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Day 21 Friday, July 7 Friday July 7, I drove 595 miles from Fairbanks, Alaska N64 50.131 W147 49.387 to Whitehorse, Yukon N60 40.985 W135 03.564
The weather forecast from Fairbanks on July 6th, was for a week of rain across Alaska and Northern Canada. I saw no reason to stay in a $150.00 a day motel room waiting out the rain. Prior to this the weather was near perfect, clear sky and warm most of the time, with just a few showers. The first clouds we saw were in Coastal British Columbia on the way north, we did encounter some scattered light rain a few times. Patty took an airplane ride home last night from Fairbanks, her vacation time was up, and needed to return to work Monday morning. With no one to ask me to stop for souvenirs, food or the toilet, I hurried south down the road, ahead of the darkening sky and impending storm. I called Mike from the road to tell him I was gone. I wish the rain had held off for a couple more days, I would have liked to visit with Mike more and see how Fairbanks has changed in the past thirty years.
Leaving Fairbanks before 7:00am I was getting gas in Big Delta by 9:00am. In the Delta Junction area I saw this moose along the road.
The return trip was only five days since I had driven this road before. I was in Tok by noon. With this I figured I could make it to Haines tonight.
A lot of the road looked different to me, but some was remembered.
Another sign from the 1975 trip.
I was making good time. I was in Canada getting gas at Beaver Creek, and it is only 3:34pm.
Beaver Creek's 1975 sign.
The road stops were smaller and newer in 1975.
White River Campground came and went quickly. I used the horn as I went by, but did not see Bob.
This is what the road looked like in 1975, there was just a little pavement at Whitehorse. The rest was dirt.
Soon all the steel bridges will be gone, replaced with concrete.
You can see the new concrete piers on the left.
This time of year this sign can be ignored, but in the winter the road can be slippery.
Kluane Lake is near.
I slowed for the construction, but did not see any for many miles.
This is a march along Kluane Lake.
Haines was another stop for gas and a bite to eat. I seriously considered looking for a place to stay for the night. But it was only 9:00pm and there was still daylight. Back on the road again.
These signs and old buildings were either bypassed with the new road or have been burned down. I did not see any of them on this trip
In 1975 these building were not vandalized or destroyed. If you were ridding a bike they could provide shelter from a storm.
I did not see this building, I don't think they are there anymore.
Another old sign from the 1970's.
This bridge is still there but has been repaired for the tourists. Picture from 1975.
Some people walked on the bridge, but I did not.
The fatigue of driving too many hours is starting to take a toll on my sanity.
Most of the bridges are being repaired. The traffic light is motion activated. If a car comes up on one side of the bridge, the light changes to red on the other side.
I was the only one on the road, and did not have to wait to cross the one way bridge.
I did not see anyone working.
Drive slow, there are no guard rails.
One more of the many missing signs, you won't see anymore.
A great bridge.
Entrance to Whitehorse, 1975.
I arrived in Whitehorse at 11:00 pm. I found a campground near the road and put up the tent. A guy from Vancouver came by and wanted to talk, it was after midnight before I got to go to sleep.
This is what I was driving in 1975. I drove it north in July and south in December.
Winter in Canada is beautiful, but cold, 1975.
A good section of road in the winter, 1975.
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