Tatchun Creek Yukon Government Campground Yukon, Canada

Mileage:  47,100

As we were leaving, a short distance from the campground, a black bear was ambling along the tree line.  He rose up on his hind legs as we passed by.  We knew that there were bears in those woods!

We stopped at Pelly Crossing in search of fresh water.  We were directed by the local native people to use the Selkirk Water Treatment Plant.  With good directions we headed off.  The young guy even came to check to see if we found it okay.

Today was an ordinary ride with thick stands of birch and spruce trees on both sides of the fairly decent road.  The wildflowers that were so plentiful just weeks ago are gone.  The fireweed is starting to turn orange and red.  We passed an inland salt lake with crusty white edges.  We saw a lot of ducks and some grouse.  The grouse don’t seem to be very smart.  They are so camouflaged because of their color that you don’t see them until they are right next to you…then they take off in a flurry of feathers.  Bottom heavy, they are slow to launch.  They fly a short distance and disappear again into the brush.

We got to the Yukon River and the view was very pretty.  We met a couple from Ontario on their way to Top of the World Highway.  They sold their house a month ago and are living full-time in their truck camper.  They plan to make their way up the Dempster Highway all the way to the Arctic Ocean and then will head south through the states to Mexico where they plan to overwinter.  We wish them well!

The Tatchun Creek Yukon Government Campground is quiet.  Our site sits right next to the creek.  It was a pleasant afternoon to be outside reading.

We took a short bike ride that was shorter because of gravel road and very steep grade.  We rode a trail that took us to the bank of the Yukon River.

We met a woman traveling the river in a canoe with her daughter and 8 other women.  They started in Carmacks and will finish on Friday in Dawson City…106 miles.  We saw this couple riding the current of the Yukon around this river-bend.

A nice fire and some wine and some music and some dinner.  Life is good!

We plan to go to Whitehorse in the next day or so.  It is the last big hub before we head down the Alaska Highway to the Cassiar Highway.  We will take that all the way through British Columbia and into Washington state.  I’m not sure how long it will take…we are still more than 1,000 miles away.  We intend to enjoy the ride.