Top of the World highway to Dawson City

June 16
Early start….long day of travelling ahead. Stopped in Tok for breakfast. Took the Taylor highway to Chicken, again. The views this time was very different from the first time. No snow!

Fireweed starting to bloom on the side of the highways.

We stopped to try our hand at fishing for artic grayling. A ranger, Jonathan stopped by to check our fishing license. He gave us lots of information on the area and fishing.

Didn’t stop in Chicken this time as the town was so busy. There is a music festival this weekend so everyone has come.

The road past Chicken is gravel so it was slow going. The views were just amazing.

At the junction of Eagle, the paved highway becomes the Top of the World highway. The pictures posted here just does not do the drive justice. You truly feel like you at at the top of the world. The views are spectacular and so is the feeling!

We arrived at the US - Poker Creek / Canada - Little Gold Creek border.

The Top of the World Canadian side reverts back to gravel but the spectacular view continue.

We finally arrive at the George Black ferry. This free ferry carries passengers and vehicles across the Yukon River between Dawson City and the Top of the World Highway. It’s a small ferry that takes about 8 to 10 vehicles (depending on the size of the RVs). It takes about 10 minutes to get to the other side, we waited for two sailings.

Nick and Yana are here in Dawson City so we met up for dinner.

We also watched a motorcycle show at the back of the restaurant. The ‘Dust 2 Dawson’ (D2D) as it’s known began as a homage to a fallen friend and gradually built up to a pilgrimage for riders from Alaska, Canada and the lower 48 states. Riders converge in Dawson City by any route imaginable and hang out for a few days, enjoying each others company. Held each year around the summer solstice (June 20-25 ish), the (un)official events of the Dust to Dawson include a Poker Run, a huge banquet and some festivities in the streets of Dawson.

June 17
We moved campgrounds today. Closer into town so we could walk. Gave the truck and camper a little wash from out drive yesterday. Most of the roads yesterday was on gravel. Went to the Information Centre to get a map and some information.

We missed the Historic walk by half hour, so decided to just wander around.

The SS Keno is a preserved historic sternwheel paddle steamer, a National Historic Site of Canada and it is berthed in a dry dock on the waterfront of the Yukon River.

Dawson City is the heart of the Klondike Gold Rush! It has preserved its past as we walked the wooden boardwalks and dusty roads. Diamond Tooth Gerties Casino is Canada’s first legalized gambling hall.

There are still active gold miners here…
Anyone interested in a sluicing machine?

A mammoth tusk?

Klondike gold?

It was nice to have a slow day, a non travel day! We did laundry, read, sat in the Sun, some even had a nap! I did an afternoon walk around the town again.

The old post office

Old 3rd Avenue Complex

The guns and ammo building

headed out to Annabelle’s noodle house for dinner. It was nice to have soup and noodles! We walked over to Diamond Tooth Gerties Gambling Hall for some entertainment. It was first opened in 1971 by the Klondike Visitors Association, making it Canada's oldest casino.

After the show I headed over to the Downtown Hotel to participate in a time-honoured tradition in Dawson City. The Sourtoe Cocktail was established in 1973. To date, the club has over 95,000 members, hailing from every corner of the world. I am member 105,421.
To become a Member you must go down to the Sourdough Saloon. Purchase a shot (most club members prefer Yukon Jack). Pledge the ‘Sourtoe Oath’. Watch as a (genuine) dehydrated toe is dropped in your drink. Drink your Sourtoe Cocktail. The oath: You can drink it fast, you can drink it slow, but your lips have gotta touch the toe”

The weather today is much better. Sunny and warm!