Many mirrored lakes were along our route today. Some, like this one, were very small while others were extremely large. One we drove by was several miles long.
 





Rancheria Falls was about 1/3 mile back from the road. It provided a nice hike and a needed break.
 





How do you "Bear Proof" a campsite if your on a bicycle or motorcycle?
 






The road corssed the Yukon River at Teslin - a very scenic vista. This is the longest bridge on the Alaska Highway. It had a metal deck that sounded funny and made you feel as if you were slipping sideways.

Day 15
Thursday, June 23, 2011
On the road to Whitehorse

I didn't get much sleep last night. Don't know why, other than I drank some coffee with dinner and maybe that did it. 2:30 A.M. is not my idea of a time to get up, so I tossed and turned until 5:30. Of course when I came down the steps Lucy began to get rambunctious in her house, letting me know she needed to be taken out. I quietly put her leash on her and opened the door to the outside. 5:30 A.M. in Watson Lake is like 9:00 in Texas - bright sunshine, birds singing, the whole bit. I stepped in front on our neighbor's motor home and Lucy stopped to take care of her business. George and Winnie, our neighbors yesterday, suddenly burst from their door yelling "GOOD MORNING!" Lucy proceeded to bark repeatedly with her shrillest bark. I'm sure everyone in the park was thrilled to hear her so early.


We got things packed up once again and I started the motor to raise the front legs. Once again, one leg came up as it was supposed to while the other did not. Again I was left with the trailer perched on one leg. The hitch was in place so it was in no danger of falling. Spence, the tailgunner, came by to see if I needed help. I took the mechanism that works the lift apart hoping that I would be able to make that stubborn leg come up. Apparently the gear is so stripped that it didn't work. Robert came with his 20 tone jack and in moments we had the leg up and we were on our way.

Our journey today was to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. The town is named Whitehorse because some old prospector thought the rushing water in the river looked like the flowing white mane of a horse. The rivers in these parts do run swiftly. We once again headed up highway 97 or the Alaska Highway. People will tell you that the Alaska Highway is not a good road, that it is very rough, that it is covered with gravel, etc. Our experience so far is that the Alaska Highway is a very good road. Yes, it is steep in places, there are some rough spots (frost heaves), and there are stretches of gravel where they are resurfacing the road, but you will find those things on almost every road in Corsicana ( except for the steep part). We were easily able to drive 60 - 65 mph.

The scenery was not as great as many days in the past, but the dry weather and partly cloudy skies made it a nice drive. We did see lots of rivers and streams and many beautiful mirror smooth lakes. I was never able to get a picture of the lakes as there was no where to pull over safely. I guess I could have stopped in the middle of the road - we drove 68 miles this morning before another car passed us going in the same direction. We went at least 40 miles before we met a vehicle coming toward us. Trucks are another thing you don't see too much of. It sure is a lot more pleasant to drive than it I-45 or 7th Ave. in Corsicana.

We stopped an Rancheria Falls and took a 1/4 mile path back to the falls. It was so quiet back there and we might have stayed longer if not for the mosquitoes. Those little buggers will bug you to death. No wildlife today either - I guess they had the day off.

We arrived in Whitehorse around 4:00 and set up the trailer for our three days here. At 6:00 the Adventure Caravan staff served nachos and margaritas - really good. It was supposed to be a game night, but no one was in the mood for games. I think everyone was just tired.

Tomorrow we will have a travel briefing and then take a tour of the S.S. Klondike. The rest of the day is a free day so we'll see what we can get into. Till then, Happy Trails.