Day five Whitehorse to Watson Lake - 278 miles

A relaxed start for the day with a little shopping, empty tanks and refill fuel etc. We started off with a short drive to the overlook over Miles Canyon. Next on our visit list was at the Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre.

Baby Groot and the Totem.

We got to try some smoked Pike and learn about how the Tlingit have been adapting after the highway was put in 1942.

Following this we continued our drive and crossed the continental divide.

Stacking rocks

Where does the water go?

Our day finished off at Watson Lake. We got to see the signpost forest which has over 85,000 signs. Then we went to the Aurora centre where we watched a neat movie about Aurora’s.

So many signs!

It's a long way away sometimes.

Astronaut inspiration 

One of many who lost their lives.

Stats - Total miles 1008 Bear count 5 black, 1 brown.

Day four Whitehorse - 0 miles

Soaking up the atmosphere in Whitehorse. I got to go mountain biking.

views from the trail 

Old bridge and the new bridge

more views from the trail

Yukon River trail

Fiona, Grandma and Granddad Dennis appeared to hit up every museum in Whitehorse.
Fiona played the piano.

Street Piano

We got a little shopping done and had a visit to the splash pad as it was a beautiful day. Tomorrow we hit the road again and head further south.

Stats

Total miles 729
Bear count 4 black.

Day three - Middle of nowhere Canada to Whitehorse, YT - 269

We woke up to a beautiful day in the middle of nowhere Canada. We enjoyed breakfast before hitting the road to Burwash Landing.

Middle of nowhere Canada

The views were spectacular and although there were a couple of showers whilst we were driving we didn’t get wet when stopping to look at the views.

pretty views

At Burwash Landing we had a look around the museum and saw the worlds biggest gold pan.

Worlds biggest Gold pan

Next on our trip was Soldiers summit where the Alcan highway was officially opened. This is a short walk up to an overlook where the official ribbon was cut. It was -22F or -30C when the ribbon ceremony was taking place on 20th November 1942. I’m glad it was a little warmer when we were there.

Soldiers summit

Our next stop was to refill fuel at Haines Junction, all fueled up we headed over to the tourist information centre which has some great displays. We also got another stamp for Fiona’s Yukon Gold Explorer’s Passport. Our final leg for today took us to our destination Whitehorse. We stopped to see a replica of one of the original bridges on the road, it was pretty neat.

Replica bridge

I should add something about the road network here, It is amazing there is a road through what is basically swamp, rivers and mountains however, the road can be a little bumpy in places. From Beaver Creek to Destruction Bay is apparently the worst section with lots of frost heaves and pot holes, at times it’s like riding a roller coaster.

Stats

Total miles 729

Bear count 3 black.

Sidenote, I found the lost shorts, only after I had bought more… though I was able to return them :)

Day two - Tolsona Wilderness Camp - Middle of nowhere Canada - 284 miles

We got up, had breakfast, emptied the tanks that needed emptying on the RV and headed back onto the road. A quick stop in Glenallen and we found a can opener and washing up bowl. We stopped for this IMHO mandatory picture.

A lunch and fuel stop in Tok then we were off towards the border. A couple more photo opportunities on the way and we arrived at the border at 16:15 or 17:15 depending on which side of the line you stand on.

Crossing the border

Yukon Alaska border

Fiona with balloon animal.

After another 18 miles of driving we reached the Canadian customs. We sailed through aside from me not having a letter with approval from Amanda to take Fiona through the border solo and continued on towards Beaver creek and the site where the Highway construction workers connected in October 1942.

We rolled on a little further south to use a rest stop to rest for the night. We were definitely not camping.

Stats

Total 459 miles
Bear count 1 black

Day one - Anchorage to Tolsona wilderness campground - 175miles

Day went pretty smoothly, I picked up Fiona, Grandma and Dennis from the airport after their on time arrival. We headed home put some laundry on and went out to breakfast, only to arrive before breakfast opened. A quick change of plans found us shopping instead then heading back for breakfast at Judy’s cafe. I’m really going to miss that place.  

Post breakfast, we swapped the laundry over and took a walk to stretch our legs. We finally got rolling out of Anchorage around 13:15. One stop later to drop trash and pick up some beers from an awesome friend and we were really rolling.

Our route took us along the Glen to Palmer then route 1 towards Glennallen. The road has some amazing views and we stopped a number of times for picture opportunities.

We rolled into Tolsona wilderness campground at around 18:30.

This is glamping right?

Baby Groot looks onto a Glacier

So long and thanks for all the fish!

Look Mom, Geology!

We rolled into Tolsona wilderness campground at around 18:30.

Things I realised we didn’t have in the RV

• Can opener.
• Washing up bowl.
• Any idea how to get the hot water system to work - I think it was due to low water but who knows, it is working again now thanks to Amanda getting in touch with technical support. 

Things I realised I left in Oklahoma

• The new shorts I bought as I realised the movers had packed both my swim and running shorts. 
• My passport :-/ This is technically not a problem to get into Canada as I can travel on my green card however, the letter which allows me to take Fiona into Canada with me since I am travelling solo, referenced my passport.