This morning I toured the MacBride Museum of Yukon History in Whitehorse. The museum contains a number of stuffed animals representative of the Yukon as well as a heavy dose of local Whitehorse history.
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At 2 PM I boarded a Greyhound bus for a 12 1/2-hour ride along the Alaska Highway from Whitehorse to Fort Nelson in northeastern British Columbia. Being one of the last to board, I was lucky to get a very good seat in the second row. My seatmate was a student at a college in Whitehorse. We chatted for a bit and then both put on our ipods. That technology is perfect for long-distance bus travel! I believe that this may have been the first time I have ridden a Greyhound bus in more than 30 years.
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I could have flown from Whitehorse to Edmonton. However, I chose to take the bus via Fort Nelson because I was curious to see what the countryside looks like. As it turns out, the Alaska Highway is beautifully paved; and the scenery is lovely but not spectacular, based on what I saw during the daylight portion of my journey. This evening I spotted moose twice (one animal each time). We also saw about a dozen wood bison along the roadside in a single sighting. The photos I got of the wood bison through the bus window are blurry, so you'll have to use your imagination. Sorry!
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I could have flown from Whitehorse to Edmonton. However, I chose to take the bus via Fort Nelson because I was curious to see what the countryside looks like. As it turns out, the Alaska Highway is beautifully paved; and the scenery is lovely but not spectacular, based on what I saw during the daylight portion of my journey. This evening I spotted moose twice (one animal each time). We also saw about a dozen wood bison along the roadside in a single sighting. The photos I got of the wood bison through the bus window are blurry, so you'll have to use your imagination. Sorry!
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Because it gets dark so late at this latitude of about 60 degrees, I was able to see the countryside until after 10 PM. Dinner was a Subway foot-long tuna sandwich on honey oat bread (with no cheese, of course) which I ate at the recreation center (which also doubles as the Greyhound bus station) in Watson Lake, YT. This town is famous for its "forest" of over 50,000 signs. The first signs were erected by a homesick soldier during World War II. It is said that he nailed three signs onto a single post. The interesting thing is just how many Kilroys have brought their signs with them from Europe and elsewhere.
Because it gets dark so late at this latitude of about 60 degrees, I was able to see the countryside until after 10 PM. Dinner was a Subway foot-long tuna sandwich on honey oat bread (with no cheese, of course) which I ate at the recreation center (which also doubles as the Greyhound bus station) in Watson Lake, YT. This town is famous for its "forest" of over 50,000 signs. The first signs were erected by a homesick soldier during World War II. It is said that he nailed three signs onto a single post. The interesting thing is just how many Kilroys have brought their signs with them from Europe and elsewhere.
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Upon arrival in Fort Nelson, I looked unsuccessfully for the Thriftlodge where I had reserved a room for two nights (and one day). I had the address, and the location was only a block or so from the Greyhound bus station. But, after walking back and forth along the dark street in 37 F. weather for about half an hour, I concluded that the Thriftlodge must have burned down! So I booked into the Lakeview Inn (a Canadian chain of hotels) down the block and got to sleep about 4:30 AM.
Upon arrival in Fort Nelson, I looked unsuccessfully for the Thriftlodge where I had reserved a room for two nights (and one day). I had the address, and the location was only a block or so from the Greyhound bus station. But, after walking back and forth along the dark street in 37 F. weather for about half an hour, I concluded that the Thriftlodge must have burned down! So I booked into the Lakeview Inn (a Canadian chain of hotels) down the block and got to sleep about 4:30 AM.
