We have come full circle on this part of the trip, we are at Takhini Hotsprings.  July 5th at the start of the trip today August 22 near the end.  So far we have travelled  over 7500 miles.  On the way down the 2 today we saw the biggest bird ever.  I haven’t been able to look at the pictures I took on the computer.  I think it was a golden eagle.  We had pulled over so I could take pictures of the fall colors on the aspen trees.  I wasn’t sure what I was looking at because palm trees don’t do that.

It was cool the bird flew in landed on the road looked at us took off then flew across the road.  I zoomed in and got his picture.  He took off flying and I hope I got him in flight.

Once we got to the campground we headed to eat.  I hate to break the news to everyone but, Santa will have trouble navigating through fog or snow this year.  Roy and I ate rudolph for lunch.  Klondike Ribs Salmon & BBQ even called it rudolph, reindèer, carmelized onions, smoked cheese curds, a deep fried pickle, and sriracha mayo (not super hot) on a pretzel bun.  It was very good meat. I would do it again.

Tomorrow we are heading south towards Watson Lake.

We took our time getting out of Dawson today because we originally were going for a short distance to Pelly Crossing YT.  This would have been the roughing it night in Canada.  If you haven’t noticed we are not big on roughing it.  We enjoy our morning Keurig coffee maker.

Before leaving Dawson we stopped to have brunch at Klondike Kate’s, rumor has it that the business is for sale.  It seems most of Dawson is for sale.  We are trying to get stamps in a tourist book to enter to win two troy ounces of gold.  The goal is to visit local museums and visitor centers in the Yukon. You need to visit 20 of the 34 sites we are close.

Roy got to drive the Dempster! I wanted a picture of the sign so Roy turned down and yes it was gravel from the start.  For those of you who know  Roy he liked “Ice Road Truckers” season one.  The Dempster was the first road featured.  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dempster_Highway for more info.

The Yukon 2, the road to Whitehorse was full of potholes. Roy started a new road reality game combat driving. The goal here is to avoid the potholes. I should have taken a picture when we got to Carmacks the inside of the trailer looked like the Tazmanian Devil passed through. I was amazed.

I have enjoyed our trip and sharing the funny things with everyone. Tomorrow Monday Whitehorse YT.

For the doubters of non crossing chickens here is the proof.

Roy and I decided to indulge in some local flavor today.  The Annual Outhouse races in Dawson. Always cool to watch small town interactions.  4 outhouses were decked out, in glory. There was even a team from the US.  Holland AmeriCAN these guys got in last night on a bus tour and heard about the race so they did it  they were number 2

The winners of the race.            The Shise Girls (can can girls from the local gambling hall).

Afterwards we decided to drive up Bonanza Creek Road to see the mine trailings and a non-working dredge.  The amount of earth moved with these machines amazing. For more info on dredges check out http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/yt/klondike/natcul/dn4.aspx

Tomorrow we rough it at Pelly Crossing, then onto Whitehorse, soon this adventure will end.

So after Roy got done being interogated, such a SHADY charactor.  I don’t think he is.  I wanted a picture of the Welcome to the Yukon sign, I did get it.  We decided a slow drive by for the picture was a better idea then stopping.  The sign was basically right outside of custom range.  We thought a stop would definately draw her wrath.

Onto Dawson!  The Canada side of TOW was much better, because even though there were spors of gravel it was basically all paved.  In fact in some places Roy was doing 80.  No, not mph but kpm kilometers, had you going.  It was amazing travelling on the ridge of a mountain, I thought the only way I would experience this is by hiking.

Jump ahead 2 hours and we come to the campground that had the paddlewheel grave yard we drove through it but did not take the trail to see it rain.  The next part of the adventure came in crossing the fast moving Yukon without a bridge.

We did this via the free ferry, I will post a short video on facebook.  Roy thought he would bottom out getting on he didn’t.  The good thing was it hadn’t rained that hard yet.

