Sheer heaven, then back to Whitehorse

Waking up in the morning at Lapie Lakes was probably the natural highlight of this trip so far (Adaka being the cultural highlight).

Early morning at Lapie Lake(s): there is more than one...

Lapie Lakes

This is the country that makes my heart sing. This high alpine environment that's lonely and quiet and green and rolling with lakes and high mountains all around. I could have stayed here a week, exploring.

The morning dawned quiet and still, with sky turning from peach to golden to cerulean and fish jumping in the lake. The only thing that marred the experience was a few mosquitoes. Well, more than a few. They actually were pretty annoying, but easily forgotten afterwards.

Regretfully, I started the drive, cursing that I hadn't stayed in Faro to make my phone call, which would have enabled me to take my time going back. But what did I know?

Everywhere you looked there was something beautiful.

Perfectly still Lapie Lake in the morning

The road actually continued to wind upwards. I kept looking for a pass, and finally did get to the point where water started flowing in the same direction of travel. We crossed "Rose Creek/Rose River" about five times, it growing bigger each time.

Losing altitude also meant losing the high alpine environment, and more trees. I've already determined that I will be coming back here, so, while I regretted leaving, it also meant that I was making progress toward my appointment.

Quiet Lake

I had hoped to make Quiet Lake the night before. As it was, it took a couple of hours to get there, so it was a good thing I'd stopped when I did.

Quiet Lake is huge. It reminded me a lot of Lake Tahoe (big and blue), but without ANY PEOPLE. There are two campgrounds here, but I didn't stop to investigate.

I didn't see a soul. Or even any vehicles except those at the maintenance station.

At this point, the road actually improved, so I was able to make better time.

Not that I wanted to...

I would dearly have loved to have gotten the kayak out onto the water here. Or sat and done some drawings, listened to the big bumblebees buzzing in the fireweed and watched the dragonflies flitting above the water. Or practiced skipping rocks, or reading.

Not to be.

The Nusitlin River flows from here down to a premier wildlife refuge that I'd like to visit along Teslin Lake. Something else to do!

Quiet Lake: incredibly blue and perfectly still

I will end this post, as not much went on after this that's all that interesting.

I made my phone appointment on time (just barely). I stopped by the Toyota dealer in Whitehorse and made the appointment to get N0MAD her 35,000-mile service. Unfortunately they seemed to have suddenly gotten busy and couldn't take me for a WEEK. If I'd known that, I would have made the appointment before I left, but, oh well. Another week in Whitehorse is not a disaster, although I am conscious that the summer is passing.

I need to work on Helen's book and catch up on my writing. There is NEVER "nothing to do."

And that is life on the road...