I stopped in Haines Junction to get fuel, came out and continued down the road toward Fairbanks. The mountains became more snow capped as time went on even though the altitude was in the 2500-to-3200-foot range. It was getting colder and the trees did not have leaves on them.
Suddenly, the GPS tells me to make a right turn on Chilkat Pass. Turn Right, Turn Right, then take the first left; the voice says. But there is no road to the right.
A little further down the road, it happens again. This time it is showing me that I should make a u-turn. I get the maps out to try to figure out what is going on. I can’t figure it out. I decided to continue going for a while to find something or someone who could help me.
I flashed my headlights at an approaching pickup truck and waved for them to stop as they passed by. I didn’t think they were going to stop. He backed up a good ways and I asked “Where am I?” He said that ai was about 10 minutes from the border. There was a wide place at the Canadian Customs where I could turn around and head back to Haines Junction. I couldn’t turn around at Canadian Customs because there were portable orange barriers in the middle of the road. I continued to the US Border.
The US Border Agent said “You stopped at a gas station in Haines Junction and pulled out on the road again. You were probably under the sign that said turn right to Delta Junction and Fairbanks, so you went straight at the interception.” This happens all the time, so we have a map for you. It’s called Wrong Turn Map. He gave me a map and that’s what it’s called.
He asked how much fuel I had. He said that the road back is steep and he didn’t know what kind of milage the truck would get climbing the mountain but there is no fuel until Haines Junction. The agent said that there was a restaurant about seven miles down the road that has gas and diesel in case I wanted to fill up. I checked and it was almost three quarters fuel. I decided to fill up regardless.
I decided to get a cheeseburger while I was there. While eating, I thought about Haines being about thirty miles away. Why not drive there and see it. I doubted that I will be back this way again, so I drove into Haines Alaska.
While I was sitting in the parking lot at the boat launch, a car pulled up next to me with the window down. I put my window down and the person was a local Native American who grew up in Haines. He has a boat in the harbor and fishes out of there. We had a nice visit, and he got a phone call and said he had to go.
I saw several eagles flying around. Two were flying together and one flew upside down under the other one. That was real special.
I had a nice dinner to celebrate being in Alaska. After dinner, I headed up the road and spent the night at one of the pullouts. It said that it was an eagle viewing area. As summer progresses I’m sure it will be really busy but I was the one in any of the spots along the road. It was peaceful spending the night along the Haines River. I had an Irish Whisky to celebrate being in Alaska
Sunset is at 11:23 and sunrise will be at 3:57 in the morning. Longer days for sure.
I stopped in Haines Junction to get fuel, came out and continued down the road toward Fairbanks. The mountains became more snow capped as time went on even though the altitude was in the 2500-to-3200-foot range. It was getting colder and the trees did not have leaves on them.
Suddenly, the GPS tells me to make a right turn on Chilkat Pass. Turn Right, Turn Right, then take the first left; the voice says. But there is no road to the right.
A little further down the road, it happens again. This time it is showing me that I should make a u-turn. I get the maps out to try to figure out what is going on. I can’t figure it out. I decided to continue going for a while to find something or someone who could help me.
Flashed lights at pickup truck and waved for them to stop as they passed by.. He backed up a good ways and I asked “Where am I?” He said that ai was about 10 minutes fron the border. There was a wide place at the Canadian Customs where I could turn around and head back to Haines Junction. I couldn’t turn around at Canadian Customs because there were portable orange barriers in the middle of the road. I continued to the US Border.
The US Border Agent said “You stopped at a gas station in Haines Junction and pulled out on the road again. You were probably under the sign that said turn right to Delta Junction and Fairbanks, so you went straight at the interception.” This happens all the time, so we have a map for you. It’s called Wrong Turn Map. He gave me a map and that’s what it’s called.
He asked how much fuel I had. He said that the road back is steep and he didn’t know what kind of milage the truck would get climbing the mountain but there is no fuel until Haines Junction. The agent said that there was a restaurant about seven miles down the road that has gas and diesel in case I wanted to fill up. I checked and it was almost three quarters fuel. I decided to fill up regardless.
I decided to get a cheeseburger while I was there. While eating, I thought about Haines being about thirty miles away. Why not drive there and see it. I doubted that I will be back this way again, so I drove into Haines Alaska.
While I was sitting in the parking lot at the boat launch, a car pulled up next to me with the window down. I put my window down and the person was a local Native American who grew up in Haines. He has a boat in the harbor and fishes out of there. We had a nice visit, and he got a phone call and said he had to go.
I saw several eagles flying around. Two were flying together and one flew upside down under the other one. It was real special to see the eagles.
I had a nice dinner to celebrate being in Alaska. After dinner, I headed up the road and spent the night at one of the pullouts. It said that it was an eagle viewing area. As summer progresses I’m sure it will be really busy but I was the one in any of the spots along the road. It was peaceful spending the night along the Haines River. I had an Irish Whisky to celebrate being in Alaska
Sunset is at 11:23 and sunrise will be at 3:57 in the morning. Longer days for sure.
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