Jim and Lyndi ZR-1 Road Trip 2019 - Back to Alaska

[secondchance]

We all have our quirks. Mine is a clean car. This quirk keeps me from enjoying my Z on long, cannot predict weather kind of trip.
It is truly epic! Thank you!

I wish I was there to wash and wax your Z!

[QB93Z]

Day 23: Drive the east on the Alaska Highway from Tok, AK to Whitehorse, YT

This route takes us back to Haines Junction and on to the interior of the Yukon.

The traffic on the Alaska Highway was very light. The road is in moderate condition with numerous heaves that slow me down:




Shortly after starting we enter a haze caused by smoke from forest fires. In one valley we actually smelled the smoke:






At one point, smoke and the skinny Black Spruce trees created a very surrealistic landscape:




I spotted this moose on the road ahead. She was standing still on the left side of the road. As we approached to about 1/4 mile, she turned around and went into the woods on the right:






For the second time this trip, we drove along the beautiful Kluane Lake. This time with the haze:




As we approached Whitehorse, we were greated to a sortie of Canadian fighter jets:





to be continued.........

[QB93Z]

In the evening, after 7 hours of driving, we ask around and got a recommendation for a local bar with historic flavor. We were directed to the 98 Hotel:



The 98 Hotel was built in 1948 and holds the second Liquor License issued west of Winnipeg. It is nominally a hotel because it has been "grandfathered" for a tavern license. It is a hard-core dive bar and we enjoyed our visit. The regulars were friendly and many had to show us where they were in all the pictures on the walls.

My new friend Doug and I swapped Navy stories:



Jim

[WARP TEN]

Looks like you finally sighted a Grizzly Bear! --Bob

[QB93Z]

Originally Posted by WARP TEN

Looks like you finally sighted a Grizzly Bear! --Bob

You should have seen the other people in the bar!

Jim

[QB93Z]

I finally got access to the internet from the Northern Rockies Lodge in Muncho Lake, BC. Now I can catch up on some posts.


Day 24 Canada Day in Whitehorse, YT

We spent the morning shopping because you can never have too many T-shirts, pins, patches and decals.

We spotted this "urban" fox in downtown Whitehorse:



Then we chose a good vantage point to watch the Canada Day Parade. Canadians love their parade. The 1st of July is Canada's Birth Day.

Here are some highlights of the parade. The Grand Marshall:




USA and Alaskan flags to show unity with their neighbor to the south:




The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (not mounted):




The Pipe and Drum Corps:




A Yukon Energency Response Truck:






Some vintage cars:




The 4H riders:




And, a Tupperware Car:




Jim

[QB93Z]

Day 25: Driving from Whitehorse, YT to Muncho Lake, BC

The Alaska Highway was in good condition between Whitehorse and the Canadian Rockies. Traffic was very light and the weather was fine. After a few hours, the haze from smoke was gone.




We stopped at the Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake, Yukon. In 1942, when the Army Corps of Engineers was building the Alaska Highway, a soldier was feeling home sick, so he made a sign with the distance to his home town. Many other signs were added over the years by folks travelling the Alaska Highway. In 2012, Lyndi and I put up a sign for the distance to Westminster, Maryland, our home town. At that time The Sign Post Forest had about 77,000 signs.

We checked that our sign was still there and Lyndi added the date of our current visit and noted that there 88,000 signs in the Forest as of last year.




As we headed east, we were paced by a Silver Fox (?) that ran with us in the left lane for about 1/4 mile:






Today was Wild Life Day! We saw more wild animals than the rest of the trip so far.










We started climbing and entered the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The scenery was wonderful and it was nice to be rid of the smoke haze:



Our destination was a very nice rustic lodge over looking Muncho Lake, the highest natural lake in Canada:



Jim

[QB93Z]

For Charlie, Matt and Dan:

Here's your sign:



Jim

[QB93Z]

Originally Posted by secondchance

We all have our quirks. Mine is a clean car. This quirk keeps me from enjoying my Z on long, cannot predict weather kind of trip.
It is truly epic! Thank you!

I wish I was there to wash and wax your Z!

I feel your pain Yun! The car is a mess. Thanks for thinking of us. When we planned the trip there was supposed to be a Car Show as part of Canada Day in Whitehorse. I had arranged the schedule to have plenty of time to wash and shine the car for the show. Unfortunately, the car show was cancelled and we got busy with things in Whitehorse and I didn't get the car washed yet.

Jim

[Ccmano]

Amazing Jim! Luv the animal photos.... btw I believe your “Silver Fox” is actually a Coyote..
H