July 23-25, 2006 (Days 60-62)

A bright, sunny day faced us for our departure to Dawson City. We traveled again with the Kolley’s and Ed. It was a pleasant 60 degrees. We left at 8:30 a.m. to make the 175 mile trip. What we did not know was that facing us was a good test of some roads to come. Shortly after leaving the campground at Minto, the road turned to a gravel washboard. Sections of it were rough and so very dusty. All you could see ahead was a big dust ball indicating a vehicle of some kind. At times, visibility was zero. We drove about 15-25 mph. One gravel section was 14 miles long. The dust was very evident in the trailer. It was good that we had put 55-gallon trash bags over all our clothes the night before. Dan and I had to wipe down all the flat surfaces in the trailer of the fine dust and shake out our bedding.

The only wildlife we saw was a beautiful red fox lying on the embankment along the road. He was enjoying the early sun. There was a hole in the dirt embankment he was laying beside, and we assumed that was his den.

We pulled off for lunch in our trailers on a turn-out by Gravel Lake. We were probably there, enjoying the scenery, for 45 minutes to an hour. Several other Airstreamers stopped there, too. We almost had enough for a rally! The only birds we saw were huge black ravens which are quite plentiful up here. I thought one was a small dog. They are very big.

It was 78 degrees by 2:30 p.m. when we pulled into Dawson City. The campgrounds up here are nothing more than large, gravel parking lots. This one has utilities, for which we are grateful as we will spend the next four days dry camped. That will be a long stretch for us.

Dawson City is located 165 miles south of the Arctic Circle. Population is 1,876. It sits at the confluence of the Klondike and Yukon rivers. It was once a summer fish camp, but with the discovery of gold in the late 1800’s, it became a boom town to serve the gold seekers.

The city is like an old western town. You expect cowboys to come riding into town on their horses and wagons at any time. The streets are all dirt and the walks along them are wooden, just as you would see on a TV western. A ferry operates 24 hours a day. It carries vehicles and passengers across the river (there is no bridge) to the Top of the World Highway. Sometimes the waiting line for the ferry waits 3-4 hours until being able to cross. Locals and commercial vehicles have priority. We get to do this Tuesday night (the 25th).

Upon arrival at the campground, Dawson City RV Park, we got set-up, then went downtown to check it out. Our final potlatch was at 5 p.m. at the campground. After the potlatch and dinner, we then went into town again for a show at the renovated theater, featuring a touring group of youth from Ontario, who are called the Fiddle Heads. They (14 of them) played fiddles and incorporated the playing and dancing into story they told. They were very good, and we immensely enjoyed their performance. We found the local ice cream shop and enjoyed ice cream cones afterwards.

The next day, we toured the town and visited some historic sites. We each had three tickets we could use for the sites of our choice. There were about twelve places to choose from. We also did some shopping. Lunch was at Klondike Kate’s, which reminded us of an old saloon.

We went to the Gold Dredge #4. It is the largest wooden hull dredge in the world. It is no longer in operation; however, gold mines still operate daily here. They still hope to find the motherlode of gold. Many millions of dollars in gold has been found in this area in the last few years. Following the tour of the dredge, the Kolley’s and we went panning for gold. It is quite an art. I found the most gold flakes and had them put in a vial. Dinner was at the J&J Hotel restaurant. Prices were high, so we all had appetizers and salads.

Today, July 25, we had a caravan-sponsored lunch at Klondike Kate’s and then toured the town again. We stopped at the local grocery and bought some essentials. Prices were really high. Gas fill-up was around $5.00/gal. There’s not much choice, since there’s only one place to get it!

Dan dropped me off at the campground and I did three loads of laundry. Washers and dryers were $2/load. After dinner in the trailer, we prepared to leave. We and about half the caravan have decided to follow the leaders to the ferry and across the river tonight. We may sit for a couple hours before we can cross. This will all be after drivers’ meeting. I’m a little nervous about crossing in the dark.

Till tomorrow, I hope………….