Monday June 30th
2014
Beaver Creek, YT –
Haines, AK
329 miles, 7 hours 16 minutes
352 miles, 7:21 am – 2:37 pm (both Alaska times)
Light drizzle in the morning. Eat some breakfast and
leave. For probably 65 miles there was a road construction.
Annoyingly slow speed, bumpy, gravel, and one waiting for the pilot
car. Unpleasant at best. Between 8:40 am and 9:40 am we saw along the
road THREE BEARS. We were probably less than twenty yards away
(safely in our car). Two bears (black and brown) were just sitting by
the road eating their vegetables (some flowers and grass). We stopped
(after turning around), watched them, and took plenty of pictures
(bears were fine with that). Third bear was a bit farther and leaving
the area. There were several cars stopped and people were out of
their vehicles taking pictures (they should be eaten by that bear,
they would deserve it). Few stops along the way to view the country –
so much different from the time we drove it in March. Really pretty –
as pretty, or even prettier then Alaska, yet there is not so much
“hype” about Yukon as there is about Alaska : strange and
interesting. Kluane park – driving along it. Kluane lake (I think).
Haines Junction - quick stop, gasoline. Another 140 miles to Haines,
Alaska. This road was actually incredibly scenic and interesting.
Weather was changing every ten minutes (sunny, cloudy, heavy rain,
drizzle) and it made the drive even more interesting. One more bear
along the way: walking and eating. Four bears for one day, not bad.
We also crossed the highest point on the highway (at about 1050
meters). Moose mother and moose baby in the river bank. The moose
baby was separated from the mother by the river. Bald Eagle preserve:
few eagles flying around, I was though expecting bunch of them
sitting close to the road and in the river. Town of Haines: small,
and kind of pretty. Few stores, visitor center, and drive about 9
miles south to the state park. Great views, few glaciers (one of them
was “leaking” - there were two visible waterfalls coming from the
glacier). Really beautiful country. Back to the town, “historic”
fort area – not much left. Dinner sandwiches and preparation of the
bag for the ferry. Drive to ferry terminal on the north side of the
town. Rain on and off.
Monday June 30th
2014
Haines, AK –
Juneau, AK (Alaska ferry)
8:15 pm – 12:45 am (Tuesday)
It was about six o'clock when we got to the ferry
terminal. Checked in. Parked in the line. A bit of walking around the
terminal (small one) and the parking lot. Nothing (almost) to see.
Wait, wait, and … (wait for it) … wait. M/V (whatever that means)
Columbia that sails to Bellingham, Washington state. It really took
forever to get checked and later loaded onto the boat (8:06 pm).
Shortly after the ferry left the town. Cloudy. Drizzle on and off.
Two outside areas with some tents and recliners (plastic ones). Three
areas with tables, chairs, and recliners for the “poor”
passengers. There are cabins on board as well (though their number is
quite limited). It is 9:44 and it is quite pleasant sail, the sky is
still cloudy but it makes the area more atmospheric. Small island
with working lighthouse (might be the first working lighthouse we saw
from the boat). Rainbow. We read, played cards, and enjoyed the
scenery. Nice experience.
