Day 28 Tok, AK

                                          Did you guess? We're still in Tok.   Population 1415.

Tok originated as an Alaska Road Commission camp for the construction of the Alcan and Glenn Highways in the 1940s.

The story is: one of the engineers on the project had a dog that made friends with a orphaned black bear cub. The cub was taken in by the workers and traveled with them. The dog's name was TOK. Therefore....Tok, Alaska.

Drive around Tok and you’ll see wild and domestic flower gardens, big vegetables, log homes with sod and wild flower roofs, old fish wheels, historic mining equipment, lots of airplanes, log caches. In late afternoon you may see the llamas strolling Tok.

On January 10, 2009 Tok made headlines with an unconfirmed temperature reading of -80°F. But the weather today was quite pleasant. We were told that it has been 100 here.

This time of year, there are flower baskets everywhere.

          The sod roofs are good insulation, I'm told. I don't really think you have to mow it. But I'm sure it's "dirt cheap".

                       We saw a moose.                                                          We saw a bear.               

Then we saw some really scary critters.

They are "sled dogs". $100 each. Pam wanted one. BUT, if you know Lon.

After exploring town. Lon & Pam went to explore the woods. Weapon drawn.

No bears, but they found the magic mushrooms.

After their "trip" in to the woods. Pam fed us all. The beef stew she had cooked all day was better than

Dinty Moore!

Tomorrow, off to Delta Junction, North Pole, and Fairbanks.  Maybe.

Day 26 & 27 Destruction Bay and Tok

Due to internet inaccessibility we've combined 2 days into the blog.

We left Whitehorse, YT for Destruction Bay around 9:30.  A relatively short 168 miles or so.  The roads were good and the scenery ho-hum spectacular.

We stopped at a rest area and found this old bridge that was originally built in the 1920's.  We were grateful that we didn't have to drive our rigs over it.

There was a sign that said to "Keep off the Building".  We all went on the bridge except Gail who asked if we were illiterate.  We discussed the difference between a building and a bridge.  At least that's the way I remember it.

We got to Destruction Bay and marveled at the view.  They had a total population of 38 last winter.

The RV park owner was preparing dinner of potato salad, 3 day slow smoked beef hind quarter, salad, bbq beans and brown apple betty for a caravan of 20 motorhomes and invited us to join them.  We enjoyed it.

We chatted with some of the folks in the caravan about their travels as they were headed back from AK.

Tuesday we headed out at 8am (early for us) for the 230 mile drive to Tok, AK.  The road between these two points on the AlCan Highway are infamous for "frost heaves" as the road is built on the tundra and the freezing can cause sections of the road to separate as much as 2 feet vertically.  Fortunately, for us they have been working all summer to repair these.  However, there are many gravel patches for repairs and "whoop-de-dos" that will rattle your teeth and cause your rig to get airborne if you try to do the 63 mph posted speed limit.  Most of the time 45mph is more prudent, dodging, swerving, braking and slowing to 15-20mph.

                                                               We finally made it:

                             After clearing Customs we stopped by this Sod roofed visitor center

                           We were looking for moose but clearly Jerry focused in the wrong direction.

We arrived in Tok at 1pm, only 6 hrs travel with about an hours worth of stops along the way.  For you doing the math in your head there is a 1 hour time change.

                     Gail and Pam had internet again, they were suffering from Facebook withdrawal.

 Gail and Jerry fixed everybody dinner. Jerry's famous red beans, YUMMY,  then we went for the local entertainment.

Dave has lived in AK since he was 26, now 62,  told great stories of the way of life and sang songs he wrote about AK.  He truly loves this land and from it's majesty it's easy to see why.  However, when you have to special thermometers that record -100, it gives you pause.

                                                  Pam participated in the "Moose Song"

                       we had so much fun we're going back tonight while Heidi "guards" the coaches.

Day 25 and on Sunday they rested in Whitehorse YT

Sunday, July 24, 2011 in Whitehorse the capital of the Yukon Territories.

