With the last day of our fun and relaxing week in Whitehorse, Yukon being Canada Day (July 1), we decided to head to Alaska so that we could then celebrate July 4 in the USA. One week … two parades, two celebrations.

We chose Skagway, Alaska for our Independence Day celebration as it was only a two hour drive from Whitehorse, they were known for their “family fun” festivities, and as the driest place in Southeast Alaska we thought we could enjoy some nice weather.

Well …. it seems their annual rainfall of 26 inches all occurred during our visit. With nonstop rains since our arrival, there was some vague talk of possible flooding of our beautiful campground located along a scenic river, five miles outside of town (away from the 5000+ cruise ship passengers that arrive daily). Today, after a fun parade and some other patriotic activities, we learned that the river had reached flood levels and that the campground will flood this evening and campers are encouraged to evacuate.

It was suggested that we move the RV to the local ball field, where other people were camping. When we arrived at the ball fields, there were several police cars there, evacuating all campers, as it too was a possible flood area.

We are currently parked in a beautiful field, along with the other refugees, near the train tracks. From our window, we get to see steam locomotives chug on by …..

The good news is that we plan to leave tomorrow via ferry, rather than the road, as there was a landslide along the one and only road into Skagway and it is now closed. The ferry will take us and the RV to Haines, Alaska, where we will spend a few (hopefully dry) days ….

We ended up spending a full week in Whitehorse, Yukon, because it was so darn pleasant.  Whitehorse is a neat little city with lots to see and do, and, thank goodness, not many mosquitoes. After a week of campgrounds with mosquitoes that made you want to cry, it was so nice to be able to hang out outside without being eaten alive. Also, the weather was a lot warmer and drier than we had seen for weeks. Not to mention, by staying a full week we could attend the Canada Day celebrations on July 1, and then bop down to Skagway AK for the Fourth of July; two national holidays in one week!

Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon, has a population around 25,000 and is home to about 70% of Yukon’s total population.  It is an oasis of middle class suburban living in the middle of a vast wilderness. There’s a Starbucks, bookstore, sushi restaurants, used bookstore, big box grocery store, yoga classes in the park, paved jogging path along the river, big modern library, and playgrounds with shiny new equipment. Meanwhile, it is mostly empty wilderness for hundreds of mile around in every direction. A bald eagle swooped over me on a short hike from our campsite, and we have seen beavers in the Yukon River in town.