Day 22, Back to Watson lake and the "Nice Motel"

Day 22, the ride from Whitehorse, YT to Watson Lake, BC was our last day of back tracking. Right outside of the city limits of Whitehorse is the suspension bridge over the Miles Canyon Gorge. Babs insisted that I challenge my fear of heights and cross the bridge. I did so reluctantly and cautiously!

On the way we stopped at a couple of interesting places we somehow missed on the way to Whitehorse last week. The first is “Swan Haven Lake” which is very picturesque.

Unfortunately, this is the only swan that I could find to take a photo of.

The scenery was pretty much the same this entire leg.

This part of the Canada is like Minnesota on the US side 10,000 lakes, all of which are beautiful. This is Teslin Lake.

We crossed the six span bridge with a steel grate for the floor of bridge.

It makes for a wild crossing with the car swerving side to side like a salmon swimming up river. I didn't like it the first time we crossed it and liked it less today.

Tomorrow we head south toward Prince George, BC. Although we’ll only get about half way there, it will be about an eleven hour ride.


Babs Says: Not counting what was in the tank when we started, we have used 221.7 gallons and 600.47 liters of gasoline. We have gotten gas 32 times. The most expensive US gas was $4.59/gal. and the cheapest was $3.65/ gal. In Canada, the most expensive was $1.62/ lit. and the cheapest $1.14/ lit. I’m afraid to add up the cost!

Day 21, Haines, AK to Whitehorse, YT, the rest of the Alaskan Highway

Day 21 of our trip blessed us with bright sunshine all day. The ride was actually doubling back over the route that we had taken down to Haines the previous day. We started out the day with an excellent breakfast prepared by our B & B hosts. Earlier that morning, a Holland America cruise ship docked.

That was about the only amusement of the morning!
On the trip home we did see some marvelous scenery we couldn’t see because of low clouds, fog, and rain on our way down.

One of those sights was the emerald green waters and mountains surrounding Lake Dezadeash.

We only saw great scenery, no animals.
I did finish driving the entire Alaskan Highway, by driving the Haines Junction to Whitehorse portion that I had missed by turning north to Dawson City, YT on our way to Alaska via the Top of the World Highway. Where we stopped for lunch today was an original bridge of the Alaskan Highway built in 1943.

Tonight we had an excellent meal at Boston Pizza, go figure! We are spending the night at the Westmark Hotel, Whitehorse. It is owned by Holland America Cruise Lines. Here is a view from our room!

Based on our experience with their hotels I wouldn’t cruise with them! The only good thing that happened was a result of a bad thing. Outside of Whitehorse a rock punctured a tire. Fortunately across the street from the Westmark is a Goodyear tire store!
Tomorrow, we backtrack again to Watson Lake. This is unfortunately necessary because it would be about a 17 hour drive to the next lodging if we didn’t stop at Watson Lake. Babs wants to stop at the canyon gourge again and get me out on the suspension bridge. I doubt it!

Babs Says: The best scenery is sometimes behind you.

Day 20, Best yet!

Day 20, All I can say is Wow! What a day. As we have become accustom to, it started out raining and the mountain tops covered with clouds. But as fate would have it, the sun burst out and it ended up being a beautiful day. On the ride down to Haines we saw this Grizzly on side of the road

, two more Grizzlies’ at a fishing village

, and a young wolf on side of the road

, but no eagles! We even took a narrow winding rough road that the Milepost Magazine said had bears

, but all we saw was genuine bear “S@#*”.

We took another side trip to the “Million Dollar Falls”. It was a lot of steps but beautiful.

Our first view of Haines was from across the bay.

The mountain scenery and harbor

here at Haines offers unparallel beauty.

I know that these are a lot of pictures but I couldn’t decide how may to cut!
We both had the best lunch yet at the Bamboo Room restaurant, Halibut fish and chips.

 After lunch we headed out looking for bears and eagles but saw neither.  We did find this neat old salmon cannery.

We had a lousy seafood platter dinner that was overcooked and over priced at the Lighthouse restaurant.  Notice Babs' Manhattan glass.

 Good drink, bad presentation!
We are at the Safe Harbor B & B here in Haines,

and this is the view from our deck.

Tomorrow we head back to Canada and Whitehorse, YT.

Babs Says: Real Alaskans drive pick-up trucks, wear jeans, work boots. Have facial hair, hats, and have big dogs. And you might be a redneck if you keep your Christmas lights up all year long. We are in Alaska. Are there rednecks here?
At this restaurant,

I learned a new way to order eggs-NRWS- just the way we like them! If you can figure it out email Frank with your guess!

Day 19, Tok, Alaska to Haines Junction, YT, Canada

Day 19 began with rain but the sun shone bright by the time we hit the Canadian border.  The Milepost Magazine said that the Canadian customs point from Tok, Alaska on the Alaskan Highway was one of the most thorough in Canada.  It took a whole four minutes to cross including wait time!  This portion of the Alaskan Highway, from where it intersects with Alaska Route 1 to Haines Junction, is one very rough road.  It has lots of gravel repairs and huge frost heaves which make the road a roller coaster.

The first part of the ride made us think of another bust because the mountain tops were shrouded in clouds.  Fortunately, the scenery improved greatly and was some of the best we’ve seen so far.  We took lots of pictures but here are a few of the mountains

and Destruction Bay a lake that is 10 or more miles long

, and Fireweed a wild flower that is very prolific

. 

We had lunch at a place at Colonial Lake

.  Good food but $27CA for a BLT with fries & Bar-B-Q sandwich.  After lunch we planned on taking a short hike at Deadman Lake which was just down the road.

  This sign changed our minds.

Tonight we are at the Starlight Motel in Haines Junction, YT, CA.

  This is a view from our room.

Tomorrow, we’re off to Haines, Alaska, back in the USA!

Babs Says:  Bug spray is good if repelling 10 bugs, but not so good if trying to avoid swarms of mosquitoes.