WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY, JULY 24 & 25

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY, JULY 23 & 24:  

     Well, we’re off on our Alaskan adventure, Part II – off of the ferry, driving all the way now.

     Made 450 miles in our first 2 days – half of what we’d normally do in the Lower 48.  And we felt like that was an accomplishment!  The Alaskan Highway (aka AlCan) is exactly as we’d been told and read about . . . fine in most places, but those sections that aren’t paved, watch out!  Huge potholes and frost heaves, up’s and down’s like a small roller coaster, not to mention dust to rival the Oklahoma Dust Bowl.  Now we see why people proudly wear their  “I survived the Alaskan Highway” T-shirts!

     It was raining when we left Haines, but gave way to sunlight off and on throughout the day.  A gorgeous ride up the Haines Hwy, the first 150 miles north of Haines.  Part of this highway is an eagle preserve, where 3,000 eagles winter every year.  At Haines Junction, Yukon, we turned west on the Alcan.  Still more gorgeous scenery, as we skirted the Canadian Kluane Nat’l Park on our west.

 

 

 

 

 

 

      Shortly thereafter, the fun on the road began and continued all the way until  we staggered into a lovely RV park at Beaver Creek (recommended by our travelling friends whom we met in Wrangell, Rob & Karen) some 185 miles later, weary& bedraggled.    And when we opened up the RV, a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on in there . . . things had fallen out all over the place, most inexplicably some heavy items from the upper living room cabinets, but then the cabinet doors had evidently slammed shut again. Another funny thing was that all of my clothes were on the closet floor, off of the hanger bar.  Thank goodness the laptop didn’t fall . . . but we’ll know to tuck it away somewhere safe from now on, on these roads. 

     All we had energy to fix for dinner was a couple of PB&J’s.  But after eating that and resting for a while, when the park manager knocked on the door to invite us to take a ride on an old Army truck and learn a little history of the area, we decided to go.  Bob, an older guy, gives these “tours” whenever the spirit moves and there seems to be enough interest.  There were about 8 of us, on the back of a vintage 1942 U.S. Army truck which was used to build the original Alaskan Hwy during the war.  He and a Native friend of us found it just lying abandoned in the woods, got it out, took it to Anchorage to get it restored, and now he has a lot of fun with it. 

 

 

  

       He took us on a logging trail through the woods.  He often sees bears here, but none tonight, although we saw huge fresh tracks in the mud.  We did see horses, though!  One came trotting through a clearing in the woods, and a minute later, about 6 or 7 of his friends joined him.  They were as friendly as could be.  Too bad we didn’t have the camera with us.  They belong to an outfitter who takes folks on guided hunting trips on these horses.  Bob said that the horses winter right there.  He also drove us by an old log cabin which was used as a stop-over for the rugged men who carried the mail in between Skagway, Whitehorse, Dawson City, etc.  Bill & I both recognized that story . . .  our old friend who we learned about in Skagway, William Moore, probably stayed in this exact place.  Sort of thrilling when stories you hear while travelling begin to intersect after a while.  Makes them really alive!

     After a good, restful night’s sleep, we decided to just try and go as far as Tok on Thurs (today).  It was only 115 miles away, but everyone who had come south today told us that the road got really ugly on that stretch – worse than what we did today.  Sort of a version of “the best is yet to come!”   Plus, there were construction/repair crews working where you had to wait up to 15 minutes in a couple of places, and had to go thru U.S. Customs again.  Most folks said it took about 4 hours. 

     So we had a nice, hearty leisurely breakfast, and headed on out about 11:30.  Weren’t in a hurry to get going because it was raining hard.  A toss-up which is worse – the dust or mud.  But you at least have better visibility with no rain.   

     They were right about the road conditions and the time.  The Canadian idea of maintaining the highway seems to consist of rolling out the road to even it out, and then laying down a new layer of crushed rock (not the gravel that we’re used to).  Rob had e-mailed us that it has pieces in it as sharp as glass – he’d had a flat.  Once we crossed the border into Alaska again, the road improved tremendously.  It still had some gravel patches, but it was smooth gravel.  I don’t know how Canadian tax dollars are allocated, but not to highways! 

        Found a really, really nice RV Park in Tok.  Looks, feels, and even smells like a real state or national park campground in the forest.  Surrounded by big fir trees, the sites are laid out randomly, far apart.   One of the prettiest we’ve ever been in.  And the nicest elderly owner/manager!   Too bad it’s located in a town that’s just a stop-over.

 

 

 

Before we got settled, took the rig back into town to get a free vehicle wash with gas fill-up.  They know who their target customer is & what he wants!  Bill took a picture of one side of the truck washed and the other not.

 

   Fixed a really nice dinner of grilled ribs, grilled glazed corn, homemade cole slaw, and mashed potatoes.  We were ready for it!  Our reward for 2 days of hard work!

     Bill looked the truck & RV tires over.  We’re going to have to replace both of the outside rear truck tires.  The tread is gone.  Yesterday and today just devoured them .  He’ll see what he can do here tomorrow morning.

      Thank you, Lord, for safety in getting here and for no major issues.