Day 44 -- First leg of two to Haines, AK

Travel   From: Valdez, AK   To: Alcan, AK   Distance: 333 mi (535 km)   Travel time w/brks: 7 hr 03   Distance since start: 9,109 mi (14,647 km)

Thursday 8/3/2006

I had suspected that the climb out of Valdez would make the engine hot, but it was less work than he had imagined. After a little while we went through the pass and reached more of a level at 2,000ft. The original plan had called for going from Valdez to Tok, then Tok to Haines Junction and subsequently to Haines on the morning of the ferry departure. Insread we elected to break up the distance from Valdez into two sections and overnight in Haines. As a result, we decided it was best get to just before the Canadian border (half-way), then cross the border twice to get back into Alaska on the second day.

Stopped for lunch somewhere before Tok, AK

Lilli was a bit sea-sick from this road and indicated that she was glad she had not followed us up the Dalton Highway earlier. We reached the last gas station before getting into Canada and combined RV park on the US side of the Alaska/Yukon border in the afternoon. The sun was shining at it seemed timely to stop now, when things were going well. We wanted to sit outside in the sun for a little while and enjoy it. Who knows, it might be gone by tomorrow.

Alcan (Border City), AK: We're nestled in there somewhere

It is probably fair to say that today's drive contained a good amount of bad roads mainly in the form of dips. We fueled up the truck before going to bed, hoping we could stretch all the way to Haines tomorrow with one single tank. We also wanted to avoid some of the expensive Canadian fuel.

Campground   Name: Border City, Alcan, AK   Our hookups: 30amp, water, sewer, cable   WiFi: Yes, but only in their office   GSM service: No   TV Channels: Yes   Cost: $18/night   Reservation mode: Drop in

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All Pictures (c) 2006 Hamnqvist, Background features fireweed and queen anne's lace found around the campground.