More Adventure (Day 4-5)

Prior to our highly anticipated stop at the Laird hot springs, we took a 3.5 hour detour down a gravel highway to stop and leap in front of the 'Welcome NWT Sign' and closely observed the territory landscape. After all, it's important to see your country!
In our experience, North West Territory is rockier than the provinces, and provinces are greener.


We arrived at the Laird Provincial Park Hot Springs late on Day Three, and NEVER wanted to leave! WOW! Natural and so much more appealing than the cemented variety many springs use these days.
We set up camp.... well, unpacked the stove and cooked- and then walked the KM on the wooden boardwalk through this crazy beautiful forest swamp. There are two pools, the first is shallower, and varies in temperature, from cold to crazy boiling hot! The second pool, our absolute favourite, was magical. Both nights, we had it all to ourselves. It is deep, and we made flotation devices with duct tape and empty water jugs... just WOW. We soaked and swam and warmed and soothed our souls.
It was so amazing, we just had to stay a second night. It was Friday night of the May Long Weekend, and we met many Kindred Spirits, who were willing to let us cut their hair and glue it in various styles to their faces within moments of meeting us!





It was a day and night filled with laughter and cheers! We had a very thoughtful donation of H2O from Steve, and woke up to snow (which quickly disappeared, Yay!) And... who can forget meeting Dino, who demonstrated exactly what happens when you fast and drink beer in the hot springs!

He also taught us to say "Babylonian Coliseum" instead of 'cheese'!
Cheers to Dino, his photography skills and his passion for life!


We also made ourselves at home at the Laird Lodge, and helped to serve and bus tables (both the waitress and cook were yet to arrive, and the only menu options were cheeseburgers and fries, or bagels) It was great, the bookkeeper was very hospitable, and we were sad to leave- but that is kind of the thing about road trips!

We arrived at the Liard Provincial Park Hot Springs late on Day Three, and Never wanted to leave! WOW! We set up camp- well, unpacked the stove and cooked- and then walked the KM on the wooden boardwalk through this crazy beautiful forest swamp. There are two pools, the first is shallower, and varies in temperature, from cold to crazy boiling hot! The second pool, our absolute favorite, was absolutely magical, and both nights, we had it all to ourselves. It is deep, and we made floatation devices with duct tape and empty water jugs... just WOW. We soaked and swam and warmed and soothed our souls. It was so amazing, we just had to stay a second night. It was Friday night of the May Long Weekend, and we met many kindred Spirits, who were willing to let us cut their hair and glue it in various styles to their faces within moments of meeting us! It was a day and night filled with laughter and cheers! We had a very thoughtful donation of H2O from Steve, and woke up to snow (which quickly disappeared, Yay!) We also made ourselves at home at the Liard Lodge, and helped to serve and bus tables (both the waitress and cook were yet to arrive, and the only menu options were cheeseburgers and fries, or bagels) It was great, and we were sad to leave, but that is kind of the thing about road trips! Actually, prior to Liard, we took a 3.5 hour detour down a gravel highway to stop and leap in front or the 'Welcome NWT Sign' and closely observed the territory landscape. In our experience, North West Territory is rockier than the provinces, and provinces are greener. After Liard, we set our sights on Whitehorse, with a stop in Watson Lake to post our sign (conveniently found on the road, to which we added some engraving and vinyl lettering indicating our origin in Cheer Trio, AB). We also had very berried ice cream dedicated to Mark and Wendy in the hometown of their love (My parents met in Watson Lake 37 years ago!) We slept in a van down by the river last night, right behind the Yukon Gov't Building, strolled through the downtown (filled with lovely artsy fartsy hippi goodness!) internetted to the max capacity, and are imminently departing for Dawson City to drink some pickled toe whiskey and stay in a condemmed hotel, and maybe mine some gold! (Oh, and just met Mik, a delightfully informative American with great tips and info. Good stuff!) Cheers for Beards all the way!
After Laird, we set our sights on Whitehorse, with a stop in Watson Lake to post our sign (conveniently found on the road, to which we added some engraving and vinyl lettering indicating our origin in Cheer Trio, AB).

We also had very berried ice cream dedicated to Mark and Wendy in the hometown of their love (Julie's parents met in Watson Lake 37 years ago!)
We slept in a van down by the river last night, right behind the Yukon Gov't Building, strolled through downtown (filled with lovely artsy fartsy hippy goodness!), internetted to the max capacity, and are imminently departing for Dawson City to drink some pickled toe whiskey and stay in a condemned hotel, and maybe mine some gold!?



(Oh, and just met Mik, a delightfully informative American with great tips and info. Good people!)
Cheers for Beards all the way!