Tok to Haines Junction

We covered a lot of ground the past two days. We got up yesterday and said goodbye to Valdez and all the beautiful waterfalls and headed north to Tok, Alaska. It’s about a 5-6 hour drive north, back through Anchorage and Palmer and then east to Tok. It rained about half the drive. The skies started to clear up when we were about 90 minutes outside Anchorage. We left Valdez in sweats and rain jackets. By the time we got to Tok, we needed shorts, t-shirts and sunglasses. It’s amazing how different the weather was as we drove north. Seems kind of backward, doesn’t it?

We camped at the Tok RV Village, right on the Alaska highway last night. I should have taken pictures but forgot. The campground had large pine trees between every campsite, full hook ups and all pull through spots. It was probably one of the nicest campgrounds we have stayed at. It was also next door to Fast Eddy’s Restaurant. We ate there a couple weeks ago on our way in to Alaska and thought it was only appropriate we eat there on our way out too. Their pizza is exactly like pizza should be. We both loved it.

I kind of dreaded leaving this morning. I knew we would be to the Yukon border in about an hour and then spend the next 5 hours having our fillings bounced loose on the worst part of the Alaska Highway. Speed limits are honestly for the most daring people. You don’t dare get up to the speed limit because a random frost heave can destroy your suspension or throw you right off the road. There’s also plenty of sections where you’re cruising along and suddenly the road surface is gravel. It’s best to dial it back and enjoy the scenery. There were definitely some rough patches but it was way better than it was when we drove here a couple weeks ago. We drove north in pouring, cold rain that filled the road with potholes. Today was warm and sunny and many parts of the highway were freshly graded. Thank the Lord!

Greg drove the first half of the day and I drove the second half. I definitely got the smoother part of the drive. Somewhere before Destruction Bay, Yukon, I got stuck behind a very slow truck and fifth wheel camper with Florida plates. I’m not judging. I’m just sayin’. Every time I tried to pass them, there was either traffic, blind hills or single lane construction up ahead. Finally after what felt like an eternity moving at a snails pace, I was able to pass them. We stopped for gas a while later in Destruction Bay. I was walking back to our RV after paying for gas and saw this short, very large gentleman (I’m being kind) wearing a tent size “trophy husband” t-shirt, jeans that were easily 3 sizes too big and held up by suspenders and shoes that were every bit as wide as they were long. I mean, he looked like one of those minions, minus the yellow face. He walked up to the pumps, pointed to them and said “gas, gas, diesel.. oh goody” (in a good southern drawl) and turned back toward his truck. All I could think was “don’t make eye contact”. It will be like a freaking Progressive Insurance commercial”. I hopped back in our RV as fast as I could. As I started driving away, I noticed he was driving that *&%$ slow fifth wheel I was stuck behind forever. I’m pretty sure I sprayed gravel trying to get out of there. I couldn’t get on the road fast enough. There was no way I was getting stuck behind him again! Fortunately, I didn’t.

Tomorrow we have a relatively short, three hour drive down to Haines, Alaska. We will have a few border crossings in this leg of our journey. We are camping on the ocean and plan to walk around town and visit a bald eagle sanctuary. I LOVE eagles! Wednesday we will make our maiden voyage with the RV via ferry from Haines to Skagway. I’m looking forward to that. My only concern is the weather. Rain is once again in the forecast.