Day 30 (continued) - Rain, Rain Go Away!
So, as you probably noticed I was not able to get the pictures to work - this will wait until we are home now as it won't be long. After a whole month on the road, and the weather not cooperating we think we might just go home. We decided to go for lunch to discuss our next move and on a local's recommendation went to the Fat Mermaid. The local's reasoning was that you don't want to go to Mikes as he's too expensive. Well.... we can't imagine what those prices would have been as the less expensive place cost us $45 for a very light lunch! The clouds had swallowed up the mountain, you could not see past the immediate harbour, it was raining hard and the forecast was for eight more days of the same. We decided that Beautiful Valdez and Harbour Boat Rides and the like would have to stay on the Bucket List and we would head towards home, the first leg being Tok.
We drove back up the highway and once we got about 75 miles out the weather brightened a bit. We did take some pictures of the awesome waterfalls and amazing glacier as we drove out and despite the rain and heavy clouds we got some pretty good shots. We drove all the way along the Richardson Highway to Tok and camped at the same place we camped early in our trip - as the campground at Fast Eddies. It was a long day of driving but with two drivers its ok, because when one gets tired the other drives.
Day 31 - What a difference a day makes!
We went to bed thinking we would be in Whitehorse today, do our shopping and go home! However, the day dawned sunny and bright, we breakfasted at Fast Eddies and then headed toward the border to re-enter Canada. We had a very cheerful and fun border guard who likes our cartoon faces on the doors, thought our dog was great, like how we had the totals for what we spent handy and he waved us on, wished us safe travels and away we went. We drove on and reached the Kluane area. This is such a beautiful drive and especially so today with beautiful sunshine, blue skies and just enough clouds to make the sky interesting. We stopped so much to take pictures, breathe the air and take in the lovely sights that it became clear that we would not be reaching Whitehorse today! Nor did we feel such an urgency to get back anymore as we were having such a lovely day. Just past Destruction Bay their is a campground called Cottonwood and Earl knows the people through his Mileposting days. Five years ago we took a tour of their place and saw the new cabins they had built. We said one day we would like to stay in the small one called Bella Vista. We pulled in and the campground looked pretty busy and we thought that we would be lucky to get a little camping spot let alone a night in the beautiful cabin! However, surprise, surprise, there was room. We moved in, took a walk along the lake in the light of the setting sun and then settled down for the night in this little piece of heaven, with gorgeous mountains, mirror still lake and a beautiful sky and setting sun! It was heaven!
Day 32 - My Blue Heaven!
We woke the next morning to sunshine on still waters and majestic peaks! We did not want to go home. We were ahead of schedule as the original plan had been to not be home till next weekend, so Earl went to find out if we could stay another night - oh joy! We can! What a treat and great way to end our holiday. I pretty much sat and read all day! I sat in the chairs inside, then I sat on the chairs on the front porch, then I moved to the chairs on the back porch in the sun, ... when it got too hot, I sat in the chairs in the shade on the front porch. Earl went taking pictures, took naps, we played cards and basically were very lazy and relaxed. And Corona...he explored and then napped in the sun....he explored some more and then napped in the shade.... you get the picture! We went for a drive in the late afternoon in both directions and had some supper back at Destruction bay. Earl thought he might like to go flight-seeing here but the costs were quite prohibitive and we didn't have a handy coupon book for here that gave us 2 for the price of one! We got back to our little cabin and played cards and read some more took some more pictures and then went to bed feeling relaxed but a little sad knowing that tomorrow it really was time to head to Whitehorse and then home. I think I could stay a week and still not be ready to leave!
Day 33 - Take me Home Country Roads!
Check out time was 11:00 a.m. We lazed in bed this morning, then slowly roused ourselves and went and had long luxurious showers. Slowly packed up the truck and re-hitched the camper and at exactly 11:00 a.m. with such reluctance we locked the door and drove away from the cabin. I believe we will be back one day - maybe a week or a ten day stay next time!
We said our goodbyes to MaryAnne and Glen (owners) and got back on the highway pointed toward Whitehorse. We lunched at Haines Junction and a great place called the Village Bakery and then in increasing heat drove towards the city. We got to the stores at 3:00 p.m., did our shopping while poor Corona tried to find shade beneath the trailer. We finished at about 5:00 p.m. We got gas and then headed to our supper date at a new restaurant called the Wheelhouse. Earl knows the owner and it just opened in July. What an amazing place. We had a table on the patio in the shade with a view of the river. The menu is very tastefully laid out and oh my the food. It was so delicious with good portions and excellent service. We sure enjoyed our 'last supper' of the holidays and would recommend the Wheelhouse to anyone wanting a nice supper with a good atmosphere and excellent food.
It's 7:30 p.m., we had planned to stay in the city a night, but... we were not tired, it was hot and crowded and busy in the city so we headed off down the Alaska Highway towards home. We didn't know how far we'd get but about midnight we pulled into Rancheria and dry camped for the night. Then, boy, we must have been eager to get home because we were up and rolling again about 6:30 a.m. and breakfasted at the Rancheria Lodge. Off we went again, we saw a moose, a bear and some bison on the way and then stopped at the Hot Springs for Earl to soak his aching back. Then of course, it is just a few miles and we're home! Muncho Lake looked lovely but we didn't even stop to stare or take pictures. A few more miles down the road, Corona suddenly perked up, wagged his tail and stuck his head out the window - he must have smelt home too!
We have had a great holiday - we saw some amazing sights, had some great adventures, and met some pretty cool people - but there is no place like home! We were so glad to see Toad River and our little house! We love to travel and see new places but we also just love where we live. It's a pretty good life!
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read our blog! It was fun learning to do this and any feedback anyone has - good or bad (constructive criticism) it would be greatly appreciated as this is a learning process and I want to do a class blog with my students so please feel free to let me know what you think!
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