Rolling with the Dog

When I was a child, you could get a matchbox Greyhound bus. It was shiny, and looked like the ultimate in travel. Another childhood illusion shattered. The 2000 odd miles from Winnipeg to Whitehorse passed slowly and uncomfortably. Upon arrival, it really didn't seem worth it. It was 4:30am and the place was deserted, and frankly a bit dull looking. I had expected a sort of wild west frontier town with saloons, instead I got an average Canadian town with a Walmart and two Tim Hortons. Thankfully the surrounding countryside and the people at the hostel made up for my initial disappointment. I arrived in the buildup to the Yukon Quest canoe and kayak race, and the hostel was filled with a strange collection of long distance canoeists. Didn't get to see any bears in the woods, but I nearly got to see The White Stripes play in the park. Which is the same as not seeing any bears or the White Stripes I suppose. They were both there, I saw neither. To compensate I did get to see the world's longest fish ladder, and not many people can say that. It was the wrong time of year for Northern Lights, so instead we had the midnight sun. It is really strange walking through the deserted town in the middle of the night, and it being as light as day.
On my last morning there I got to see the start of the canoe race. It starts in the middle of town, and all the competitors have to run to their boats. It was quite a spectacle, and then it was time for another 48 hours in a bus.