Day 63 Chicken to Dawson City
Trip Start
May 07, 2008
1
72
205
Trip End
Nov 22, 2008
Dawson City,
Yukon,
Canada
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Day 63 Chicken to Dawson City.
Well with a little trepidation we left Chicken after a walk around an old bucket line gold dredge they intend to restore, it worked the area from 1959 to 1967, it appears the restoration is not happening in a big rush. Then again we doubt anything happens in Chicken in a big rush.
Climb in the castle and away we roll, looking up and forward we notice the ribbon of dirt road climbing along the ridges of the mountains, call us mad, weird, crazy or just plain stupid, but the challenge of the Top of the World Road through from Alaska to the Yukon and arrive in Dawson city was just too much of a lure for us to not take on this challenge. Hey don't forget the Castle has travelled the streets of LA and San Francisco, so the Castle can go anywhere man! NOW we can say we DID it cause it was there!
Dawson City Yukon Canada
Well the road was all of the reputations we had heard except the gravel was not sharp and spikes and ready to puncture the tyres as soon as you rolled on it. The continuous speed bump bits were fairly prevalent but not nicely marked with flags, just there to sneak up on us after a little smooth bit. Off course I guess I should mention the weather, when we left Toke, it was raining, then into fog/clouds coupled with rain. Chicken it had cleared and was reasonably fine and clear. Thankfully because this was the gravel stretch with various distances we had been told from 45 miles to 100 miles to look forward to experiencing.
To be realistic the road taken at a safe speed was not as bad as had been portrayed. Care had to be taken at some points to squish past oncoming traffic, but ok really if care is taken, although we did come across a big rig RV (bus with a tow car) parked at a really bad angle with the rear wheels off the ground. He had obviously gone over to the edge to far, if he had rolled he would have ended at least 1000ft down, doing rolly, pollys to the bottom.
We managed to stop at a turn out to look at the vista, it had cleared nicely by this stage yet we could see some dark clouds rolling in to let us know we cannot be weather predictors in this place. No Danial it was NOT snow!
THe Ferry Crossing
On we went through into Canada without any hassles, just had Marian's passport stamped (her first visit to Canada) the road changed to a sealed road on the Canadian part of the road and we managed to follow some high ridges and a bit of smooth sailing, with some bouncy bits but no big deal.We came into some parts that the seal had not been maintained (hey this road is only open 100 days a year so why spend a lot of money?) and some gravel had been put on top. All in all not to bad a trip and we came to an overlook to look down on Dawson city.
The town has been kept with the old buildings and boardwalk sidewalks, and the houses along the front street along the river and as you see in the movies, with really bright pinks, blues & greens, that stand out from high up looking down on this city and the mighty Yukon river.
Down we go to arrive at the ferry crossing, (gee we experience so many things on this trip)it is the link in the highway paid for by the Yukon Government, we had to wait for the 2nd crossing to have our turn.
The river certainly is wide and travels at a good pace, the murky brown water is not inviting to having a plunge and we guess if you fell in goodness knows where you would end up.
THe first glimpse of Dawson City
We travelled across and drove to the RV park in town, set up and had a walk around in this famous city, certainly a place lost in time.The buildings are built up on blocks because just under the surface is the permafrost, preventing the digging of stumps or piles.
Some of the buildings appear to have been here since the city was built in 1890.
We found the eatery (Sourdough Joe's) and were shown to the table by a waitress from Newcastle! Australia She has been here three years and plans her first winter stay over this year. She does agree with us that a hamburger without beetroot is not really a hamburger, but she hasn't convinced the locals yet! A brave soul!
We wandered back through the front street and found a shop selling mosquito nets for our hats, maybe a little late but we do not know what is ahead and we certainly are into insurance today with the purchase of the wheel brace etc (not required thank goodness, but happy to have the insurance taken out, we have a long way to go!)
Settle in and plan to head to Skagway tomorrow another good run of around 8+ hours, so an early start planned..
Please note we most likely will not be in internet range for the next 3 days going on our prior experience in Skagway, Dont worry we are looking after ourselves!
