Into Whitehorse - Yukon Trip Part 3

1. Dad walking in the woods

2. Small waterfall off the Alaska Highway.

3. Vista across a lake around Iskut.


We like putting in a few kilometers before rewarding ourselves with breakfast. Or, I should say, brunch. Being in no great hurry, we left Bell II around 10 in the morning - our typical departure time every day. We had our sights set on Tatogga Lake Resort but when we got to the funky chalet there, festooned with antlers, about an hour later, breakfast had already finished for the day. Anyway, with three screaming kids crashing their big plastic trucks into each other, we were happy to fill up our travel mugs with expensive java, grab the last two muffins, and get out of there.

The muffins were too sweet and the coffee was swill. Bad investment. In fact, is was the only place on the whole trip we really disappointed with the fare. While filling up in Dease Lake, now in early afternoon, my growling stomach and I spotted a restaurant down the road. Dad wasn't impressed with the look of it so, off we went in search of something more... what? Palatable?

When we got to Iskut we didn't find much in the way of civilization, just a dusty general store with a pay phone outside. We hadn't yet checked in with my sister, Lindsey, in Whitehorse. We were warned at Bell II that calling out on the radio phone would cost $4 ~5.00 a minute so we put it off until we found a less exotic means of communication. But here, standing in front of this pay phone, with my index finger wondering what to poke, I found out we were now in NorthWest Tel country - we couldn't use the Telus calling card as I've always done farther south in BC. Call collect! I dialed the operator and, whose recorded voice do you think I heard - Lindsey's!! She's been working for NWT for years and here she was telling me that "this call could be monitored in order to ensure customer satisfaction," or something like that. No one home - and with no one to accept the charges, I couldn't even leave a message on the machine. We were off again.

We drove and drove with only beautiful scenery to fill our senses. Along the way, I gave up on dad who, whenever asked, never admitted hunger, and opened a can of salmon. At the Junction with the Alaska Highway we debated turning right the few miles into Watson Lake and stopping for the night. But Whitehorse was left and that's the way we went - looking for dinner and comfy lodging.

The sun was still high in the sky - it would be getting dusky by then back in Kamloops - we were really noticing the light differences of the latitude. There was a roadside stop with a very nice 15 minute trail leading to a couple of waterfalls. It was good to get out and stretch our legs. Down the road we turned into Dawson Peaks Resort - our mouths salivating when we saw the very presentable chalet-style restaurant. What we imagined were very satisfied patrons, were coming out the door and down the stairs. Dad got talking to one who had towed a giant camping trailer from Arkansas and who sounded just like Bill Clinton. I wasn't feeling as sociable. I had my mind on more gastronomic pursuits. I walked in only to be greeted my a sign on a chair blocking the way: Restaurant closed at 8:00. It was exactly 8:00.

We stopped in Teslin, just 10 kms more down the road and finally had a so-so dinner which dad professed to be about the most delicious meal he'd ever had. He never gets hungry, but he sure does appreciate food when it finally passes his lips. We weren't all that far from Whitehorse. We called Lindsey and were convinced to just beat it to her place - it wouldn't be too late. We rolled in around 11:30 after only two nights spent on the road. After hugs and a chat it was sack time.