Day 27, 28 Outhouses and others

Sept 7, 8  Outhouses and others

I'm sitting inside this morning waiting out the rain squalls.  We're at Kusawa Lake Campsite  gazing out at the grey misty shoreline of what purports to be one of the Yukon's most beautiful lakes.  Not bad today, but I'm hoping for some sun to show it to better advantage.  But it's quiet and lovely enough today.

Sockeye spawning in a stream.  Numbers are down, but this is good.

The Yukon territorial campsites are all nice in some way.  The sites are spacious, often very private, and always clean.  Unlike elsewhere, people here seem to take care of their environment and there's seldom garbage in the firepit or damaged picnic tables.  We've come to the conclusion that people up here are hardier outdoor types.  Lots of people are camping in tents, even in the colder weather.  Few campers have generators.  And everyone is wearing fewer layers than us.  (Today I was bundled up like  the Michelin Man - 9 layers around my middle!)

And I love the outhouses!  They're all painted dark green, with a front porch covered in white painted lattice -  sort of Victorian doll houses.  Some little elf cleans them daily and fills them with masses of toilet paper - I counted 12 rolls in one.  They must get painted weekly, because there's no graffiti.  And the best ones are the old fashioned kind with a big wooden bench complete with plastic seat over the relevent spot.  Very spacious and comfy, and not at all utilitarian.  Altogether nicer than the solitary porcelain throne sitting alone in the middle of a large drafty space.  And don't even mention those concrete vault ones that are popping up in rest areas - ugh, so plebian and prisonlike.

Norbert's favourite occupation here!

Besides the sweet toilet facilities, these parks have amenities that BC parks can only dream about.  There's always a big log house with either screen windows all round or half walls with open tops that has 2 or 3 picnic tables and a big cast iron wood stove.  On rainy days you can crank up the stove with free firewood and sit inside playing Scrabble or even cook your dinner.  There are large and well utilized play areas with climbing frames and swings and slides of all kinds.  There are boat launches, fishing docks, fish cleaning stations, swimming beaches, nature trails, ....  And all the firewood you could ever need.  All this for $12 a night.  I could definitely live here.

Except for maybe the blackflies.  Despite the cold nights, there are still blackflies.  Although I'm heartily glad not to see any more wasps, I am sooooo fed up with these bloody pests.  They have amazing tactics, like the surprise attack that gets you the minute you step outside, and the jungle warfare technique of hiding in your hair or eyebrows.  I just got over the last round and now have 3 new ones swelling up.  A local warned us that they'll be with us until the snow comes.  Guess I'll just have to wish for snow now!

But when the sun comes out, it's so nice!