Day 6: The Road Fights Back

Day 6 was the longest driving day of the trip, and thankfully the scenery continued to deliver.

The pictures coming in from Dax and Ana looked less like something captured through a windshield and more like something created by AI. Snow-capped mountains, turquoise lakes, endless valleys, and views that seemed to stretch forever in every direction.

Just when they thought the scenery couldn’t get any better, they made a stop at one of the Alaska Highway’s most famous landmarks: the Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake, Yukon.

What started in 1942 with a homesick U.S. Army soldier posting a sign pointing toward his hometown has grown into a collection of more than 100,000 signs from around the world. Travelers continue to add signs, license plates, stickers, and markers representing the places they’ve come from and the journeys they’re taking. It’s a quirky roadside attraction that somehow perfectly captures the spirit of the Alaska Highway itself.

After leaving Watson Lake, the convoy continued northwest toward Whitehorse.

As soon as they passed Whitehorse, the pavement deteriorated significantly. Frost heaves became the story of the afternoon.

Google image, but wanted to provide to provide a reference picture

For those unfamiliar, frost heaves occur when freezing and thawing ground pushes sections of pavement upward, creating dips, bumps, and waves in the roadway. In some places, the road looked more like a roller coaster than a highway.

There were stretches where speeds dropped to 20 mph or less as the drivers carefully navigated the uneven pavement while towing trailers loaded with everything from household goods to deep freezers and enough supplies to support a small herd.

The slower pace added hours to an already long day, but everyone arrived safely.

The night ended in Beaver Creek, Yukon, the last Canadian community before crossing into Alaska.

Meanwhile, back in the Lower 48, the D.C. branch of the Davies Herd hit a milestone of its own.

Mia and Zoe wrapped up their final day of school, spending the day saying heartfelt goodbyes to friends, teachers, and classmates who have been part of our village during our time in Virginia. Military moves always come with excitement for what’s ahead, but the hardest part is often watching your kids say goodbye to people who have become family.

With school officially in the rearview mirror, the girls and I loaded up and headed east to Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

For the next few days, Sam is calling the Fiddler Inn home while Mia and Zoe have their own adventure. The price is right, the food is great, and the company is even better.

Herd Stats

Miles Driven: 3,989

States/Provinces Traveled: 10/4

Tire Blowouts: 3

Total Animal Sightings: Moose 4, Bear 17, Yak 20, Wild horse 1, Mountain goats 1, Bison 200+, porcupine 2, rabbits 50, wolves 2

Hotels Occupied: 9

Herd Morale: Excited for Alaska

Sanity Level: Slightly Shaken by Frost Heaves, But Intact

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