Thoughts of Canada and the Yukon, leaving Alaska

Historical Picture:
                      Young Native Alaskans on a picnic

The Blog is Headed West after this trip! 

Like Alabama this could go on for days to cover a state. But I just wanted to make some state introductions. WE have been blessed to see all 50 states. Alaska and Hawaii were special since they are not attached to the lower 48 and a big distance.

Before I leave Alaska I wanted to mention a couple things. These concerning the trip up and Canada as we passed thru.  (Besides remember Sgt Preston) .Remember this?’The Cremation of Sam McGee

by Robert W. Service (1874-1958)

    There are strange things done in the midnight sun
        By the men who moil for gold;
    The Arctic trails have their secret tales
        That would make your blood run cold;
    The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
        But the queerest they ever did see
    Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
        I cremated Sam McGee.  Etc…

Coming up thru the Yukon we passed Lake Le Barge and I thought of this poem. As with songs, I seem to remember just a few lines. We did cross a bridge on the Alcan named ‘Sam McGee Bridge’. The lake and the bridge made me quote what I knew over and over. LOL

Then at Watson Lake in the Yukon, we had a ball at the Sign Forest. The origin of this was a young soldier, working on the Alcan was homesick in 1942 and make a sign. He posted it listing the miles to his home town. Other soldiers did the same. As of 2010 there were 76,000 signs including one with our names on it.  We actually found one posted by a friend and put ours beside it. We did not know about this, but made our sign on an old NC license tag and nailed it up! If you drive to Alaska prepare you sign in advance and have it ready!

 Our friends had tacked up their tag from Florida we actually found it 'CORTEZ' ours is 'UNK 1095'. (I found an old tag in the basement of the motor home and put our names on it!)

I mentioned we drove through Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan, Canada. There we saw this giant Moose and had to have a picture of it.

Definitely a trip and state that will not be forgotten.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Final facts about Alaska!

The state's largest city is Anchorage; the second largest is Fairbanks. 

The Alaska Range is the largest mountain chain in the state. It covers from the Alaska Peninsula to the Yukon Territory. 

In 1915 the record high temperature in Alaska was 100 degrees Fahrenheit at Fort Yukon; the record low temperature was -80 degrees Fahrenheit at Prospect Creek Camp in 1971. 

The Alaskan malamute sled dog is strong and heavily coated. It was developed as a breed by a group of Eskimos named the Malemiuts. 

Alaska's name is based on the Eskimo word Alakshak meaning great lands or peninsula.