was an unbelievably tranquil atmosphere to travel in . . . almost like a private tour.
At 10:15 a.m., we had to stop for a male caribou on the 97 South. His mate was across the road. We inched the RV past him and then the female crossed behind us. After that, there were a ton of animals near the road to spot. The drive to Fort Nelson did become an animal adventure.
We arrived before 2:00 p.m. The nice reception lady upgrade us to a beautiful pull through site with easy access to the main road - perfect for an early start in the a.m.
Paul and I took a small walk to the Fort Nelson Heritage Museum. Their motto is “Preserving the Past for the Future.” Fort Nelson, named after Admiral Nelson, was established as a fur trading post in 1805. Housed in over eight buildings, the museum offers displays and artifacts. Paul loved the car shed, which housed a large number of vintage cars and motorcycles.
We ate dinner at the RV park’s restaurant. The food was very good, and the service was excellent. We enjoyed quite a busy day.
Wildlife Spotted: A herd of about twenty bison; three separate sightings of bison including a huge male about to cross the highway and a big male kicking up a cloud of dirt; ducks in a pond; a murder of raven standing on a grassy hill; two swans sitting on an island in the middle of a pond; another herd of twenty bison around 9:00 a.m.; then another lone male buffalo in the tree line; three bison in front of Hot Springs eating on the side of the road; single male bison walking; single male bison sitting in dirt cubby; bunny running like hell; male and female caribou, young caribou; another caribou; herd of six female sheep; red fox with rabbit in mouth, Paul had to dodge a deer crossing the road (three in the group two bucks and a doe).
Summary: 50 Bison; 6 Thinhorn Sheep; 4 Caribou; 3 Deer; 2 Swans; 2 Bunnies; Red Fox; Ducks; Ton of Raven.
![This is Part of the First Bison Herd We Found This is Part of the First Bison Herd We Found](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVXyQT4BDYviIyqgc4BTPOG5-Qnrex4ONHdjqgJUWIYQKaYExivX8k-BiICBk72RNAKLevxbpUYzKCGG-dh03iPkJ05er7xumRZ-D-FWg2crOxrUWZCJjWU3OxdcOHdlUGWZPBug7-4xv/s400/1-Bison.jpg) |
This is Part of the First Bison Herd We Found |
![The Bison Use Their Horns to Dig Down to the Dirt For Comfort The Bison Use Their Horns to Dig Down to the Dirt For Comfort](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehiJBOQxCp3l3i79Dk7XXg0IkkAGPRpru245Kp48mw7G9ZxJyKd-wXuoL4iOeSr8h4HW-S2_wnGSCWFJ1F3YEJdmzoRax_0Zj3d50EZcTd075OxG-tzCJ2JDBrNvLj45O2EdpSb_ZNKp5/s400/2-big_bison_sitting.jpg) |
The Bison Use Their Horns to Dig Down to the Dirt For Comfort |
![This Big Bison Placed Himself Between Us and the Baby This Big Bison Placed Himself Between Us and the Baby](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SwDaOr0c7YUUEkO89aRclUcCXkphenhZblhYr3TFSz1mrbqCPGtxoUR_ToB3xZD5dNWLiuwCn5ulG3e0WGBLYp8_FsXZ63qhkUiWqBFeJzExB7E7DB1wbWgSb4kMJ_4O2qedOeV_8JSv/s400/3-Baby_Bison.jpg) |
This Big Bison Placed Himself Between Us and the Baby |
![Bison are Grazers; Eating Grasses and Sedges Bison are Grazers; Eating Grasses and Sedges](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrm4ZFX-8pQpU7ALfVYQkbeLe4G2mg2pqIj1-hPvZPso9agnhkfQfhLbsjAgN00cl2_LBU08srl_uQWH6lU5HKl6PyAa-fGbXMsKCjJiqioE0njKbxJ2lcTZm_yjpx6eMVb5SCtvgmMyz/s400/4-Bision_eating.jpg) |
Bison are Grazers; Eating Grasses and Sedges |
![The Water Off the 97 South was a Deep Blue – Beautiful The Water Off the 97 South was a Deep Blue – Beautiful](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcw_sgxWhFPn54Qpym3wkDPM1AVcmM-I0_8bH3_c8EyU_qaDAFVE5UN2uQMEuABnwvoReuuaYUyPyPJBtSanpKPVz56SUt6Wg_T1EIgI1_dJkecGQVLRi5HAk59Jwikob6JmiacChMdFMi/s400/5-blue_water.jpg) |
