The real ALKAN Highway

 August 18, 2015

We spent one night in Tok, AK after Valdez, then headed for Destruction Bay. Shortly after leaving Tok, we came to the border of Alaska & Canada.

 The border markers...

 A border through the wilderness, you will notice that there are no guards, no walls, no tunnels. If only all international borders could be this peaceful!!

 We are in the Yukon again

Phil sits on the border marker, one foot in the U.S. and one in Canada. The gap in the trees above his head is where the border continues.

 And in this part of the Yukon is where we get a rude introduction to the real ALKAN Highway. Because of the frost heaves, and the heat from the asphalt when the sun hits it, the ice below the surface melts, refreezes and melts again. This process causes all kinds of havoc with the roads. There are sink holes, pot holes the size of craters, risers, washboards and the ever present construction. A 226 mile journey at 30-40 mph equals a 6-7 drive the likes of a constant roller coaster

 The total wildlife seen today was one swan!

Yipee!!!

 Then, of course, it began to rain, just so that the worst road we have driven on became even more of a hazard

 Did I mention the ever present construction???

 Paul and Melody Thomas have traveled with the first group a few times. They were a dream to travel with and we really enjoyed their company!

Burwash Landing was just a few miles before Destruction Bay

 We were all filthy by the end of this day. You can't keep this kind of dust out of the rigs, I wiped my hand across the table when we stopped and it came up black! Didn't even need the white gloves to see the dirt after this drive!!

 This is it...Destruction Bay. It earned it's name during the construction of the highway. The construction workers had set their tents up along the Kulane Lake, just across the road from the c/g. High winds straight off the glacier topped mountains blew down, totally destroying the camp!

 Like little ducks in a row, we are lined up for the next couple of days

 This is the Destruction Bay Lodge, where we are camped, doesn't look like much, but we had a blast the two days we were here!!

 Some of us, including Phil, took the Diamond Willow Walking Stick class. This starts with raw wood with bark on, bark is scraped off with knife, and all bark had to be removed before crossing the border back into the U.S. After bark is removed it gets sanded down, then a finish is put on. They are really pretty when done.

 This is a cable that connects a toad (car behind Motor Home) to the MH. This is the third time Phil has been asked to fix this cable. It's owner keeps letting it drag on the ground.

 While Phil was playing with the walking sticks, I took a beading class. The obviously unfinished piece is mine (left), the one on the right is what the finished piece is suppose to be. So, along with all the knitting projects I have to finish, now I have this to finish as well.

 The first night here Loren (the owner) made BBQ Buffalo burgers for us. They were good, a little dry as the meat is very lean. The second night we had a beef roast that had been slow cooking on the BBQ a good part of the day.

 There was a band, and some got up to dance

Loren (center) also sang and told stories.

Everyone had a really good time!!