Alaska–Day 39

This was the view over Teslin Lake at 5 this morning.  I wasn’t awake yet, but John was.  I woke up at 5:30 with the sun shining in my eyes.

We had a short drive to Whitehorse, the capital city of Yukon Territory.  Whitehorse has a population of 23,301,  nearly 75% of the territory’s population, which is 32,209.  After nearly three weeks of small to tiny towns, this is a real metropolis.  Lethbridge, Alberta, and Prince George, British Columbia, were the only other Canadian cities we have visited. 

This is what it looked like in our RV when we arrived.  Any time the road has lots of curves or hills or bumps, things get a little confused and messy inside.  We had all of those aspects today.  Nothing was damaged or broken.  It just needed to be straightened up.

After doing the laundry, we needed to buy groceries.  First we visited Walmart.  We know lots of RVers boondock at Walmarts.  That is fine.  We have never done it, but know it is a good alternative for lots of people.  But here in Whitehorse, it is ridiculous.  Major RV organizations have put together courtesy guidelines for staying in parking lots like this.  They include not putting out slides or setting out items such as chairs.  We saw a trailer much like ours.  Their view from the other side must be great.  But their slide is extended.

There were 15 or more RVs in the Walmart parking lot.  But this one really takes the cake:  awning, chairs, rug and trash can all arranged for a long and comfortable stay.  Whatever are they thinking?

We also shopped in the Canadian Superstore.  I love this store.  I wish we had them in Colorado and Arizona.  The grocery aisles are full of gourmet items.  They have food packaged both for one- or two-person families and for larger ones.  They also carry lots of general merchandise.  Unfortunately, this will probably be the last one we see this trip.  This store, like some others in Canada, require a cash deposit to remove a shopping cart from the cart corral.  I insert a loonie ($1 coin) and the cart is released from the next one in line.  When I return it and link it to the next cart, my loonie comes out.  It sure keeps the parking lots free of loose carts.