May28 and 29

May 28 and May 29, 2014

We started off at the Caribou RV Park in Whitehorse, Yukon.  It was a commercial RV park, but we were able to do laundry, empty our tanks and refill with fresh water.  We have to do that every few days.  I have to say that with Whitehorse being the capital of the Yukon Territories, it was unimpressive.   Typical downtown, with some retail, local folks and what appears to be lots of vacant businesses.    

We decided to push on for Alaska.    I drove most of the day, and it was yet another day of spectacular views.  We saw this mountain they called “Craggley  Face Man”   

 

 

  Stopped at the Canyon Creek Bridge which was an original bridge used during the gold rush days.  We saw this German vehicle called a Wohngebiet.   

 

 

Spectacular mountains along the way.  Stopped at an Interpretive Center in Haines Junction run by the First Nation folks.  That is what American Indians are called in Canada.  It was an interesting interaction.  They built this nice new center, but were rather cold to talk to.  We went out the back, and a young First Nation girl came up to us and explained they had killed 8 moose this year and were getting ready to process them in this huts.  They use all parts, including brains to soften the hides and even the hooves and antlers for tools. 

 

All along the way we saw signs of beetle devastation.  First it was the elms, then in these pictures, it is the pines.  The beetles kill thousands of tress each year and you can see the dead gray-looking trees next to the green ones.  Sad part is that the green trees are dead too, it just takes about a year for them to turn gray after the beetles have killed them.

 

This lake was partly frozen in many places.  After crossing a bridge, there should have been full of water from run off from the mountains, but most of these wash-outs that have been full for many years are now running dry.  Global Warming.  Even the mountains are less than covered in snow.

 

World’s largest Gold Panning pan. 

 

The roads we encountered today were by far the worst we have yet to see.  Because of the frost heaves due to the perma frost, the roads heave and buckle.   It was like being on a roller coaster.  The last 20 miles to the border too us about 1 ½ hours.  We had to go about 10-20 miles per hour on a non-paved, loosely graveled road.  I thought the motor home was going to split in two.  

 

We left the Yukon and entered Alaska

 

Once again at the border, we had contraband, BELL PEPPERS….    We bought strawberries, nectarines, potatoes, onions and banana to declare, and he asked me where I purchased the groceries and I said Whitehorse (which is the capital city of Yukon) and he said I am going to have to take the peppers.  I think he just wanted peppers for his dinner.  We turned them over. 

Luckily we had just give away a lot of food we had to a guy on a bike we asked to take our picture at the Canadian/US border. 

Now this border is out in the middle of nowhere.  NOWHERE and here is this guy riding his bike.  We asked where he was riding to/from, and he said he was on day 9 and just rode across Alaska, and he was riding AROUND THE WORLD.   He gave us these orange rubber bracelets and said to visit his web site at www.selfpoweredtravel.com    I have not had good internet to check it out, but we invited him back to the motorhome, made him sandwiches, gave him lots of our food and the rest of our Canadian money.  He had quite a story to tell.

Stayed the night in a rustic park near a beautiful lake and meet a nice couple from Vermont on the same adventure as us.   We talked until the mosquitoes were about to carry us all away.  They are BAD here.  Glad to be back in the US of A…

 

 

May 29, 2014

Started the day down by the lake. 

 

 It was so quiet.   I woke up early because it was day time all night.  The sun drops behind the horizon about mid-night, but it never gets dark.  My view at midnight from the dinette in the motorhome.

 

Just dusk-like, so when I wake up in the morning, I think it’s time to get up because it is daylight and its 6:30 but really 5:30 because we gained an hour when we crossed over to Alaska last night   We still  don’t know what time it really is, we turned our phones on, but there  has not been a signal, so Tom’s says one thing, mine says another and our table4ts each say something else because there is no signal to update everything  We are on the road at 8:30, but I think it is really 7:30. 

 Too early for my co-pilot.

 

 

Stopped in TOK, Alaska this morning and we finally had a signal, briefly  

 

  Our phones reset and it was now 8:48.    Opps, I really did leave the campground at 7:30.    The drive from Tok to Delta Junction was about 100 miles and it was more miles of dead pines and beautiful mountains, with a little more snow on them.

  We saw a moose along the way on the side of the road, but didn’t have our camera ready and when we approached, he ran into the trees. 

 

 More dry run-offs what should have been full of at least some water in them.

 

Another abandoned business.  So sad.

 

 

Stopped at the Delta Meat and Sausage Company.  We tried, Buffalo, Elk, Reindeer and Moose.   Only bought the beef/pork hotlinks.  That’s all I am going to say about that.

