TESLIN, YUKON TERRITORY, CANADA

TESLIN, YUKON TERRITORY, CANADA

We awoke to a very foggy morning.  This was another first in our trip….we had not really dealt with fog which is a very good thing when you are traveling on the edge of mountains.  So as we headed out on our 143-mile trip to Teslin visibility was only about 1/10 of a mile, which can be ok but not when the road curves and dips the way this one did.  We were not able to see what lay ahead on these narrow, curvy roads. It was slow going the first hour or so that morning.  Bill handles the road and the motor home very well so I wasn’t too nervous….okay, maybe I was driving him a little nuts!! The fog had given the view yet another dimension and it was just as beautiful (when I could bring myself to look --- sometimes taking pictures helps, as I can only see what I’m trying to capture on the camera!  Tunnel Vision!)

We had once again left Alaska, USA and were crossing the border back into Canada.  Do you know they don’t stamp your passport anymore in Canada unless you ask them to.  So all the times we have crossed back and forth on this trip, still don’t have a stamp in my passport!!  Customs has been good to us though – never giving us any trouble or asking too many questions.

The fog cleared up and opened up the view before us.....amazing once again.

We had stopped at Caribou Crossing a few days before but arrived too late…we were not all that impressed, probably because they deprived us of our “ice cream” fix.  But everyone in the group that had stopped persuaded us to try one more time, as we would be passing by it once again.  We had seen a couple other wildlife museums but we had to admit this one was pretty good.  Displays include over 100 Yukon and Ice Age mammals, life-size woolly mammoth and the world’s largest bear.  They also had gold-panning, dog sled rides, puppies and mini-golf.  It is amazing how they preserve these animals, they look so life-like and give you that real close-up of animals you should never get that close to!!  LOL. 

Now you know that Bill is a big man, but look at him compared to the Woolly Mammoth.  I’m sure he would not have liked to come face to face to one of them in real life!!

 

Do you see Bill there -- he is that little person in the red shirt under the tusks!









We had seen sled dogs perform when we were in Fairbanks and had a close up encounter with them.  The sled dogs at Caribou Crossing were all chained up, barking to get free or laying in the mud.  It was kind of sad but they are working dogs and that’s what makes them happy.  The two puppies were cute and energetic. 

We checked out the museum, the outdoor animal area, the sled dogs and the other old buildings and artifacts they had on display and hit the road again.  Other than lunch and rest breaks, a couple stops for photos and we headed to camp.

I got excited because I thought these mountain goats were real ... but after they didn't move for over an hour I gave up on thinking that.  LOL

One of the couples in our group (Al & Marilyn of Dallas, TX) was celebrating their 50^th anniversary so arrangements were made to surprise them with a cake, gather everyone around and celebrate with them.  They are an amazing couple, still so young at heart and in love.  Their health is such that they thrive on hiking trails into the mountains beyond what most of us can handle (I personally have a really hard time going up hill --- I can walk quite a ways if it is flat.  LOL).  Now this cake….if you ever have need for a cake while in this part of the country, figure out how to bake one.  We are so used to going to Sam’s, Kroger’s, Wal-Mart or any other local grocery store and ordering a nice sheet cake (or layer if you prefer) personalized and beautiful (not they are always that tasty, but…).  Well, that can’t happen around here.  Eleanor had decided to take this on and finally asked the owner of a small (and I mean small) restaurant if he knew anywhere she could order a cake.  He finally said he would talk to his wife and see if she would bake it.   She agreed to try although she had never done a cake for anyone before.  I have no idea what we paid her, but she basically baked two 9x13 cakes and used the Wilton squeeze frosting tube to write the message.  They tasted good….but that’s major improvisation around here.  Two of us could have done the same for practically no cost and a lot less hassle.  It was very sweet of this man’s wife to go above and beyond to try and fill our need.  Bless her!   Each of us had written a message to them on a card and they read them all at the “Party”.  Al & Marilyn were very touched at our small way of honoring their marriage.  It’s always heartwarming to see people committed to sharing their life together and fulfilling God’s plan of marriage.

Ted bought Al this shirt -- it has a picture of Alaska with Texas in the center --- it says"Isn't Texas Cute"! They are from Dallas where all the Texans claim everything is big .. Alaska's little joke!

More beautiful pictures!

Back to the RV to have dinner (after dessert mind you!), relax, DVD, bed --- on our way to Junction 37, Yukon Territory (near Watson Lake), Canada, a mere 162 miles down the road.