Day 20: Tetsa River, BC to Liard Hot Springs, BC

Friday, May 20, 2016
Watson Lake, Yukon Territory, Canada
We awoke still grumbling about this RV Park - only 110 V electric, no wifi, laundry and showers look rough, but I was still thinking they could redeem themselves if they had hot cinnamon buns for breakfast. I headed out for a walk with Sara while Linda went to the office to checking/out and investigate C.B.S (cinnamon bun status). When I got back she started with a story about how the owner was grouchy, called the camper kids by a bad name, and so I was totally shocked when I asked about C.B.S....and she said look - a huge, hot, C.B.with melting butter was on our counter - all was forgiven at the Tetsa River Lodge, and it's a gorgeous sunny day, probably 50 degrees by 10 am! So we're back on the road and reach Summit Lake, where we were originally planning to spend last night - I'm kind of sorry we didn't because it was a spectacular view from the campground - the views were of a great, long, blue, clear lake. We stopped to walk Sara and then tried to follow a trail, which seemed to quickly disappear into a gravel field, with no hint as to where the trail continued. So back to RV and on the AK Highway. Summit Lake was highly underrated in the books as we followed it for several miles. Next we saw Muncho Lake - the largest naturally occurring lake in the Canadian Rockies, clear to the bottom. We were also following several rivers, such as Racing River - it is polar ice (Gatorade blue) in color due to the minerals (copper) in the rocks. Next we stop at a little "short 5-10 min. Loop trail" to see Mineral Lick - where sheep go to lick the rocks for minerals. We saw no animals so far, but am sure if we had waited til sunset this view would have been the place to see Stone Sheep. We got a little worried on the way back to RV as there were several splits in the trail and we couldn't even hear Sara barking from the RV, and weren't sure where we were, but about 30 mins later we came out in a field north of the RV. We let Sara out for a good run in the field, she's running and urinating well (thanks, antibiotics!). Back in the RV and on to tonight's campsite at Liard Hot Springs. We are ready to "partake of the waters". It seems very warm in the sun (60's) so water sport seems possible in spite of yesterday's snow storm! So we check into our campsite (not too exciting since water is not "on yet for the season") but we do have full electric hookup, so that means brownies can bake tonight :). We hike out of our campground, across the AK Highway, to the Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park to check out the facilities - we got the plan, then return to the RV for bathing suits, $5 Canadian money per person, and hike in to the springs - it's a 900 meter (a mile?) boardwalk out to the Springs. The Springs flow into a pond area, overflowing into a second pond - temp is approx 100 degrees F, hotter in some areas. It was actually stinging hot as you got in, but then you adjusted. Unfortunately it smelled like the sulfur water we encountered in Monroe, LA!! So we partook of the waters for 1 hour, hoping it cures our ails! Still haven't seen much wildlife - I think it was a coyote I saw today, but all these warning signs for moose, bears, sheep are for naught. It's our first night to eat outside in sunshine - thanks to Karen for the folding chairs with tables! Chicken, pesto ravioli, broccoli, and spinach/apple salad - yum! Lots of families camping tonight since this is a 3 day weekend here, and the sun is still out at 10 pm and kids are all out! They say we might get to view the Northern Lights tonight if awake from 1-3am. We heard this from a Swiss couple who are planning to go back to the Springs at 1am and watch for the Lights - not up for that!!!
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