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The
two RV Gypsies |
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| Watson Lake is the first Yukon community encountered by the northbound traveler, a day's drive from Whitehorse. Watson Lake was the accommodation and supply center for the building of this section of the Alaska Highway. it is still the communication and distribution center for the Southern Yukon. | |
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The World Famous Sign Post Forest is Watson's Lake best known attraction. So famous, it is known and mimicked around the world. This forest was started in 1941 by a homesick U.S. Army G.I., Carl K. Lindley of Danville, Illinois, Company D, 341st Engineers. While working on the Alaska Highway, he erected a sign here pointing the way and stating the mileage to his hometown. Others followed his lead and are still doing so today.On July 20, 1990, Olsen and Anita Walker of Bryan Ohio placed the 10,000th sign. Carl K. Lindley and his wife visited the site in 1992 - 50 years after his first post was erected. By 2015, over 82,000 signs were posted. Today, the Town of Watson Lake maintains the site, erecting more posts as they are needed. |
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Below: Sign Post Forest entrance 2016 and 2009 |
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The two RV Gypsies made a sign and Lee Duquette posted it at The Sign Post Forest. They had also posted a sign in 2009 when they were here, but they could not find the 2009 sign when they were here in 2016. Both signs honor their son, Brian Duquette, and their RV trip to Alaska. |
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Below: Standing in the 3rd row where the two RV Gypsies hung their sign, they can see their RV, plus the repair shop that did some repair work on the RV. |
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The next few photos show where the two RV Gypsies' 2016 sign was posted, so that if the two RV Gypsies ever return here they may be able to find their sign. Although they could not find their sign from 2009, so they think someone took it down and replaced it with their own sign. How Rude and mean. Karen is wearing her Canada hat with pins from places the two RV Gypsies have been to in Canada. It is very heavy. |
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Below: Two more signs to help located the two RV Gypsies' sign. |
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Below: A flashback to show the 2009 sign made by the two RV Gypsies, honoring their son Brian and their trip to Alaska. |
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Below: Ed Kerry and Gertrude, his 1938TD 35 International tractor, came to the Yukon as a team in the 194o's during the building of the Alaska Highway. For 40 years, Gertrude could be seen at construction sites all over the Yukon, building everything from airstrips and Whitehorse city streets to portions of the Alaska Highway. "Gertie" was donated to the Yukon Government by the kerry Family in memory of Ed Kerry, a loyal and true Yukoner. |
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| INTERNATIONAL
HARVESTER TRACTOR TD-35, Production: 1937-1939, Length: 132 feet, Width: 59.5 inches, Weight: 11,245 pounds Fuel Efficiency 15.04 Engine: IHC 4 Cylinder, Displacement: 414, Bore 4,500, Stroke: 6,500, RPM: 1100, Magneto: F-4, Air Cleaner: Donaldson, Carburetor: Zenith K-5 1.25 inches, Pulley size: 16.75x9, Pulley RPM: 591, PTO Diameter: 1.625, PTO RPM: 560, Forward Speeds: 1.75, 2.25, 2.75, 3.25, 4. Reverse Speeds: 3, Tracks: 13"-20" |
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Below: A few of the signs that the two RV Gypsies thought were interesting. A lot of the signs were street or city signs that were stolen. |
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Below: Two signs for places the two RV Gypsies have not been to. |
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