Again, an early start - on the road by 6:30, but long way to go today. Frank and Barb have already done this section of highway once and not looking forward to return, but decided to do this one again rather than the Top of the World Highway. Jerry & I had not done this section as we took an alternate highway to go to Pelly Crossing on the way up. A large section of the road had frost heaves (where the ground under the pavement freezes and causes the pavement to buckle) in addition to potholes. The gravel parts were mostly washboard, but actually preferable to the paved sections. Filled up w/ gas in Tok as we will be entering the land of $5 + /gal for gas shortly. Tok is only 90 miles from Canada border. Also stopped off near border and topped off tanks...good thing, b/c Jerry did not get our tank completely full this a.m.
We stopped at the Tetlin National Wildlife Preserve and got a stamp for our NP passports. It was an interesting Visitor Center....lots of pelts of different animals hanging and we were amazed at how soft some of them were - especially some foxes and a weasel. Frank decided he was in the mood for pancakes and sausage, so we cooked breakfast right there in the parking lot. It was a challenge b/c their coach was not level and the griddle kept trying to slide off the cooktop. We almost landed pancakes on the floor a couple of times!! It turned out well and we thoroughly enjoyed them. We then continued on our way.
Crossed into Canada back into the Yukon where we have no cell phone coverage at all anywhere! No problems going through and we were on our way! The road certainly lived up to its name. There was some gorgeous scenery as usual....we were mostly traveling between mountain ranges in a large valley with lots and lots of lakes and streams and rivers. We stopped
at one lake and there was a female moose in the lake eating the grass off the bottom! Got a pix of her with her head completely under water and then coming up dripping! Still no Bullwinkle with big horns, but it was interesting to watch her eat. She was a pretty big moose too.
Later on I saw another moose in the water, but it was too far away to tell if it was male or female and to get a good pix of it. Besides, by the time I saw it, we had already passed by....BUT Jerry then said, "That's a bear!" and sure enough on the side of the road was a black bear turning over rocks and nudging at plants looking for something to eat. But that was only the beginning...we truly had an adventure today!
We stopped the RV and Jerry got out w/ the video camera and I got out on my side and walked along the RV to the back so I could photograph him. He was a good distance away and not paying any attention to us. I snapped several shots and Jerry had the video running. He started working his way in our direction which we thought was great! However, when he got fairly close (still about 30 yards away) we got back in the RV. Jerry rolled the window down and continued filming.....my camera battery chose that moment to die, so I fished out another one as the bear crossed the road and came right up the the RV. By the time I got the battery in the camera, Jerry had rolled up the window and was still filming. I couldn't see the bear b/c he was so close to the RV - the pix I took of him that close only shows his hind quarters, but he was licking the tire to the RV! After that, he looked up at us and then turned and ambled back across the road. He was pretty much a ham and I did get some good pix of him, but I was not able to get one of him licking the tires. However, it is on the video!!! At any rate, it was Yogi, up close and personal!!! (although is still is not a grizzly - we will certainly take it!).
After that, everything else was pretty anticlimactic! The drive was truly horrible! In places it was like a roller coaster with potholes and there was over 100 miles of it!!!! We were behind Frank and Barb and they were really rocking and rolling...not only was it up and down with potholes, some were back and forth at the same time! At one point we were in about 10 km of road construction with very heavy equipment. Had it not rained last nite, it would have been unbearable dusty! At least the rain settled the dust altho it was mud in places too. We quickly learned that when you could see water standing in places on the road...avoid if at all possible...that marked the deepest ruts, washboards and potholes.
We are back on Pacific Coast time when we crossed into Canada, but will be back on whatever time zone AK is on tomorrow when we go to Skagway. We arrived at the RV park about 4:30 and got our spots. We are up on the hill in the trees as there is a place for the dogs to run out behind the RV. Barb and Frank are down on the flats as they wanted the sewer hookups - they will be here 3 days.
Fixed some cream cheese and olives and a drink and went down to their coach for a while. Decided on our departure time in the morning, then we went back to our RV for dinner. Jerry had leftovers and I am not hungry (that is one for the record books!) so I decided to work on the blog and catch up. I don't think I will be able to post pictures again as I think this is a slow connection, but I will try. I am way behind on the pictures and as soon as I can, I will post them.
Getting close to bedtime now....leaving at 8 in morning. Only 100 miles to Skagway. Jerry and I have been there 2 times before on cruises, but never driving. Everyone says the drive is spectacular. We liked Skagway and we are looking forward to being able to spend a night there.
All for now.....More from Skagway I hope.....Linda
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment