June 5, 2005

We are going to take a look around the big metropolis of Dawson Creek. Well not much here except the big “Mile Post 0” sign at the center of town. We did our tourist photos and shopping and took off around 10:30 for our next destination Muncho Lake. Originally we planed to stay at Fort Nelson but as a last moment thought we made a reservation for Muncho Lake at the local tourist borough. We got weather! It was pouring cats and dogs, and could hardly see through the windshield and the drive became quite hazardous. Fortunately Trude was at the helm and I just did the worrying.

Fort Nelson was a real disappointment and I was glad we decided not to stay the night here. Do to the wet weather we had lunch in the car with the Hungarian table cloth on the dash board. I took over the driving for the rest of the day and naturally the sun came out to keep us company. It was a gorgeous drive by the Tetsa River, high passes, and the Peace River.

We had the good fortune to spot two foxes, caribou, bald eagle, and Trude even saw a bear. Lots of roadwork but we got to our destination at Muncho lake eventually in good time and spirits. Diner at the Northern Rockies lodge and to bed around 11pm. Sun went down around 9: 30 pm but still daylight we finally turned of the lights.

June 6, 2005

I got up around 5:30 and took a walk to the lake hoping to get some great sunrise shots. All I got was cold. The sun was not cooperating, still behind the mountains to the East.

Got a good early start at 8AM and off we were. Our drive took us through some wonderful valleys, hills and greenery. At the Laird springs we even saw buffalo. Actually we should have guessed they were around from their droppings on and by the roadside. Also met with a lone sheep just grazing by the highway.

I took some photos of some great mountains and the bridge over the Yukon in Tienlin????

We got Watson Lake where we visited the Sign Post Forest, where very interestingly people from all over the world bring their home made, or stolen?? Signs and nail them to the posts. It was not very attractive but certainly interesting. We had our picnic by the Wye Lake where the local “first nation” citizens had their lunch. The local mosquito squad also found us, therefore we did not sit around too long that we would be their lunch.

June 7, 2005

Traveling from Whitehorse to Dawson City via the Klondike Highway #2
We had an early start with some last minute shopping expedition for bran muffins. Whitehorse was a very pleasant town and we are going to stay here again on our way back, most likely. The Klondike Highway goes North West off from the Alcan Highway. We passed Lake Laberge on our right, the same one that Robert Service wrote about in his poem “the Cremation of Sam Maggie”. Later near Fox Lake we came upon the remnants of a huge forest fire. Some campers started the fire in 1998. But the good news is that there is new growth between the burnt stalks of conifers and birch.

We had a nice walk in Carmaks by the Yukon River and rewarded ourselves with a cup of coffee. We had our picnic lunch at Peley Crossing, where we were joined by the local canine population and mosquito gang. The dogs were very well behaved and the mosquitoes only tasted Trude. The road was being worked on and we had to wait here and there, but all in all it was a good drive.

We made it to town, Dawson City that is, around 4:30pm and checked into the Westmark hotel. Not the cheapest but certainly the nicest. During our drive we encountered some rain but here in Dawson City we had lovely sunny weather. The town is trying to conserve its gold digging days‘flavor with lots of saloons, historical buildings and unpaved streets. It is a lovely town with very friendly people. We opted to stay for two nights, instead just one as we originally planed. We walked down to the Yukon River and watched the little ferry making its way to West Dawson and back.

As a lark we decided to take the ferry just for the ride back and forth. It was good fun and Trude made fast friends with an Australian border collie.
We have no plans for tomorrow, just to take it easy and rest….

June 8, 2005

Today we are off to the city’s historic tour. We met with our guide dressed in period custom at the visitor center by the river at 9am. As we walked through the town she pointed out the old buildings told us some history of the town and the people who lived there. About the stampeders who started by the hundreds of thousands and only about thirty thousand made it to the gold fields. And from that only about 300 struck it rich. .

About the madams and their girls and their tales of fortune and woes.  About the men who came up to make beautiful furniture and when he got here he realized these people need coffins and not furniture. About the man from Arizona who built the grand theatre.

She also told us about the gold dredge up on the Eldorado Creek that we visited later. We had our usual lunch and went to listen about the workings of a gold dredge. The building was quite similar to the one I trekked through three years ago. . Before we went into the dredge I was paid a visit by a beautiful butterfly. She just stayed on my hand and would not leave. Then settled down on my blue blouse probably thinking it was a flower. It looked like I acquired a new broche and a pretty one of that.

Coming back from the dredge we drove up to the Dome right above Dawson City. We had wonderful views from the top of the city and we could see the confluence of the three rivers. The darker waters of the Klondike and silt laden Yukon and then the little Eldorado creek whatever left of it. We met with two gentlemen with a camper having lunch and on their way to the far north with unpaved roads.

Later on this so called “Rest Day” we went to listen to a Robert Service recital by Tom Byrne . We really enjoyed his rendition of Sam Maggie and other writings by Service. He had such a great face and such wonderful delivery.

We had drinks at the Bombay Peggy’s place with a lady named Sara from New Zealand, who was traveling around on her own, staying in hostels and B&Bs.