Tok to Haines

Second Day of this loooong trip.  It was eventful and so worth it.  Holy cow, we finally got to see some wildlife.  We saw so many animals today. Bear, squirrels, rabbits, porcupine, moose, fox and some others.  

This bear cub was lying on the shoulder of the road.  Now, it doesn't escape me that I probably wouldn't have seen it at all if it hadn't been sick or dying or too stupid to know better.  So already on this second day of driving we've seen more wildlife than we saw the first time we drove the ENTIRE ALCAN.  Amazing luck.

I will say that today's drive was much longer than we anticipated.  The Yukon is vast and I personally believe they are pushing back the border as we drive but who am I, but a passenger trapped in the family car overloaded with stuff we couldn't live without and have not nearly enough room for.  Keep in mind, we have never brought an essential with us like, say, extra gas but we always have plenty of snacks and drinks, should we, by chance, run out of gas and need to wait days for assistance.  We'll sustain ourselves on Wheat Thins and Oreo Cakesters.  And lest you think us unhealthy, we have water and 7-up (all natural flavorings and no caffeine..because we are good parents).

So we brief the kids about being quiet as we approach customs so we can just get on through without them ripping our car apart and so we don't have to prolong this trip. Everyone nods in agreement, we even joke when Charlie says "Let me do all the talking"...Miles says "isn't that what they always say in the movies?"..as Zach chimes in "yeah right before something bad happens."

So here's a short story about the Canadian Customs experience..this is how it went.

First, remember we gave the kids strict instructions to be quiet and to only speak unless spoken to...then as we are approaching the guard shack, Miles whacks Brooke with a stuffed animal...a beaver tail to be exact, and she bursts into tears. Not quiet tears - but the kind that may evoke a thorough search and investigation about a little girl screaming and crying uncontrollably.

So we get to the customs window - a drive thru if you will.

Charlie: "We are driving to Haines Alaska to catch the ferry"

Customs Agent: "ID please and do you have any weapons in your vehicle?"

Charlie"  "Here are our passports and we may have a pocket knife."

Customs Agent: "Ok have a nice day."

Off we drive.  

Now many hours later we have an interrogation of sorts at the US Customs Border to get back into our own freakin' country.  It was for a good cause, I'm sure and I'm not complaining...it was just an observation.  They were asking all kinds of questions in rapid succession and at some point I was wondering if we were gonna get back in.  We did and all was well.

As a final treat this was our last view of Canada.   It really depicts all I have to say about the country...cold, snowy, unending road but very, very beautiful.  They can keep it!!!!!
I also have a very interesting (read: strange, weird, odd, uncomfortable) story about our hotel stay in Haines, but it really deserves it's own post with photos.  I'll say this, it was a budget night!!  Tune in later for that cute little ditty!