Day 5 wildlife refuge center

It was a slightly slower start to the day as we had booked a 2.30 tour to the animal refuge centre and hot springs. Half day tour doesn't mean 3-4 hours like at home. This particular trip finished at 8, and our half hour bike trip tomorrow starts at 10 and can finish anytime before 6.

We wandered back down to the river front, peered in a few more shops and visited the McBride's museum (named after its founder). A walk through history, from the indigenous people's lifestyle before and after the arrival of the Europeans. No need to say more! Through the ages of the gold miners  paddle steamers, opening of the first telegraph station, then the telephone, the building of the Alaskan highway, the forestry industry and forest fires. 

Then back to our favorite coffee shop "would you like the senior discount" we are asked and to a food caravan for fish and chips. The last of the summer lunchtime music shows. Country and western this time. Half way through the singer talked (he talked a bit too much really) about the diverse cultures in Yukon. He had been to New Zealand and said something like "over there the indigenous language Maori is taught from grade one. They about 20 years ahead of us". 

We were the only two on the tour and our guide was Ray from the trip to Kluane. No need for introductions more like "what did you get up to since I saw you last?".

The wildlife centre is a refuge for injured animals. Some are returned to their wildlife homes but those that can't be are housed in expansive fields with trees, swamps, rocky outcrops depending on their preference. We saw elks, bison (no photos as they stubbornly sat in the middle of the paddock), thin horned sheep, musk oxen, foxes, moose, caribou but not the lynx (in hiding for the day). The day was cooler, if it had been hot we probably wouldn't have seen as much. We also saw a fox and ground squirrels that theoretically weren't invited but probably came for the free food. In winter the animals go into the trees for shelter. 

We were then taken to some hotpools where we relaxed outside, in the sauna and then the relaxing room (listening to soft pan flute and piano music to the smell of eucalyptus). 

Walking back to the apartment, we saw a fox leisurely walk down our street.