Dawson is not what we expected more tomorrow after the outhouse races on Saturday.

OMG Top Of Ths World Highway lives upto its name.  I had fun watching Roy enjoy himself.  The US side of the road was rough and rutted.  TOW is a road that conects Chicken Alaska to Dawson Yukon.  http://www.bellsalaska.com/highway/top-of-the-world-highway/  This gives a brief description of the road.  The drive was challenging in a good way.

When we got to the border crossing there was no agent in the window, the sign says to wait here until custom agent appears.  There was already a motorcycle waiting, we stayed in the car for a few minutes, then Roy decided to get out.  He went up to talk to the guy on the motorcycle. The custom agent came out and ordered Roy back in his car.  My thought was this is not going to end well and I don’t have cell service to call someone to bail us out. Roy gets in the car and pulls upto where she was standing. This was not good enough she had him pull up so he was parallel to the sign.  Roy turned down the radio and she said you must turn it off.  She gave Roy a lecture about needing to stay in his car the sign stated that. She stressed the fact that the guy on the motorcycle was now contanminated.  I guess Roy gave him American cooties. LOL. He handed her the passports, she began asking Roy questions where was he from we both said Palm Desert CA.  Next was the purpose for coming to Canada he said we are headed home.  How did you enter Alaska Roy said Beaver Creek she looked at him like he had 3 heads. I chimed in Tok because that was the port of entry.  She then wanted to know exactly how long we would be in Canada, again with the purpose.  

At this point I pull out our campground list and keep mymouth shut.  She was ignoring me anyway, I was just shaking my head no to all her questions and trying not to laugh.  She got stern with Roy and repeatedly asked if he had any guns, shotguns, handguns, longguns, or ammunition.  Then she started wirh if I were to search your vechicle and camper I won’t find anything I mentioned.  Roy answered you won’t. She then took our passports and went into the building took her ten minutes to come out.  When she returned handed our passports and said you can leave.

This part of the adventure stands alone I will write another post about the ferry we took today.

Ok, a few flakes but we chewed up a whole afternoon.  It was good to stay in one place today.  Chicken, I served Roy breakfast in bed that I bought from the cafe.  I also went shopping at the store which is the same as the cafe and camp ground.

We talked to someone who has been coming on her vacations for the last 10 years she has some gold but not enough for a ring. We decided to go eat lunch, then go pan.  I made a sandwich because dinner was going to be salmon and black olives on pizza.

Gold panning is a lot of work.  You first have to load you pan, then rinse the pan and get all the large rocks off.  This was hard but we did have fun and even got a few flakes to show off.

Today was fun and ended peefectly with a campfire and smores. Tomorrow Dawson

Yes it’s true we had to come to Chicken to see if the chicken crossed the road.  He hasn’t.  I do have proof. The drive up took us about 7 hours because we stopped in Delta Junction for lunch.

Roy was whining to our ranger moose after he set him up straight, he wanted to see more animals.  Well ask and you shall receive.  He saw one and passed it so he tried to back up to get close to the moose.  He got close enough to see it was mama moose and baby moose.  Mama was alert enough to put her long neck and head up to look around and know something was up.  Roy opened his car door and she was gone, baby was not far behind.

The road was in interesting condition with alot of ups and downs, these tickled Roy’s fancy.  I on the other hand get nervous when it says 9% grade ahead.  I shouldn’t cause Roy is an awesome driver.  I do because I actually like seeing there is a road ahead of me.  It is just sometimes you can’t.

We hit construction right before Chicken it looks like this part of the road will be getting “pavement” or something looking like it.  That part of progress is sad.  I know when Roy saw pavement ends his eyes did twinkle.

Pulling into Chicken we decided to stay an extra day here because we arrived so late about 6:30pm.  The one sidewalk rolls up about 8pm.  Tomorrow we will be gold panning. $10 for 4 hours I’m excited.