CAMPING IN WATSON LAKE

Just across the border of BC you connect with Highway #1, the Alaska Highway; it runs southeast to Mile Marker 0 at Dawson Creek and continues north to Delta Junction, AK about 150 km southeast of Fairbanks. Our final destination for this leg of our journey was Watson Lake, which entailed a 21 km run east, back along highway #1 from Junction 37. We needed to restock our food and we were hoping to get some better internet service so we could get some badly need postings done. Sadly we were disappointed.

We chose to stay at the Downtown RV Park where we stayed a couple of years ago. They offer free wi-fi, but unfortunately it doesn’t work, which really sucks because they are charging $46.00 per night to park in an open gravel parking lot. They have electric, water and sewer hookups, but otherwise there is nothing else nice about this park. The manager apologized for the wifi and blames it on people abusing the service, which causes it to shut down. He told me that his wi-fi provider has advised him to opt for a user pay system, which would solve his problems. He is reluctant to do this because he feels it is important to offer his guests free wi-fi because so many RV’ers expect it. However, what is the point of offering a free service as an incentive if it doesn’t work. From his response to me it obviously frustrates him badly and sadly from my point of view it creates more animosity than good will and many people won’t be back. Unless they change, I know we won’t.