Arrived finally in Whitehorse, and plan to spend two nights here so I can dry out the trailer and get the oil changed in the Jeep. This is a good spot to get things organized and ready for the next leg of the trip to Dawson City. When I arrived here, driving through rain a good portion of the morning, I found that I had moisture in all the storage areas. Not sure how it got in, but took everything out and used the electric heater to dry things. What a mess. There is just one small hole through the floor under the stove where the gas pipe comes through that is not fully sealed but I cannot see that being the whole source unless it just wicked through the molding. I stuffed the hole and will keep an eye on things. I tried to wash it a day back with a high pressure water hose, and could be I shot some through the seals around outside doors that contributed to it.
Anyway... Left on the Haines Highway about 7:00 and a few miles out of town spotted an eagle in the tree above the road. Could not get a picture, but got a good look (that is kind of the story of the day), and shortly after that saw a sign and some lookout stations for viewing Bald Eagles in this area. This is bird watchers paradise and I spotted a number of different species (don't ask me to name any but they were pretty and unique). Then I hit 5 miles of the worse road I have encountered yet.. gravel, rock, dirt under construction and a real mess... I drove slow until I got through it and then continued on to the Canadian customs point for entry to BC. No problem entering again... standard questions on guns, alcohol, and tobacco. I think I interrupted his breakfast so he hurried me through.
Like the drive to Skagway, this is one of the prettiest drives you will find in Canada going through the mountain pass. Unfortunately, it was overcast so the tops of the mountains (the majestic peaks) were hidden most of the way, but the rivers and valleys still made the drive worthwhile. I plan to return this way after I loop Alaska, and catch the Alaska Ferry down to Juneau and Prince Rupert... hoping that there will be good weather next time.
It was 32 degrees and snow covered as I went through the pass... I felt like the US Mail as I hit sleet, rain, and snow but kept on going.. Spring clearly has not arrived to this area. But the views (with the tops cut off) were magnificent. As I came out of the snowy pass, the country became more rugged with deep chasm following the highway and many turnoffs to views of the river and lakes forming. In one small pond near the road I saw a swan and some small ones swimming. Then as I proceeded down the road I made the find of the trip.... a big furry object appeared in the middle of the road ahead... I grabbed my camera and started lowering the window and slowing down... It was a big grizzly that stood up on its back legs and looked at me coming and them ran off the road in big lanky steps into the woods.. I never got the shot, but I got a good look at it, and it was a light brown almost reddish color, and might be the cinnamon variety I have heard of. I stopped by the woods for a minute but it was long gone.. unlike the black bears that tend to be more friendly and curious, the grizzly probably saw me as a predator. When I repeated this story to someone at the camp site, it started sounding like a "big fish that got away" story.. but it sure got me excited.
Arriving at Haines Junction was like coming back into a bit of civilization again, as the big General store looked just like a super market inside. I purchased some more cereal, a box full of fresh baked blueberry turnovers (yummy), a turkey deli sandwich, and some ice. I feasted while I drove the final miles to Whitehorse. Whitehorse is a small city of 22,000 (2/3rds of the whole Yukon Territory population live here). A good place for a layover to rest and prepare for the final legs of the trip. The campground is premier.. one of the best with lots of facilities and very clean. It cost me $20 per night to stay, but they do appear to have a modem connection the manager showed me behind a TV in the lobby.. I don't think they advertise it unless someone presses them. After taking everything out of the trailer and wiping it out, I took a load of clothes and washed them. I am still drying out the entry carpet, but everything else seems ok. Tomorrow I go get the oil changed and reorganize things in the trailer again.
The park which is quite large, is full already, and I am seeing familiar faces now from previous campsites.. a German couple rented an RV in Seattle and plans to spend 3 months driving around up here. We are taking the same route it seems, but they move slower and take different side trips. Another couple from Ontario that I met at the Liard River Hotsprings showed up her now. Nice to have some familiarity with the people around you. And I looked out my window, and found someone taking a video of my trailer. Guess I am one of the interesting things that they can report on from their trip.
