Day 13

Today was an awesome day. We got an early start to get out of that craphole of a campsite. We got driving and the Alaska Highway climbed into the mountains. It was very pretty. We saw several bears along the road and some moose. One large male black bear was eating a large carcass. Moose are awfully dumb. They will just stand in the road looking stupid until you get right up on them. We really enjoyed the scenery. Our first gas stop was at a mountain road house with a few rv sites and an ancient gas pump. We pulled in and it was a mud lot. The man, a tall fellow of about 40 with a ponytail, filled up the car with gas. We all went into the road house as they are supposed to have really good Cinnamon Buns. Amy got to talking to the owners wife and when Amy said that we were from Texas, the lady asked her “do you know where Hempstead is? I used to live there”. Small World. We ordered 2 Cinnamon rolls and a large bowl of soup to go. I got to talking to the owner and his cousin and asked about area fishing. They were happy to tell me about all of the various spots and lures to use. The cousin even offered to go and get his son and have him take me to a river to catch some fish. I thought about it but we decided to get a move on. In the shop, Grant had taken a liking to a toy truck with big tires in the shop. He asked Amy and I for it and we told him no. He then went up to the owner lady and ask her “Is it okay if I borrow this”, in his sweetest little voice. She promptly gave him the truck. Little rascal. We then set on. The weather cleared a bit, but the road got very bad. There were multiple areas with Rock Sheep in the road and past a beautiful lake called Muncho Lake. We decided to stop for the evening at a place called Liard Hot Springs provincial Park. When we got there, the main campsite was full, but they allowed us to overflow camp in the day use area. We set up the RV and got ready to hit the hot springs. Liard hot springs consist of a boardwalk across a water marsh to two wonderful hot springs. There are two different pools. The first is a shallow pool with a waterfall suitable for kids. The second is about another five minutes and is deeper and hotter. The water is clear and refreshing and smells only slightly of sulfur. We packed everyone up and went to the springs. The mosquitoes were unreal. We coated ourselves in off and still got bitten. Once in the springs though, they left you alone. We all got in and relaxed a bit. Grant swam around and Alex kept trying to drink the water. We met a retired couple from Texas who were on their way back from Alaska and told us all about the fishing and whale watching and various things to do. We let Grant swim around a bit more and then went back to the trailer. By this time the day use area had transformed into a gypsy campground of trailers and campers from all over. We left our door open and screen door closed and Amy cooked a delicious parmesan chicken. We ate up and then got the kids ready for bed. While were eating. Shari and Grant were playing an I spy game. At the campsite across from us a very “healthy” lady was preparing a campfire. Grant said “I spy a big butt!!!” The window was open. We tried to stifle laughter and we told him no. I don’t think she heard. We got the kids to bed, and darkened the trailer with the blackout curtains, as it was still broad daylight at 9pm. Amy and I decided to go back for a swim just the two of us. We went back and met another retired couple from California who had just left Alaska after 3 months. They fell in love with Alaska and told us all about various things to go. We then hung out in the lower pool for a bit. There are benches in the water where you can sit and bask as well. We relaxed and talked for a bit and then Amy figured we could sit under the waterfall. We climbed under the waterfall and let it flow on our backs. We did not realize until we got there that there was a bench underneath it. We sat down on the bench and let the water flow over us. It was then that I experienced a perfect moment. It was a moment in time where, if only for a second, everything comes together just right. I sat there on the bench, under the 10pm sun, with the water flowing over my back that smelled only slightly of sulfur, and felt all of my muscles relax. Nothing mattered right then and time felt like it stood still for a moment. Perfect. Reality soon came back and we slowly made our way back to the edge. We dried off and re-applied the OFF as the mosquitoes tried to devour you as soon as you left the water. We went back to the trailer and enjoyed some Moose Track ice cream. Alex continues to run fever but she is eating okay it seems. It was a good day.