Milepost 918 - Whitehorse is the capital of Yukon and the town is on the banks of the famous Yukon River. It's a quiet and refreshing stop for a few nights. Laundry, pay bills, wash off 3 weeks of of dirt on the motorcycle and RV, get organized, enjoy downtown. It's 70 degrees and sunny.
Grilled country pork ribs, mashed potatoes, succotash....wonderful!
Monday, 5/27/2013. The Klondike Gold Rush was the largest gold rush of the century and Dawson City is a national historic site preserving many structures from the city's gold rush years. A must stop! so....off the Alaska Highway and take alternate route Hwy2, the Klondike Hwy loop.
Why, there's Mom's Bakery, a 1.8 mile turnoff from the highway near Lake Laberge. Nice to meet you Ms. Ulma!, Aunt Millie's second cousin once removed (Grandpa will have to explain). Thanks for the traveling tips and, especially, your butter/raisin pie and cranberry coconut bar.
A mix of scenery while driving the Klondike Hwy-- plateaus, high ridges, rivers, wilderness, forested dome-shaped mountains. Stopped for lunch (Greek salad with cut-up leftover grilled chicken) overlooking the Five Finger Rapids. The area was named by early miners for the five channels, or fingers, formed by the rock pillars.
Drive through Pelly Crossing, a Selkirk Indian community. The Pelly River heads near the Northwest Territories border and flows approximately 375 miles to the Yukon River. We must be in moose country!
Major rough pavement throughout the drive-- not only do we have to watch out for wildlife-- but also frost heaves, potholes, and loose gravel. The RV is once again dirty and mudstreaked outside and dusty inside. Is it wine time?
Arrive 6:15pm at the Goldrush Campground in Dawson City, where the Yukon and Klondike rivers meet. The town's historic sagging and unpainted buildings are slowly being restored.
A few retail shops, a general store, museums, and charming restaurants and hotels. Enjoy grilled steak, cauliflower, and green beans with turkey bacon/green onions. It's still light outside! Take an easy stroll into town. Enter Diamond Tooth Gertie's Casino.
Play slots. Oh my! Tim is having a beer? Gonna be "Fun Timmy" tonight! Auditioning for the can-can show? All he needs is matching shoes.
It's 11:30pm and the sun is still shining!
Tues, 5/28/2013. Jog along river. Pack up. Dawson City is about 65 miles from the U.S. Customs/Alaska border. Did we mention that the border is closed? It closed 9/21/2012 and will not reopen until this Thursday because of weather conditions. STUCK at the border? Not really, as this town offers many things to do. Breakfast at the charming El Dorado Hotel-- BLT on rye with chunky potatoes + eggs, sausage, brown bread and crispy potatoes. Very good! Retail therapy for me while Tim sets up camp down the road.
Motorcycle ride 4 miles, vertical, to the summit of Dome Mountain. Beautiful panorama of Dawson City, rivers and gold fields!
Pan-cooked chicken parmesean is really much tastier than the baked method:
Halve 2 chicken breasts to make 4. Dip pieces in 1 beaten egg, then dip in a mix of 2 cups breadcrumbs added with oregano, basil and garlic salt. Brown both sides of chicken in a large pan with olive oil. Add to the pan any leftover breadcrumbs. Add to the pan a jar of vodka sauce. Cook on low 15 min. Throw in some chunks of goat cheese and then sprinkle top with parmesean cheese. Cover and let simmer 15 min. Turn off heat and let sit. Boil pan of water with salt. Add whole wheat pasta. Drain. Enjoy!
Wed, 5/29/2013. Workout. On to Bonanza Creek, a rugged terrority. Very alluring and adventurous. Site of 1896 gold discovery. Here is the massive 8-story dredging machine that sifted millions of dollars worth of gold from 1899 to 1959. The big Gold Rush is quite a story.
Metal detect and pan for gold. Think we'll find enough gold to pay for this trip?
Scenerio: do we stay overnight again in Dawson City and leave Thursday morning with the other 1/2 of town that's been waiting for the border to open?....or do we leave now? LEAVE NOW! Head for the ferry at 3:30pm. Huh? Average hold= 1 RV and 3 cars. "Where are the life jackets?"
After (if) you make it across the river, the 65-mile route on the Top of the World Hwy from Dawson City to the border is unpaved terror. Very narrow, curvy, up- and- down the mountain roadway with no guard rails. Melting snow and ruts to look out for."How can I get this to Old Westbury?"
A few markers to let you know you are still on the roadway instead of a side road that disappears into the tundra. There will be, most certainly, a parade of two-way, dust-flying traffic chugging through tomorrow. Happy we're taking the challenge today. After 2+ hours, we make it to the highest elevation on Top of the World Hwy, 1 mile from the border. Whew!
Park behind a couple in an RV who have been waiting 5 days for the border to open! Soon thereafter, #3, #4 and #5 RV pull in behind. It's absolutely breathtaking up here! Read, write, and walk the area-- find caribou antlers! Froggie loves the views.
Grilled chicken, fresh broccoli/cauliflower, and baked potato. Visit with neighbors. Just lovely! You can never feel STUCK in an area such as this. It is basic and primal. The scope is amazing. It is deafening quiet, except for the wind.
At 2:30am, Tim is outside taking photos!
U.S. Customs/Alaska border opens at 9:00am..see you soon!
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