Jerry, Gail and Heidi declared a day of rest and decided to sleep in.

Lon and Pam sought out the local Church of the Nazarene and Pastor Norman on a tip from Jim Brillhart.

After an enjoyable service and worship it was off to the grocery store to re-provision as we understand shopping gets scarce until Anchorage or Fairbanks.  After putting away the groceries and having a little lunch the Cockerells felt rested enough to go exploring.

At the entrance to the airport was this perfectly balanced full size DC-3 airplane that they claim as the "World's Largest Weather Vane" it's nose swings perfectly into the wind as the wind direction changes giving pilots a visual on wind direction.

First stop was the local Yukon Brewing Company for a sample of the wares.  Yummy, Lon had to buy some, don't you know.  In fact he's enjoying one right now.  Although a small batch craft brewery they clearly have the market cornered in Whitehorse.  Downtown isn't quite as modern as you'd think in the 21st century.

                                        The high rise condos didn't exactly dominate the skyline.

                                           We checked out the SS Klondike paddle wheeler.

Boats like this were the main supply and transportation vessels until the Alaskan Highway was built in 1942.

                            This pic gives you perspective on the size of the paddle wheel and rudder.

It was kinda rainy so that was the extent of the touring.  Besides it was B-A-T-H day for Heidi so we headed back to the RVs.  We'll let Heidi tell you how that all worked out.

Lon and Pam had heard about "THE" place to have dinner in Whitehorse.  Originally a tent and then the first 2 buildings in WH it started as the MacMillan Bakery in 1900.

                        They waited in line for 20 minutes at The Klondike Rib and Salmon BBQ

                                                                   it was worth the wait.

The food was excellent, the portions generous and the prices reasonably.  Passing on the Reindeer Stew, Buffalo Rib Eye and the Elk Stroganoff, Lon and Pam had the Halibut.  WONDERFUL!!

Then it was off to the Frantic Follies with everything you might expect in a frontier town show.  Two hours of a corny but very entertaining Vaudeville show.
                                         The dancing girls, (can you believe Doc missed out on this)

                                                                         The musicians

                                                                                and the skits

All in all it was a good day for everyone, except maybe Heidi.  Next stop Destruction Bay. Maybe

Day 24 Watson Lake to Whitehorse, YT

Up and at'em early this morning. Lon went to town and found the parts we needed to repair the exhaust system. I waited for the "certified mechanic" that the park advertises in their literature. We talked to the people in charge last evening when we were there for dinner and were told he would be there in the morning, site #7. Within an hour Lon returned with all the stuff we needed, and a life-time of knowledge from the man at the shop in town. Then under the bus we went, well Lon went...I was the gopher (go for tools). In about an hour we were good as new. ( Lon is like having Charlie around when it comes to repairs, but I haven't experienced Lon's fish and hush-puppies). So we were the last ones to leave the RV park, at the crack of noon. Still haven't seen that "Certified Mechanic".

                                                             The scenery continues.

                       These purple wild flowers are everywhere. (Trust me Byron, they are purple).

Still in the Rocky Mountains.

It is Saturday so no one was working. The number at the bottom of the light tells you how many seconds till you can go. It starts at 180 seconds. How long does it take for you to get up and go pee ?

                                                           Approaching Teslin, YT           

                                  Some more purple wildflowers. I'm going to take some home to plant.

                                                                            GO FIGURE!!

                                                   Heidi acted like she didn't know them.

                                       These bridges have a steel deck, makes it rather slippery.

Did I mention, I got to set and drink beer all afternoon?

We got to Whitehorse in about 4 1/2 hrs

Parked at the Pioneer RV Park. Ever wonder what a sardine feels like in that can?

                                       Lon and Pam invited us over to their place for social hour.

Tomorrow is a day off. We are going to explore Whitehorse and, time permitting, take Heidi to the "dog wash". Yes, a coin operated dog wash!