Day 11, North to Alaska 07/21/2010

Yesterday, 07/21, we left White Horse, Yukon Territory, and headed for Alaska. It was our longest day of driving. We were both looking forward to getting back to the U.S. and a Hampton Inn.

There was not very much in the way of animal viewing. We saw a couple of moose in Canada and 3 more in Alaska. I saw a lynx, Linda missed it. The scenery was , once again, very pretty. Mountains and lakes, mountains and lakes, almost the entire route.

I learned a new term yesterday and how it impacts the traveling public. "Frost Heaves" That is when the permafrost melts and refreezes under the roadbed. We had about 100 miles of highway affected by this work of nature. There are more ups and downs than a rollercoaster at Disney World. Good shocks are very important.

We travelled the entire length of the AlCan Highway. At the end of the road, we received a certificate attesting to our completion of this part of the journey. Travelling through Canada in the remote areas, we noticed that the towns we passed through consisted of primarily 100 to 200 people. With a gas station and restaurant. Population fluctuated seasonally. Winter comes early and stays late. We went to bed last night around 11:00pm. The sun was still up.

We are in Fairbanks now. Today I'll have the Tahoe serviced for our return, go to the North Pole for ornaments and eat at an Italian Restaurant that Jerry & Mary Ann Hankins recommended to us. As you can tell by this blog it is a good trip. The GPS says it is 4632 miles back to Wetumpka.

Jerry