Vacation has come and gone.... and now back to work tomorrow night.... BUT we had an incredibly fantastic time driving through Yukon and Alaska! It was all a blur, we did 2200km in the 5 days we were gone. We started by taking the Top of the World Highway from Dawson to Chicken, AK. Chicken has a population of around 6 in the winter, they have no running water or electricity, and get mail delivered twice a week. The population soars to 50-ish in the summer time. They had a great cafe for lunch with homemade chicken pot pie and fresh pies, and an old dredge for mining gold, and a big ol' metal chicken on a hill made out of old high school lockers (not from a high school in Chicken though... kids do school through correspondence). Our final spot that day was Tok, AK - a pretty boring place! haha not much to do there! The drive initially was pretty awful out of Dawson. SO smokey and then foggy on top of that because we were literally on top of the world in the clouds - pretty amazing! Once we got through the Alaska border, the weather made a complete 180 and it turned into a beautiful afternoon!
Our second day was a long drive from Tok, AK to Haines Junction, YT. With lots of stops along the way because the view was incredible. We stopped in Destruction Bay for the crazy blue water, and lots of mountain look outs. We were surrounded by mountains and it was just beautiful! This day we actually saw a Moose! And her Calf! I FINALLLY saw a moose! Then, not much later we saw a GRIZZLY BEAR and her CUB!! SO COOL! They were just off the shoulder eating so we stopped and watched them (and obviously took a TON of photos). Apparently the trails along Haines Junction have been closed because of the overwhelming amount of Grizzly Bears lately. We stayed at a nice hotel with a beautiful view of the mountains. L&G took a glacier flight tour and got some incredible photos and I wandered around Haines Junction and enjoyed the river and view.
The next day was by far my favourite! We drove from Haines Junction, YT to Haines, AK! Yes, we crossed the border every single day of our trip! and each time took 10 mins MAX. It was lovely! The drive was just incredible. MOUNTAINS EVERYWHERE! Barely any traffic too! We stopped at Kathleen Lake and that's definitely a place I want to revisit! Crystal clear blue-green waters, still as can be. The closer we got to Haines, the bigger the mountains got! Haines is a super cute little town that rests on a shore of the pacific ocean. We took a fast ferry to Skagway and back (because ferry's are my most favourite thing!) and explored the town a little bit. The driving distances made it hard to spend a ton of time exploring each place, but that just means we'll have to come back! And I certainly plan on that - sometime! We had Halibut fish and chips in ALASKA! So delicious! We stayed in this lovely cabin on Beach Road that was super reasonably priced and perfect for 3 people, and the comfy beds helped!
Monday we had to drive back to Whitehorse to get G on a plane home. So it was a long drive back where we got some sleep (poor G didn't and drove the whole time). It was another beautiful, hot day and we had the afternoon in Whitehorse with the rental car. To pass time we went and checked out the Yukon Wildlife Preserve. We took a guided bus tour and got to see all sorts of animals and learn about how they were working to protect and rehabilitate animals here in the territory. We ended our trip by having a delicious dinner at G&P's in Whitehorse. So good! We were pretty wiped and had a long bus ride ahead of us the next morning, so we just laid low in the (very hot) hotel room in Whitehorse and organized our things, we had SO much stuff between the two of us, it was pretty ridiculous! Now I have to figure out how I'm going to pack it all for flying home (in 23 days!!!).
The highlight of our Tuesday?? TIM HORTONS!!!! I haven't had Tim Hortons since May 20 and it was fabulous! It certainly beat the 7 hour bus ride back to Dawson. Which was better than I thought it would be since it was pretty well empty and we were able to spread out. I read, listened to music and podcasts and slept. Pretty productive for being on a bus all day! WOO!
I had a fantastic trip with L&G, it was full of laughter, good conversation, good food and drink, singing in the car and great walks/flights/ferry rides (and maybe some teasing of L hehehe). I can't believe how quickly time flew by and how lucky I am to have gotten to experience a piece of this incredible place..... 'Til we meet again Alaska, much like the Yukon.... You cast a spell on me.
Now I'm home in Dawson, and have to get back to work. BUT I only have 13 shifts left! and 23 days! I can't wait to come home and see everyone!!
See you all soon!!!
xoxoxox
Our second day was a long drive from Tok, AK to Haines Junction, YT. With lots of stops along the way because the view was incredible. We stopped in Destruction Bay for the crazy blue water, and lots of mountain look outs. We were surrounded by mountains and it was just beautiful! This day we actually saw a Moose! And her Calf! I FINALLLY saw a moose! Then, not much later we saw a GRIZZLY BEAR and her CUB!! SO COOL! They were just off the shoulder eating so we stopped and watched them (and obviously took a TON of photos). Apparently the trails along Haines Junction have been closed because of the overwhelming amount of Grizzly Bears lately. We stayed at a nice hotel with a beautiful view of the mountains. L&G took a glacier flight tour and got some incredible photos and I wandered around Haines Junction and enjoyed the river and view.
The next day was by far my favourite! We drove from Haines Junction, YT to Haines, AK! Yes, we crossed the border every single day of our trip! and each time took 10 mins MAX. It was lovely! The drive was just incredible. MOUNTAINS EVERYWHERE! Barely any traffic too! We stopped at Kathleen Lake and that's definitely a place I want to revisit! Crystal clear blue-green waters, still as can be. The closer we got to Haines, the bigger the mountains got! Haines is a super cute little town that rests on a shore of the pacific ocean. We took a fast ferry to Skagway and back (because ferry's are my most favourite thing!) and explored the town a little bit. The driving distances made it hard to spend a ton of time exploring each place, but that just means we'll have to come back! And I certainly plan on that - sometime! We had Halibut fish and chips in ALASKA! So delicious! We stayed in this lovely cabin on Beach Road that was super reasonably priced and perfect for 3 people, and the comfy beds helped!
Monday we had to drive back to Whitehorse to get G on a plane home. So it was a long drive back where we got some sleep (poor G didn't and drove the whole time). It was another beautiful, hot day and we had the afternoon in Whitehorse with the rental car. To pass time we went and checked out the Yukon Wildlife Preserve. We took a guided bus tour and got to see all sorts of animals and learn about how they were working to protect and rehabilitate animals here in the territory. We ended our trip by having a delicious dinner at G&P's in Whitehorse. So good! We were pretty wiped and had a long bus ride ahead of us the next morning, so we just laid low in the (very hot) hotel room in Whitehorse and organized our things, we had SO much stuff between the two of us, it was pretty ridiculous! Now I have to figure out how I'm going to pack it all for flying home (in 23 days!!!).
The highlight of our Tuesday?? TIM HORTONS!!!! I haven't had Tim Hortons since May 20 and it was fabulous! It certainly beat the 7 hour bus ride back to Dawson. Which was better than I thought it would be since it was pretty well empty and we were able to spread out. I read, listened to music and podcasts and slept. Pretty productive for being on a bus all day! WOO!
I had a fantastic trip with L&G, it was full of laughter, good conversation, good food and drink, singing in the car and great walks/flights/ferry rides (and maybe some teasing of L hehehe). I can't believe how quickly time flew by and how lucky I am to have gotten to experience a piece of this incredible place..... 'Til we meet again Alaska, much like the Yukon.... You cast a spell on me.
Now I'm home in Dawson, and have to get back to work. BUT I only have 13 shifts left! and 23 days! I can't wait to come home and see everyone!!
See you all soon!!!
xoxoxox