Last night, there were numerous RVs camped at Frances Lake that were VERY muddy. Chatted with one fellow to learn he had arrived from Watson Lake. So we expected a muddy road to greet us today.
We were not disappointed. At the first construction zone, it was a guessing game about which route to take; the red cones helped!
Construction on the Campbell Highway between Frances Lake and Simpson Lake
The crews were not working on this day at this site. It was a long construction zone with no pilot car. There also wasn't too much traffic coming in the opposite direction, which was a very good thing!
Construction zone on the Campbell Highway
At the next zone, the crews were working and there was a flagperson but no pilot car. The flagperson said simply, "Go slow, stay out of the way of the equipment."
A turn of the switch and we were in 4-wheel-drive for the next section. Figured if the trailer got stuck there was a big yellow machine just ahead to pull us out.
Mud! and more mud and not sure which path to follow ...
The semi trucks hauling dirt didn't seem to have too much
sympathy for us ...
through this section of construction we decided to follow one of
them since they knew where they were going.
Following a haul truck through a construction zone on the Campbell
Highway
The access to the Nahanni Range Road was almost unrecognizable. We just happened to see the sign as we slid on by. That road was our favorite drive last year.
It was with great relief that we reached Watson Lake, having managed the 100 mile drive from Frances Lake in 4.5 hours of mud, ruts and BYMs (big yellow machines).
The Downtown RV Park was a welcome sight, even though we usually avoid commercial campgrounds. The host was an easy-going fellow that was more than happy to park us on the outer edge of the campground away from everyone else.
Steve invested three hours washing the truck and fifth wheel, while I washed clothes and shopped for groceries at the nearby store. The big red dog slept.