Aug 11: Day 9 in a Nutshell

 

Today we traveled from Haines Junction, Yukon to Glennallen, Alaska

Highlights

Potholes and Frost Heaves

OK, I'm starting with full disclosure.  I am a TERRIBLE passenger.  (I LOVE to drive and prefer to drive.).  I confessed it to BB at the start of the trip. BB said she already knew that...that she picked up on it quite a while back.

To my credit I have been working on it. And I believe I made some progress. However, today I was put to the ultimate test.  I failed miserably.

Up until Haines Junction the road has been pretty good.  I would say it was the equivalent of a 2 lane main  highway in Virginia.  It was a different story from Haines Juction, Yukon to Tok, Alaska.We were warned by multiple people that this section of road was in poor condition and were advised to be cautious. There were lots of pot holes and frost heaves.  

The car made loud, resounding thunks whenever we hit a large pot hole. Some of the pot holes could hold a basketball with room left over. 

Frost heaves might be new to you.  Here is a definition off the internet:

Frost heave is a form of frost action, a physical weathering process involving the cyclic freezing and thawing of water in soil or rock. Heave in this context refers to the upward movement of the ground surface that occurs in response to the seasonal formation of ice in the underlying soil.

The frost heaves made dips and swells in the road.  Driving over one at a moderate speed might be like driving over a speed bump a little too fast. Driving over one at a fast speed lifts your butt off the seat and flings your hands in the air!

After the second occasion of this and exclaimning "It's like a roller coaster!"  BB says, "What, am I going too fast? I am only a few miles over the limit."

Well, the speed limit was 55mph.  I mentioned how it is prudent for one to modify speed to accomodate the road conditions.  BB quietly listened. Maybe she slowed down for a few minutes.  However, she was a woman on a mission and wanted to get to our day's destination ASAP.  

I realized my best course of action was to keep my mouth shut and my gaze out the passenger side window.

We switched drivers after lunch in  Beaver Creek, Yukon.  I kept my speed to several miles below the limit.   Made me feel better, not so sure about BB.  To be fair to BB, I also hit several pot holes. We still made our destination by early evening.

And we are still friends!


World's  Largent Gold Pan

Look what we saw as we went through Burwash Landing, Yukon!

Could it be the world's largest gold pan?

Burwash Landing says it is.

However, internet research has the world's largest gold pan also found in Nome, AK and Quesnel, British Columbia.

Perhaps the multiple claims are caused by a timing problem, such as when Mac the Moose lost his title in 2015, or by how 'largest' is defined (heaviest, widest??).

I have seen pictures of each and in my opinion Burwash Landing has the prettiest.

To summarize, we have seen the largest Buffalo, Moose and Beaver statues, the largest gold pan (maybe) and just missed seeing the largest golf ball (used to be here, they took it away a while back).

Entered Alaska!

Mile's traveled today: 

Driven By Sal: 250.7

Driven By BB: 181.9

Total for day:  432.6

Total Trip:  4476.9

Sal