Leaving Alaska

Despite what an awesome (albeit slightly indirect) trip home I had, it was really hard to leave Alaska. It was great that Tasha was with me for so many reasons, but those first few days, her presence definitely prevented me from turning around and going back to Wasilla. Saying good-bye to my dad (and Susanne) was pretty hard. Witness my red, teary face!

Anyway, once we got going, it wasn't so bad. And I obviously came home, so that was good (although how long I'll stay is anyone's guess). Our first few days were mostly a lot of driving. The scenery along the Alaska Highway is beautiful, but those frost heaves are killer. That first day, we only made it to the Alaska-Yukon border, because we left late (of course!), go stuck in construction, stopped at Fred Meyers (always good for an hour or so), and visited a few places, too.

A big polar bear (the only kind of bear I have yet to see in the wild-but Churchill, Manitoba is so on my list) at the Santa Claus house in North Pole.

Another shot for my collection of "the biggest ______ in the world" things. This one is a vintage Santa, proudly displayed in North Pole.

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline suspension bridge over the river....I think it's the Tanana, but I saw so many rivers I kinda lost track.

Rika's Roadhouse, which was (and still is, in a way) a stop along the old dogsled route from Fairbanks to Valdez.

A sunflower from the garden at Rika's. Check out the bee in the center of the flower, doing his pollination thing.

The other end of the Alaska Highway. I officially drove the entire thing-without getting a flat tire or eaten by a bear.

Gorgeous mountains (I believe they're the Wrangell-St. Elias range) along the Alaska Highway south of Tok.

The international boundary between the US and Canada. Apparently they clear the trees and brush along the boundary once every ten years-sounds like a fun job!!

Up next, the rest of our (mis)adventures in the Yukon!

A Much Needed Break From Driving

Sorry about the gobbledy-gook posts, everyone. I sent them from my phone, and I'm not sure why that happened. They were both letting you know that I am currently safe in Alaska!! I got to my dad's place yesterday evening. It is amazing beautiful here. I'm glad that I don't have to drive anywhere for a while, though!!

Here are few pictures from my travels along the Alaska Highway.

Here's the marker at the beginning of the Alaska Highway. There was no one around to take my picture, and it was to windy to do a self-timed shot..

A panoramic view of the Rockies. There are so many mountains around here; it's absolutely crazy!

Stone sheep licking minerals off the highway in Northern Rocky Mountains Provincal Park. I got tons of shots of these guys, especially the cute little one that's in the middle.

Liard River Hot Springs.....I've never been in a natural hot spring before. It was really cool (well, actually, really hot). Very relaxing apart from the voracious mosquitoes!

I saw a whole herd of bison on the road. This big guy seemed to be in charge, and he kept giving me the evil eye, like he didn't want me to move or go anywhere!

This was taken at Kluane Lake (I think-I saw so many lakes it's hard to remember) at about nine pm. Look how high the sun is in the sky!!!

At the US-Canadian border! It definitely was a feeling of accomplishment.

The Matanuska glacier. These are the Chugach Mountains, I think. There are so many mountain ranges around here, it's crazy. Every time you think that you've just seen the biggest mountain ever, you see a bigger one! The Wrangell-St. Elias mountains are huge-I don't have any pictures of those, but I'll get some on the way home. I can't wait to see Denali!!

Heart Attack at the Gas Pump

So you all know that I've been planning this trip for months. I have read so much stuff about camping, the Alaska Highway, bears, money, gas, etc....enough to keep you all informed of random trivia for years. So I was fully prepared for gas to be expensive. The last time I was driving in Canada, two years ago on PEI, I remember paying like 90 or 95 cents a liter. So far on this trip, I've paid like 108 cents a liter. Not terrible. But today I filled up from a quarter tank for 121!!!!!! I about passed out. But I'm already at historic mile 300 (which is like actual mile 280 or so), so hopefully I'll only need 4 more tanks.

Today was mostly long stretches of road with no one on them, not even any interesting wildlife. I'm currently in Fort Nelson, camping next to some very nice Swiss girls who helped me set up my tent. I'm assured that they never see bears in the campground, but I'm sleeping with my emergency whistle just in case (and slightly regretting my cheapskate-ness, which caused me to refuse to pay $40 bucks for bear pepper spray). But I'm sure I'll be fine!

Tomorrow I plan to go as far as Watson Lake, stopping along the way to see Muncho Lake & take a dip in Liard Hot Springs. (If I get really ambitious, I may try to make Teslin, but we'll see). Anyway, I'm eating some yummy chicken fingers in the saloon at the campground (which is decorated with saddle barstools) and then I'm going to peruse the Milepost before I fall asleep. It so weird that the sun isn't setting yet!

For those you have mentioned your geographical challenged-ness, here's a map of the Alaska Highway:

View Larger Map

I came from Seattle, up the Trans-Canada Highway to 97. I started this morning at Dawson Creek and will be following the red line to Tok, where I'll turn off to go towards Anchorage. Today's driving mostly was across the northern prairies, with tons of wind, but tomorrow I'll be going through the Northern Rockies.

Finally On the Way

I just couldn't resist the lure of my comfy (expensive) bed, so I didn't really get on the road until about noon today. I'm now in Fort St. John, where I got groceries and gas, and I'm hoping to make it to either Fort Nelson or Muncho Lake tonight. I may not check my e-mail again until Monday evening, just so you know. It is soooooooooooooooooo windy here, it's not even funny. I'm in a way glad I was in a motel last night, because I don't know  if poor Emerald would have made it through the night still standing, especially if I'd been lazy about the guy lines, which I won't be anymore, that's for sure!!

So my tentative itinerary is like this:

Saturday-to Fort Nelson, maybe as far as Muncho Lake
Sunday-to either Watson Lake or  Teslin
Monday-to Whitehorse
Tuesday-to Beaver Creek or maybe Tok
Wednesday-arrive in Wasilla by early afternoon!!!

Check you in a few days, hopefully with some amazing pictures.