AUGUST 30: WHITEHORSE to FAIRBANKS

Distance: 954 km (593 miles)

The drive from Whitehorse to Fairbanks was interesting. I fueled up in Whitehorse and started along my way. Since I will be backtracking this same route in a few days, my strategy was to take pictures in the Yukon and pedal hard through Alaska and then do the opposite on the way back. I did take some pictures in Alaska but more will follow.

The Yukon scenery was fantastic. The roads however deteriorated quickly about an hour outside Whitehorse. I was starting to get motion sick and I about wore out the brakes and suspension in my rental car. In addition of the snow-capped mountains, crystal blue and green lakes and mountain flowers, I saw some river otters. I made stops for gas in Haines Junction and Beaver Creek, which was the last roadside stop before the border.

Upon crossing the border into Alaska, the roads went from gravel and frost heaves to perfectly paved smooth blacktop. While the roads got much better, the scenery was nice but less compelling. I stopped in Tok to mail some postcards and make a few phone calls.

At Delta Junction, the official Alaska Highway comes to an end. It joins the Richardson Highway which completes the route to Fairbanks. Just outside Fairbanks, I stopped at North Pole, Alaska and you'll never guess who I saw at the Santaland Store!

I checked in to my hotel, went to Walmart for some supplies and toured downtown Fairbanks. I took some KFC back to the hotel for my only meal of the day.

 

Alaska State Line

 

 

The Yukon from Whitehorse to the Border:

 

I drove toward this mountain for quite some time without seeing where the road was going to turn.

 

Native Indian Burial Site

 

River Otters

 

Alaska from the Border to Fairbanks:

 

Delta, Alaska

 

North Pole, Alaska

 

Golden Heart Plaza in Fairbanks

AUGUST 29: FORT NELSON to WHITEHORSE

Distance: 964 km (600 miles)

Today exceeded all expectations. I fueled up in Fort Nelson before hitting the road. At first, the fog was so thick I could barely see 10 feet in front of me. I passed through some mountain passes where there was a significant construction delay. Once the fog burned off, my fortunes improved dramatically.

It started by seeing a gray wolf on the road. He was huge! When I first saw him, I thought it was a female elk. Initially he didn't budge and stared me down. I tried to get a picture but by the time I got my camera ready, he darted in to the brush.

A few minutes later, I stopped to take a picture of the scenery, when I heard what sounded like women's heels behind and walking toward me. I turned slowly and found a small herd of reindeer clicking their hooves on the pavement. In the Summit and Muncho Lake areas, I saw plenty of reindeer, deer, big horn sheep, mountain goats, bison and black bear. The wildlife plus the amazing scenery of Muncho Lake was fantastic!

Past the Liard River, I crossed into the Yukon Territory. At Watson Lake, which is near the border, I fueled up and stopped at the Sign Post Forest. It was interesting but I couldn't spend too much time as I had some serious mileage to make. The drive through Teslin and along Teslin Lake was spectacular. Marsh Lake was nice but I only stopped briefly so I could get to Whitehorse, my final destination this evening.

Whitehorse is the capital of the Yukon Territory and its largest “city”. My first impression of the town is that it has just recently entered into the 1990's and is a bit on the wild side. I walked to Boston Pizza, which seems very popular in Western Canada, for dinner. The food was good but I am confused by the name. I would understand New York, Chicago or California Pizza, but Boston, what's up with that ey?

Tomorrow will be my third big mileage day in a row to get to Fairbanks. Hopefully I can find some WiFi to upload these entries.

 

 

Traffic jam.

 

Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake.

 

I joined local tradition by building my sweetheart's name in the hillside along the highway.

AUGUST 28: EDMONTON to FORT NELSON

Distance: 1095 km (680 miles)

After 16 hours on the road, I arrived at Fort Nelson, BC to get a few hours of sleep. Progress was slow through and north of Edmonton. Once I got onto country roads, it was relatively smooth sailing. I took Alberta Hwy 43 through Whitecourt and Valleyview to Grande Prairie where I fueled up and bought a few supplies. Continuing on Hwy 43 through Beaverlodge I crossed into British Columbia where the road changed to BC Hwy 2. In Pouce Coupe, I grabbed dinner at Subway and found the official start of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek.

I spent the evening driving the Alaska Highway north through Taylor and Fort St. John to a motel in Fort Nelson. The amount of vehicles on the road dropped significantly as I passed Fort St. John. Once the sun set and the work trucks headed home from the adjacent logging roads, the highway became eerily quiet. I only saw 3 trucks fin about a 2 hour period. I did spot 2 black bears; however the camera couldn't get them without a flash. Considering they didn't seem too happy about my high-beams and it was just them and me, I didn't try to get any closer.

 

I named her Winona in tribute to Les Claypool in Beaverlodge, Alberta

 

The official start of the Alaska (aka AlCan) Highway in Dawson Creek, British Columbia

 

Mile marker zero in town.

 

Charlie Lake outside Fort St. John, British Columbia.

AUGUST 27: CALGARY to EDMONTON

Distance: 369 km (229 miles)

Today started slower than I had hoped. I had a bit of a technical glitch with my GPS; it did not have Canada or Alaska. After getting that resolved I drove to Edmonton with short stops in Red Deer and Leduc. I toured the downtown area driving through the Old Strathcona area and making stops at the Alberta Legislature Building, City Hall Square and various parks along both sides of the river. After taking a break to check-in to my hotel, I headed out to the West Edmonton Mall. It claims to be the largest mall in North America, larger than the Mall of America. It had a large water park, amusement park, full size hockey rink, miniature golf course, etc. but it seemed to have fewer actual stores than MOA. Considering I rarely go to a mall at home, it is ironic that I ended up at WEM and MOA in the same year. Tomorrow the real adventure begins!