Top of the World Highway

  Dawson City, Yukon Territory  (YT)

Old gold mining towns don't all die. This one is resurrected for sure. Of course being summertime the census is remarkably higher than winter.  They have instituted an historical flavor by having all the building graced with tin roofs and wood siding. Nice colors are added to many especially on the exterior trim.   Local are proud of past residents:

How well I recall those "Call of the Wild"

and other stories during grade school years.

Jack London is still a favorite author of many kids. I guess he lived here for some time

in the early 1900's during the Klondike Gold Rush and was certainly involved with it. Gold prospecting is still active and well in the Klondike today. 

   Another is Robert Service.  One of his poem is "The Cremation of Sam McGee"

  I guess this Sam died in the cold Yukon. The last two lines are:

 "It's fine in here, but greatly fear you'll let in the cold and storm-

Since I left Plumtree, down in Tennessee, it's the first time I've been warm"

This is the cabin of Robert Service also in Dawson.

 Tuesday July 12
 Good day, on the road by 8:30 AM full of fuel and onto the ferry over the Yukon River. Fast current but the Captain is an expert.  About 6 minutes on the water.  Then to the dirt/gravel thing called a road. Actually we were able to drive about 50 most of the time. Spectacular views.  This road is called "Top of the World Highway".  Views were spectacular along the way.

    We looked for the Top of the World.  Barely able to make it out, however we weren't able to see the North Pole. I believe they have not painted it for some time.  Since we had a few rain showers it made that area a bit hazy. 

Sorry, maybe next time we can get a high power lens and look for a sunny day.

Sure would have been nice to post a picture of the North Pole though. Oh well.......

Finally arrived at the US/Alaska border. They let us back in! How kind of them.

 A friendly couple for Hanover, Germany 

kindly took the photo of us and we reciprocated.

The rest of the road to Chicken was not so good. 20-25 mph. Lots of potholes but it was OK.  Even stopped by a local running a small gold mine. He said he could often make a years wages working very hard for two months in the Summertime. Don't think that is a possibility for a 70 some year old couple. We'll let him have all the glory. The cold would not agree with us.

Arrived in Tok, AK.... nice little fence corner: several motels, gas, food etc. Tomorrow on to Fairbanks I hope.