The Water Off the 97 South was a Deep Blue – Beautiful |
![This is the Second Bison Herd We Encountered This is the Second Bison Herd We Encountered](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfZwTwOPLTdS5YIvf9Q4dI2czoFUMfx3K8ufHj8n3XpCZ7PSgISflKaoeDOVBpjv5VUNDXKde5qxvGQDLXXwwBfCZf9BKQ6cAxzO2Y-4-2Fa0CDP4Mlg4-iXciCHE_NgY1JlX5t939Xmu/s400/6-Bison_herd.jpg) |
This is the Second Bison Herd We Encountered |
![This Male Caribou Waited for the Female Who Crossed Behind Us This Male Caribou Waited for the Female Who Crossed Behind Us](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsb0pYBt97xUc1eZBNMvnDu_4A35lQxhb_KOXZVJqmLtAUubaXdFmJ_uBjGCo-jkhFUEgoveIqrFknohmHiiHUZ6IN7E3SImZfkKLDuWWC6kO3rSv-f-bAkX4Hu-P7BY0nFxpQB7XWGNGK/s400/7-caribou.jpg) |
This Male Caribou Waited for the Female Who Crossed Behind Us |
![Picture Postcard Spectacular Picture Postcard Spectacular](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOx876w9HMnDd6ni6K5oRYctOxPElXJdVqhAOjTCjkTERJ25kdiCS6KhgJE8paBhFDGDEQJgmfjlmC5c3_1w9SfqsW_5lGFxiKzZJ57FbRVBCvES2CuQ7nnvfKROV-Y0g3fIi6BqsGMK-2/s400/8-mountains.jpg) |
Picture Postcard Spectacular |
![We had to Slow for these Four Female Sheep to Cross the Road We had to Slow for these Four Female Sheep to Cross the Road](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa8iLFX_LPNC36s5UNsNZqLBRsxQzYZms5FqdmeGhc8vC__nerASBmSurh_0tFuLc-uyS_W17npiIqbzucYsIDhHqiQaM9hmDkM4l6Luc-Ntyx4A3y0t-2qLIxUvw2baqb9uYIhjRgH5N/s400/9-Sheep_Crossing.jpg) |
We had to Slow for these Four Female Sheep to Cross the Road |
![Very Difficult to See – Fox with Lunch in it’s Mouth (Center) Very Difficult to See – Fox with Lunch in it’s Mouth (Center)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigcCS4chP2eXjX1NyJIPs39Rg8D09ZS1d7dbJI6gqLn0XT52vuQVBtGsxYh0IaCBNeeYNt4FIWKCEZspjjgbHtHcXepChhYTnRjlfGrR5etZJpQaTNf0jIK2FREUyEMxi9Sn3AeHooDu3/s400/10-fox.jpg) |
Very Difficult to See – Fox with Lunch in it’s Mouth (Center) |
![Fort Nelson Heritage Museum - $5 for Seniors Fort Nelson Heritage Museum - $5 for Seniors](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7ZS1tM9t8PHk-X8o086MtGv_pTnRXkeYvciUT__gpdAqXAh6l6U7drK72rLDLa6R3cMJg7h2CDk12Mfl8n2kIugzMIULNrHwOtwH4AuyuegJV8vKyLQwDZm-Wu1gmAlZQxep-M9gPx6I/s400/11-museum.jpg) |
Fort Nelson Heritage Museum - $5 for Seniors |
![Paul Standing In Front of the Blacksmith Shop Paul Standing In Front of the Blacksmith Shop](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MWy5-Z9vVeNaAmqXVIJ_cWX4e2utyed4c9-DpaHT48iDG8afEob67D6oFPQBFX-pj8FsRcDia66ubO_bvGqFoJQX273mxnQ7qPBhQ_G4Oi4u4z4TA-1bzm_gXPxd-PHQjJl97O3DUod_/s400/12-Paul_blacksmith.jpg) |
Paul Standing In Front of the Blacksmith Shop |
![I bought some Bannock (Fry Bread) & Paul Got Organic Jam I bought some Bannock (Fry Bread) & Paul Got Organic Jam](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFuqQUppM8DzTbDTSfgQZQW4XemleOHiyJ-HQVRpiw_YLDR_PoiZxIS5XhlcWMdyqp2z08aQLTXWjPLqfIJgi8LjIxCQ-hDxrvyNGPGFaQM1TPUoliUjRchTvSyYscrsP89EfbRsQxPAf/s400/13-bannock.jpg) |
I bought some Bannock (Fry Bread) & Paul Got Organic Jam |
![Spot 24 – The Park was Pretty Empty Spot 24 – The Park was Pretty Empty](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfN4jIaJkd3DHNIxM-dv7LzsnqiqtgW26VsJVkaGMkVtq33qIg9hxSVwgjT2gS9f7sI7dnGG4mbRF1GDYUvXlqjJQctBPM-Ys_OHV_Vba_RJ34UWC4P-yxah9C8jm0ljZ2omfIlMxRUDb/s400/14-spot_24.jpg) |
Spot 24 – The Park was Pretty Empty |
![Map - Watson Lake to Fort Nelson, Canada Map - Watson Lake to Fort Nelson, Canada](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4J4X2X4RNZFGXAnWNkMoC-RiUKTscWvrigOtps348XQoDtAb14Ua0GrQn6vJI80TKlNwyI-vIzlaYXArh4LoXSpTNMh1q7LfZEb-LLab4DTNEaaHPN0_NtC_5YZ9mGb4NETbeb3ZGC9a0/s400/15-Map_Watson-Lake_Charlie-Lake.jpg) |
Watson Lake to Fort Nelson, Canada |
2019 Alaska Vacation Journal