Gold Rush!

Day 43 – Thursday, July 25

We’ve been on the Alaska Highway since we left Dawson Creek on July 13th, (about 1,000 miles) so it was a little stressful when we had to look for the turnoff for Highway 2 -- the Klondike Highway.  (Not really…there are only 2 or 3 roads in the Yukon, so it would be very hard to get lost…just have to make sure you’re going north and not south!) This route was chosen so that we can travel on the famous Top of the World Highway on Sunday, and then we’ll loop back to the Alaska Highway for the rest of our trip.  Today was the longest drive of the trip—7 1/2 hours to go 336 miles.

Our destination is Dawson City, a gold rush town.  It was the center of the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush.  At one time, the city had 100,000 people here…all looking for gold.  Today the population is around 2,000, and some are still mining!  We are staying at the Bonanza Gold RV Park right at the south end of the city.

Our trip here included an encounter with more road construction…there were gravel rollers coming toward us on the other side of the road, and I caught this guy, wishing he was riding with us!   And…we found another very narrow bridge…

We stopped at Moose Creek Lodge, and tasted the yummy Orange Raisin bread. it was an interesting rustic place with lots to look at.  We were able to get a picture of Max the Mosquito!  He looks similar to the size of the mosquitos we’ve already met! 

Dawson City is right on the Yukon River.  The river provided a good transportation route for people and supplies during the gold rush years.

 

And, speaking of the Gold Rush, we have a friend who is also going for the gold—a medal in the National Senior Olympic Games!  The General Randy competed in the games today in Cleveland, one of 27 contestants in the high jump competition.  He has trained for months at his specialty, and ended up with a podium finish!  Congrats Randy—what an accomplishment—we’re proud of you!