 

Next stop,    Delta Junction which was the end of the Alaska Highway.  We had gone 1,422 since Dawson Creek on May 25 (5 days).   

 

The mosquitoes here were the biggest we have seen yet.  You know they must be big if there is art work dedicated to the stupid things. 

Don't mess with the Buffalo either

 Stopped at a Rika’s Roadhouse and Landing which is a State historical park where minors and road worked would stop for a meal and stay the night.

 

 

 

We saw this bridge with a huge pipe by it and when we got back into the motor home and drove around the corner it was the Alaskan pipe line suspension bridge.  This was an unexpected surprise and very cool.   Very well guarded with security dedicated to it on land and in the lake.

 

Stopped at the Knotty Shop.  They have this wood up hear that looks like “buts” and other body parts.   Loved this place.  Bought a few things.  Don’t know how I will get my carved bear home.  Might have to buy him an airplane seat.

 

As we were coming out of the shop, two fighter planes buzz us and flew over.   We were very near Elision Air force Base and they were doing maneuvers. 

We made it to Fairbanks.

 

Stopped at the North Pole.   Cute place.  Spoke with Mrs. Claus and her mother.  Bought some stuff here too.   Aw-oh, I see a pattern.  No shopping opportunities for 5 days and I am in withdrawals. 

 

We are at a State Campground in Fairbanks tonight (Thursday)  and heading to Denali National Park tomorrow to spend 2-3 nights, then down to Anchorage where our adventure will end on June 5. 

 

Still lots to do and see.  We have gone over 3,500 miles so far and have seen and experienced many wonderful and new things we have not done before.   The question is, “Buying a motorhome when we get home?”    “Not a Winnebago”    Leave it at that!

 

 

 

Greetings from Fairbanks Alaska

We have been out of commission these last few days, staying at places in the wilderness versus commercial RV parks.   It has been an incredible few days.   Let me show you the beautiful wildlife we have seen right along the road
bLACK bEAR
 We saw about 5 different packs along the road

 Stone Sheep, they were in the middle of the road when we came around a corner and we had to stop

  Heards of Buffalo or as they call them in the Yuson, Bison.   This big boy had just rolled in the dirt for a dirt bath, it is how they clear off their winter coats

We think this was an Elk, there were two of them, but they ran off when we drove by 

This was a large  grey wolf.    We talked to other people that saw him on the road too and they said that it is rare to site one, and probably this one was sick because it was on the side of the road, panting.  Tom was sure it was rabid, and that we should call someone, but we were in the middle of no where with no signal.   He worried about this wolf for hours.

We even saw a German shepherd running along the highway.  At this part of the highway,, we only saw another car about ever 12 hour.  And it was close to a road that must have lead to a house.

We stopped at this bluff and had lunch.   What a view?

Saw so many beautiful  places 

Drove along this partially  frozen lake for miles.  It was about 20 feet from the road.

  I think Brandon should make one of these picnic benches for their backyard.  It was so cool.

Despite the graffiti, this vista was beautiful

Stay the night in Liard Hot Springs.  You had to walk about 1/2 mile to the along this wooden path through a bog.  

In one day we went from the Yukon Territories, back in to British Columbia into the Yukon, back to BC the back into the Yukon

We stopped at the  Sign Post Forrest where there are 72,000 signs.  I walked around for an hour, and saw Pleasanton and Fremont, but not Dublin.   It could have been there somewhere, but I didn't see one

 These are my friends from Sheboygan, Wisconsin.   I helped them hang a shirt, which was really now allowed, it has to be a sign, but we didn't care.  We had fun

We drove on and stopped again to hike to these beautiful waterfalls.  We did see snow on the ground, ,even though it was 80 out.

We had to hike along a wooden walkway for about 1/2 mile in, we were the only ones there.  We had our bear spray

It was well worth the walk.   So beautiful.

Another selfie.

Most of the day,  we were the only ones on the highway again.  The drive and the majestic mountains along the way kept us enthralled in the view.  No radio no outside distractions, just us enjoying this once in a lifetime adventure.   We drove about 300 along these mountains.

These are from Tuesday and Wednesday.  I have not downloaded Thursday or Friday's pictures  yet.

Here is my barn pictures for the day.  Love them

This was one off many deserted businesses in the Yukon that have tried to make a go of it, but just up and left it deserted.   There were probably about 50 of these along the way

Its a hard life for these folks.  

We are heading to Denali National Park tomorrow so don't know what I will be able to post.   We are back in the USA so we have phone service and email.   Feel free to contact me for now.  If we are within a service area, I can respond    More  adventures to come in Denali.