May 23 - 26, 2025
Whitehorse Rendezvous
About that food scene in Whitehorse … it’s pretty good! After arriving Friday afternoon I settled in, got my haircut, and found a very eclectic restaurant called Antoinette’s where I ordered the Caribbean Oxtail Soup. Best I’ve ever had! I’ve discovered when you are traveling by yourself you open yourself up to conversations with folks who are visiting, too. Max and Pat sat at a neighboring table and we began a lively exchange. They lived in Sidney and had retired a while ago from jobs that tethered them to Vancouver. Since Victoria serves Whitehorse with a non-stop flight to Whitehorse, they came to check out the spring scene and do some birding. I’ve really enjoyed meeting more senior folks, especially Canadians. You just get a better perspective on cultural differences.
When I returned to the hotel, I managed to get my laundry done. Kathy’s flight from San Diego to Vancouver was delayed, so she got into her Vancouver hotel around 11:30 and her 2 ½ hour flight to Whitehorse didn’t leave until 1 PM Saturday.
Saturday morning I had some time to walk around. The Burned Toast was recommended for breakfast and because it wasn’t exactly shorts weather, I was glad I didn’t have to walk far. Best of all, an incredible sporting goods store located near the hotel stocked a full array of backpacking equipment so I scored an awesome stove and pot and some freeze-dried meals to supplement my meager food cache. I perused a local bookstore and gift shop before coming back to the hotel to wait for Kathy. After she arrived, we went back to Antoninette’s for dinner and, lo and behold, Max and Pat were back, too. We didn’t talk for long because their flight left early Sunday morning. We exchanged contact information and we had some last laughs.
I took Kathy back to Burned Toast for breakfast before we started our (Yukon waterfront) tour. I had no idea the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway had discontinued coming to Whitehorse in 1982. Or maybe I just forgot? Anyway, it was fun to walk around the train station and remember when I supported Martin Weiner’s 1986 Yukon Quest run. There was an amazing finish line scene in front of the station. We visited a local artists outlet and returned to the sporting goods store for last minute items.
Continuing on our reminiscence tour, we decided to go to the Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs, formerly Takhini Hot Springs about 30 minutes from downtown. I could tell from their web site that things had dramatically changed since we visited on our Alaska outbound drive in 1987. Now in its newly branded infancy, the property will become a very large resort and take advantage of the location and the Vancouver urbanite (and other folks from Canada) proclivities to travel north for a unique vacation. The spa was excellent and we enjoyed our three hours of relaxation. We returned to the hotel, ate the carrot cake we carried from the hot springs cafe, and called it a night.
Monday, Memorial Day, was my birthday as well as time to say our goodbyes. I finished a few journal entries, we had brunch, and then she caught the Katy, and left me a mule to ride. (Always wanted to use that phrase.) Her flight to Seattle left later in the afternoon, and I continued on my journey. We had a marvelous Whitehorse stay and I hope it won’t be the last. Although, because it’s still early in the season, maybe next time visit in the fall.
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Mere mention of oxtail was probably enough for me, but that was sure spiced up and supported by all the rest. Guessing you are pretty powered up at this point.
1 month ago