7-13-04
Hanes to Laird Hot Springs

I got up this morning and cleaned out my truck some. Today I really begin to push hard to get down to the California coast so that I can see the redwoods before I want to be in Reno. I cleaned my truck, uploaded pics from yesterday to the web and grabbed a shower before heading out to catch the Alcan.
Before leaving Hanes I checked out the docks where they were unloading some Halibut almost a big as the guys unloading them. I then moseyed out to the Bald eagle preserve where I met some more nice people from Michigan before getting back on the road.

Today's Map

Big Halibut, Not quite "barn door" but as big a the men unloading them

 

A close-up of a bee
 

Bald Eagles in the trees right in Hanes
 
Some of the bridges I have come across on this trip are really scary. The Alcan has been re routed from this original bridge but you can still drive the scenic loop that was cut out of the new highway and the fist step is to drive over this bridge. In a 7700 pound pickup? NO THANKS!
 

The worlds largest weather vane, An old DC3 this plane is supposedly so well balanced that as little as 5 mph of wind will cause it to turn.
When I was in Whitehorse on the way north I got the distinct feeling that many people in town don't care for all the tourists jamming up their town so I decided to accommodate them by stopping just long enough to grab a hamburger and taking this pic and then it was back to the road.
 
Not long after I left Whitehorse I came to a road block, there had been a serious accident just over the hill from where we were stopped. while I waited I talked with some of the other people, I first talked to some of the truck drivers about the best route to Vancouver. they all agreed that the Cassiar hwy was not the way to go as it was very rough and in the worst condition in over 10 years. I also met people from Portland, OR and Boston, MA headed home as well as a few locals. After 3 life flights had lifted off we were allowed to pass after about an hour of waiting. The scene over the hill was chilling. While stopped we had learned that there was a minivan with a family of three and that it was one of the worst accidents the volunteer had ever seen. When I passed the wreckage the only reason I knew it was a van was because I had been told beforehand. The contents of the van that were scattered along a half a mile of highway were all that remained of the family.

I pressed on stopping in Watson Lake to revisit my sign in the sign post forest and get gas before pressing on to the Laird hot springs where I planned to start the day tomorrow soaking in the hot water for an hour or two. It got darker tonight than I had seen in almost a month but not quite completely dark yet. To go to the next day click HERE