Watson Lake, Yukon to Tok Junction, Alaska

April 21 & 22 – Watson Lake, Yukon to Whitehorse, Yukon to Tok Junction, Alaska

People in the north just are not ready for tourists! When we arrived in Whitehorse, we went straight to the visitor center, following the signs for RVs, and we found all the RV parking spots. They were all full of two cars each. There are lots of cars in Whitehorse! We parked at Peace Park and walked along the Yukon River. Some water was flowing, but big areas of ice were cluttering the shore. Downtown was chock full of people and cars. We stopped at the PO in a drug store and then ate lunch at Lil’s 50’s Diner. The music and décor took us back to our junior high days. I loved all the large murals everywhere.
Takhini Hot Spot told us they would let us camp there, so we drove out of town. They had plowed into the campground and cleared us a parking area. Fortunately, the hot springs were opening at 6 pm. (The previous two days they were closed – winter schedule.) They are lovely. I went into the pools twice before they closed at 10 pm. Les joined me once. We were able to shower there, too, and we could slip and slide across mud, ice and snow to the outhouse. Those hot pools are drained every night and refilled. The German proprietors told us that the mineral waters don’t smell because of the chemical make-up, and they call it a sweet hot spot. Nice!
Kluane Lake was covered with ice and snow. We were lucky to see a red fox, a mountain goat, some elk, a horse herd with one wearing a cowbell, and several falcons as we drove. Helping Dalgliesh solve a murder mystery while we drove, made the time pass quickly. The section of highway after Destruction Bay was destroyed by winter weather and soil conditions in that area. The US was to take over reconstruction of that area, and they have a Shakwak Project where they are trying to keep the soil conditions a more consistent temperature. It does not see to be working so far.
Buckshot Betty’s in Beaver Creek was a must stop after 2 ½ hours of creeping over bumps. Betty Boop one day and Buckshot Betty the next! Now we are back in Alaska. The Tok RV Village has cleared out a row of parking spaces. Les has gone on a bike ride.