When we set out from our side of the road camping spot this morning we knew we’d be in for a long day of driving as we hadn’t made it as far up the Richardson as we’d hoped last night after our amazingly overwhelmingly awesome day. We were about an hour south of a town called Glenallen and so we thought we’d just get going and have some breakfast when we got there. A great plan but Glenallen never materialized! Not sure just how that happened but it did. Maybe we had to leave the highway to find it or maybe it was right after the turn off we had to take to head in the direction of the Canadian border but whatever the reason...we never did find it.
So in the end, we had a brunch of leftover peanut butter and honey sandwiches (that we’d packed for the boat but hadn’t eaten) and coffee with the last of our cream on the side of the road. We were so hungry by that time that they were delicious!
All day today we searched the roadside for wildlife. We’d been looking for days now without luck (well, except for the sea life we enjoyed yesterday!). Today was another “no show” day on the wildlife front UNTIL we crossed back into the Yukon Territory. Once back in Canada we saw 1 black bear, 1 brown bear, and 1 grizzly. All were right up close and the grizzly gave us an especially good show as he munched away on the fresh spring flowers and grasses along the edge of the road.
Speaking of spring flowers....now that we’re back in the Yukon we cannot get over the beauty of the masses of purple flowers that line both sides of the roadway. In fact, there was one patch that gave us pause to stop where there was a massive field of these beauties. We don’t know what type they are for sure but think that it is likely fireweed, the territorial flower.
It was a long day of driving and a lot of the roads were pretty rough but all in all....it was another really good day. Even the crossing guard at the Canadian border was a friendly young man. He’s posted here (the westernmost town in Canada) all the way from Sarnia Ontario. He’s putting in some time in this northerly post and then will apply to get somewhere a little further south...well maybe a lot further south but still in BC. Here in Beaver Creek he has to drive more than 400 km round trip to get groceries in Whitehorse! Another interesting little fact is that after we left Alaska and entered the Yukon (according to the welcome to the Yukon sign) we had to drive 25 KM further before we got to the Canadian border crossing! Not sure what those 25 KM of no mans land are?!
But our favourite stop of the day was at a roadside memorial near Burwash Landing (in the Yukon) that has been erected by family and friends of a young man named “Dougie” and who’s life was cut short in 2005. This memorial site is filled with beautiful carvings and offerings and the centre of the site is a large plaque that shares Dougie’s philosophy....”Follow your dreams, be kind, and always remember to enjoy every day of your life.”
We’ve made it to Haines Junction tonight and are parked in a campground where we’ll be able to empty our tanks and refill our water in the morning so we’ll be all set for our final few days on the road.
Till next time,
L & L
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