Finally in Alaska

7/3/10

We left Cottonwood camp, headed for the Last Wilderness. They don't make it easy to get here! We traveled about 100 miles on the WORST road I have every driven on. The frost heaves were something I could deal with, but then you throw in pot holes and these "fisures" in the pavement that ran any which way--across, with, and diagonally across the road--and it is combat driving. We met a man from Alberta that said "This road is a bloody disgrace". I had different adjectives for it! I averaged 30 miles per hour--but we made it with no apparent damages other than nerves. It was wonderful to get back into the USA!

    We stayed at Border City--it was not a city. We got the last campsite in the RV Park, and I use that term loosely! The first thing we spotted was a cow moose grazing along the tree line about 100 yards away. Kathy said that is a funny looking horse OR it is a moose, and she was absolutely right! Still getting rain!

Cottonwood Campground, Destruction Bay, YK, CA

7/2/10
Well we finally got a day of sunshine!! Were not sure where we were going to tonight, but ended up at Cottonwood Camp on Kluane (Clu au ne) Lake, and what a find! Got here about 15:30, and this place filled up within 45 minutes. Beautiful place, nice sites, and great owners. I took the lab to the lake while Kathy did her email, and then we went for a bike ride. The lake has a gravel trail around it, but 50 miles is too much for us, so we did 5.5 miles. In the gravel, I was happy to go that far! Just looking at the mountains that are ringing this lake, it was also hard to ride!! More passport stamping today, and more adventures because of it.

Whitehorse, YK, CA

6/30/10
We left Teslin in a pouring down rain and drove most of the day in rain of one kind or another. We arrived in Whitehorse our next destination just a little damp. The plan was to spend two nights in Whitehorse and celebrate Canada Day ( the First of July) with the Canadians.We had a bit a problem with our refrigerator and spent the AM working with that. Wound up having to defrost the freezer and that solved the problem. We then drove around Whitehorse visiting museums and generally having a pretty good time. Went home exhausted. We met serveral nice folks in this campground, all of us heading the same way: NORTH!
We stopped in the visitors center in Watson Lake and the volunteer there sold us on getting these "Passports" filled out. She would make any company a great salesperson. So, we've been faithfully getting them stamped at various museums, visitors centers and Interpretive Centers. Turns out we've met some awfully nice people and learned a lot besides.

Yukon Motel and Lakeside Campground, Teslin, YK, CA

6/28/10

Drove into Watson Lake from our gravel pit camp and visited the Welcome Center and the signpost forrest---67,000 + signs from all over the world, started innocently enough by a homesick soldier in 1942. Drove on to Teslin and campsite #56, a back-in site overlooking the lake. Took a bike ride around town, Bosco leading me astray down a trail into the lake, well almost! We had to clean our back window it was too dirty to see out of, to celebrate that burst of energy we turned our recliners around to look out the window. What a view! We watched the flora and fauna; we watched a rain storm across the lake and resulting rainbow develop as the sun set. Who needs TV! We'll spend two nights here and then push on to Whitehorse, all of 100 miles.

Wildlife viewing

6/27/10
We left Tetsa Campground headed for Watson Lake and just as we were pulling out on the highway we saw a magnificent wolf, trotting along a trail just behind our camp. On the drive we saw caribou, a young bull moose, Forrest Bison (buffalo), Stone Sheep, and a pair of woodchuck. Stopped at Liard Hot Springs to hike and look at the wetland terrian. The Alpha pool was too hot for me but the Beta pool just right to soak my sore knees. Saw a Solitary Sandpiper, and heard a Varied Thrush.

Found an old gravel pit and made it home for the night. Just about 21:30 Bosco took his dog outside and spotted a large young black bear boar grazing the hill side 100 yards from the trailer. He called me to come out and see and the bear rolled over on his butt and sat watching us watch him.

On the move!

6/26/2010
Spent the last two nights in campgrounds that were not up to snuff--wires laying on ground and across roads, mud, and haphazard locations. Went through Dawson Creek yesterday, Mile 0 on the Al-Can highway. Also went to the Fort Nelson Heritage museum in "Fort Nelson". They had a lot of memorabillia from the 40's, and old cars that are still all working!

Grande Prairie, AB, CA

6/24/10
Here we are at Happy Trails RV park, it's 2331 and the sun just went down about 1/2 hour ago. It's still pretty light outside and we've been sitting in the trailer planning tomorrow's journey. We had a great day today! I did several loads ( 5) of laundry and Bosco worked on the trailer. He repaired the magnetic strip on his closet door and replaced the rubber wax ring on the stool. After lunch we loaded the bikes into the pickup and drove to town. We rode a series of bike trails around a lake and down a stream; crossing bridges, going under bridges and up and down hills, zooming around corners. Along the way were signs warning us of cougar, bear and moose. Whew! All in all we rode 6.65 miles. The reward was a dinner out for Thai food. Life is good. The people running this park, which is brand new, are warm and friendly, and this will be a beautiful park when the trees get going. Tomorrow we hit mile 0 on the Alaskan Highway, Yahoo!