Published: 01.10.2025
Last night, a very special adventure was on the agenda: Aurora hunting! 🌠 At 11 PM, we ventured out into the night’s chill, bundled up – and were immediately rewarded. Hardly had we climbed out of the camper when the first green veils of the Aurora Borealis started dancing above us in the sky.
Admittedly, the city’s light pollution made the display a bit dimmer, but the Northern Lights still gave it their all. A true spectacle in the sky – and we were right in the middle of it. Happy and with cold noses, we returned to our cozy camper bed… well, at least for now cozy.
Because in the middle of the night came the plot twist: No gas left. 🥶 At a brisk 11 degrees room temperature, we woke up – shivering like two penguins without scarves. So out we went into the cold to change the gas bottle, turn the heater back on, and hope that our fingers would thaw out eventually. At least breakfast was served in the warmth. Mission accomplished. ✅
The morning was all about “van life routine”: doing laundry, washing the car, shopping, refilling the gas bottle – the full pampering program for the vehicle. Only then could we switch back to our adventure mode.
First stop: Sign Post Forest – a gigantic forest of signs that started in 1942 with a single sign. A homesick worker hung up a sign with the distance to his hometown back then. Today? Over 130,000 signs from all over the world! 🌍 Of course, we also discovered a few from Switzerland. 🇨🇭
At the Visitor Centre, we gathered information and brochures for the next stages. The nice lady there laughed and said, “Today you’ll surely see bison!” – we laughed back. Us and wildlife? So far, that had been a rare combination. 😅
But Canada seemed keen to prove us wrong: No sooner had five minutes passed than the first bison casually stood by the roadside. Then another one. And another. And then a whole herd! 🦬🦬🦬
We didn’t even know where to look first. Ursula was completely thrilled – so much so that she whispered in my ear:
“They are great… but in rainbow colors or with glitter, they would be even prettier!” 🌈✨
Yes, exactly – my crazy unicorn Ursula. 🦄
On our way to the Liard River Hotsprings, we made two more stops:
• To the impressive Whirlpool Canyon
• And to the Smith River Falls, a breathtaking waterfall in the wilderness
There, we met a Canadian couple from Rocky Mountain House – funny enough, we had already seen them at our first stop. When we told them that their hometown is also on our travel list, they were thrilled and provided us with valuable tips.
Finally, we reached our destination for the day: the Liard River Hotsprings Park. We found a lovely spot in the campground – our Canadian acquaintances became almost neighbors.
After checking in, we enjoyed a delicious dinner at the restaurant, and then: Off to the hot springs! 🛁✨ A perfect way to end a day filled with little adventures.
Tired, happy, and with a warm feeling in our bellies, we now snuggle into our bed. And this time, it will stay warm – gas bottle freshly filled, reserve ready. The Canadian cold won’t bother us anymore tonight. 😴🔥
