Panning for our fortunes!
Trip Start
Jul 01, 2009
1
5
10
Trip End
Jul 17, 2009
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Tok,
Alaska,
United States
Monday, July 6, 2009
Well, it was bags out at 7:30 this morning, so we got to sleep in a little this morning. Also David got his own room last night so John and I had a little better night's sleep. Unfortunately, he didn't go to sleep until 1:30 so he slept on the bus all day today. We went to the Eldorado Gold Mine and learned about gold mining as well as about panning for gold. Then we got to pan for gold. John and David combined their gold and David added some that he had gotten earlier and he had about $19 worth. Bobbi got really lucky and found $18 worth of gold dust.
Then we stopped at the Alaskan pipeline and saw how it is insulated, cleaned and kept operational. Learned how it floats on plates over the earthquake areas and found it to be very interesting.
From the pipeline we went to the Gold Dredge #8. We had a delicious miner's stew lunch with biscuits and then went through the dredge which came from Bethlehem, PA! What an interesting process. David has caught the gold bug because once again he was at the tailings, panning for gold! This time he only found a little more than $13. The ice cream looked delicious but didn't have time to taste it!!!
We left the Gold Dredge to begin the long ride to Tok.
sluicing for gold
At about 4 o'clock we stopped at Rika's Roadhouse for rhubarb pie and a reststop. The roadhouse is a great place with quaint log buildings and lots of gift shops. There are lots of museums and the people are very friendly. After our 45 minute break, we were once again on the way. We had two more hours to Tok and were now on the Alaskan-Canadian Highway. We have met some wonderful and interesting people on this trip. Everyone seems to get along and work together. It is an international group with a good sense of humor!When we arrived in Tok, we put the luggage in the room and when to dinner with a couple we have met from Virginia Beach who have just retired from the ministry and are now serving as chaplains in an Presbyterian senior center and children's cancer center respectively. Very fascinating people! Will not have any photos tonight as the internet is not in our rooms, same as last night. But at least tonight I got the blog written. Hope to download photos, wash clothes, and catch up tomorrow in Dawson. Then I can add some photos to these blogs.
The smoke from the forest fires is still following us but it is not as noticable as it has been. The odor is barely apparent where before it smelled like a fireplace gone amok!! For those of you who have expressed concern, my meds are working and although I have coughed they are doing the job. All is well! Thanks for your concern and prayers.
May you too be having a good summer. Blessings to all, Bobbi, John and David.
