May 20 through 23, 2013 Sign Post Forest/S S Klondike, Yukon Whitehorse

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Watson Lake department store

Victoria Day today, a holiday in Canada so not much open except the grocery and tourist stops which was fine with us, we are certainly tourists.   First stop was the Sign Post Forest, 76 thousand signs from around the world.  Spotted The Woodlands and Conroe, lots of Texas cities representing our home state.  Looked for Rickey and Dale’s sign from 2001 but it was hiding.   Forgot to have one made, with all the confusion of moving into our RV, so we will have one made in Alaska and put it up on our way home.

76 thousand signs More forest Sign Post Forest The Woodlands, TX Conroe, TX

Northern Lights Center was next and we watched a 360 degree movie of the Aurora Borealis filmed in Sweden and near the Arctic Circle.   At the Arctic Circle they filmed in minus 50 degrees Celsius…that’s one hundred and twenty two below!  One person setting up the camera and the other watching out for Polar Bear.   Now that’s dedication!  So worth it when you see those eerily glowing waves of light in a 360 degree surround sound theater reclining on warm comfortable seats.

The Welcome Center had a presentation on the Alaska Highway and a short film documentary on the building of the highway.  Really interesting and amazing what these men went through to complete the project.  Ate lunch at Kathy’s Home Cooking, the local place to eat and chat, then back to the LilyPad to prep for our early morning departure.

Caribou Headed to the Summit The Lake at Teslin Dust Devils

Left at the fanny crack of dawn.  Roads were worse than the last 300 miles and we had to drive slower and slower.   About 150 miles out, it turned into a gravel road and we slowed down to 20mph.  Stopping for gas, we met another couple that are from Alaska but are Escapees living in Livingston, TX  for the winter.  They come back each year to work camp.  We chatted for a while.  I shouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to know but I asked if the worst part of the road was behind us.  It’s not.  We will hit another gravel road that lasts about 100 miles, then just before Alaska, even worse roads as no one is responsible for their repair.   And the adventure continues.

Welcome sign by the Yukon River Hi Country RV Our site at Hi Country RV  Transport truck Original 1942 Alaska Hwy Road Construction Equipment Army backhoe Ambulance

Our overnight will be in the capital of the Yukon, Whitehorse.  Set up camp at Hi Country RV.  They have some of the original machinery from the US Army that was used to build the Alaska Highway.  Not museum quality but still interesting.  It’s hard to imagine how these small machines cut through this wild and vast land in 10 short months in 1942.  Amazing feat of determination by our US Army.

Wal-Mart parking lot in Whitehorse

Took a drive over to the Wal-Mart at 10 pm. The parking lot was lined with RV’s, 20 in all.  Notice the amount of daylight at 10 pm…it is hard to “turn off” when it’s daylight until 11:30 pm.

Renting our grocery cart You won't see these in the states

Running around today trying to find parts for the broken stuff on the RV.  White MacGyver tape for our unplanned peep hole, new pressure air hose for the brake line on the Ribbit and groceries.   Untrusting market made you pay a deposit for your carts.  Had some really interesting foods on the shelves that you wouldn’t see in the US.

Jam packed with healty stuff Local Health Food Store

Over to the Whitehorse Information Center for things to do in the morning and a quick trip to a jam packed little health food store for a few supplies.

Decided to stick around for another day here in Whitehorse.  First was a visit to the S S Klondike for a peek into the transportation history of the Yukon River.  Will never complain about the size of an inside room on a cruise ship after seeing first class on the riverboat.

S S Klondike Wood fired Engine Room First class sitting area Crew washroom Formal dining room First class Purser's Office Klondike (2) Klondike The Paddle Top Deck The Kitchen Pantry View of the river from SS Klondike

We did a drive-by the log skyscraper and the Old Log Church, through town by the Trappers Cache (one of the original log homes), past Starbucks, up the river to the dam where the salmon ladder is located (opens next month) a stroll through the Fireweed Community Market, got a picture of one of the art walls in town, drove by a bicycle wheel sculpture near town, an afternoon walk along the Yukon River to watch the fly fishermen and dinner at the oldest building in Whitehorse, the Klondike Rib and Salmon café for some yummy reindeer stroganoff.

Log home highrise Old Log Church Trappers Cache store  Of course, it's here too Salmon ladder Fireweed Community Market Wall art in town Bike wheels sculpture Reindeer Stroganoff Oldest building in Whitehorse Klondike Rib and Salmon

OMG…One of those ugly bridges on I-5 in Washington that we drove over last week collapsed today!  Guess we won’t be going home that way!  That’s the main road for 18 wheelers and motorhomes going to Alaska…am feeling blessed that we passed over safely.