WANDERING WITH THE WRIGHTS

July 31, 2024      Week 8 1/2

We enjoyed Fairbanks but we were anxious to get out of the big city and see more of the real Alaska.

July 26th Friday: We headed to Tok, AK - for those following along on this adventure Tok should sound familiar.  The first Alaskan city we spent the night in on our way into Alaska 6 weeks ago.  Where Jerry won the pancake toss and got $10 off of breakfast. We really liked the campground and the people who own it (something we really like about the small towns in AK is so many family owned businesses - most of them have ordinances about not allowing in any chain stores.). We wanted to travel what is called the Top of the World Highway from Tok, to Chicken, AK and then to Dawson City, Yukon.  Many many people take their RV's. and Jerry was willing but I was skeptical so we left the motorhome in TOK under the watchful eye of the owners of the campground and drove the Jeep.

July 27th Saturday: slept in, did laundry, went out to dinner and rested and Sunday headed out to tackle The Top Of The World Highway to Dawson City, Yukon with a stop in Chicken, Alaska

We were greeted by a huge chicken

This sign next to the chicken shows the distance to every town in the world that has anything to do with chickens: like Clucker's Hall, IL and Rooster Rock, OR (to save you some time I googled Clunkers Hall and it does exist - it is a village outside of Shiloh, IL)

The story goes that a group of gold miner's wanted to name their little town after the Alaskan state bird, Ptarmigan, but to many of them couldn't spell Ptarmigan so they settled on Chicken.  The Ptarmigan was a staple in their diets and they said it tasted like chicken.

Cute little post office - we mailed a few birthday cards from there - how often to you receive something postmarked Chicken, AK

Along with a couple of camp grounds and the post office this is the town of Chicken.  Gift store, bar and a cafe.  When we were walking into the gift store a man was walking out with a sweatshirt that said Libertyville.  I said is that Libertyville, IL and he said yes, so Jerry and I and he and his wife had a nice chat.

The cafe had really good coffee. 

This is outside the row of stores called "The Chicken Poop". I think you can figure out what it is for
                                                                               

As you can see the road is anything but straight - one of the reason's I didn't want to bring the motorhome as you are literally driving on the ridges of mountains and there are no guardrails

And the condition of the road leaves a lot to be desired - it was fine in the Jeep but glad we didn't bring the motorhome

Had some spectacular views although it was cloudy which is pretty normal

We were blessed with a beautiful rainbow

At the end of the highway you have to take a Ferry to Dawson City, Yukon

Cars line up on the left and RV's on the right - they take one or two RV's per trip across so it takes much longer than if you are in a car to get across.  We waited one hour in the car as it was very busy

The ride across is only about 5 minutes

Everyone has to stay in their vehicle while crossing - this is what our GPS showed as we crossed

                                                                                            

We had rented a little cabin for the two nights we were in Dawson City - it was cute - but small - when we walked in Jerry said this makes the motorhome look big - and he was right.

We had heard a lot about the Diamond Tooth Gertie Saloon, Casino and Show so we went Sunday night

                                                      

The show only lasted a half hour but was great fun and very upbeat

All the slot machines and table games in Gertie's

They are trying to keep the town like it was during gold rush days - all the sidewalks are made of wood

None of the streets are paved - not that paving keeps well here

When we arrived on Sunday we signed up for a walking tour of Dawson for Monday - 

our guide was in period costume

The homes are all built up, not because of flooding, but to allow for the settling of permafrost.  Much of Alaska and northern Canada has an underlayment of permafrost - the ground stays permanently frozen all year round.  By building them up off the ground and having boards going different directions as the ground above the permafrost freezes and thaws and shifts it helps keep the buildings from having wavy floors and cracks.  That is also why certain sections of roads are in such bad shape.  We saw crews out working on the roads constantly but it just can't be kept up with.

This building was not built up underneath and you can see how the two sections are leaning into each other because of the permafrost

Several of the abandoned buildings in town have been restored back to gold rush days - you can only go in if you are one of the city tours.

A true brick of gold - it was really heavy and they used to ship them to banks in Seattle until a bank was built in Dawson

Red Feather Saloon

Gold miners would come in with their pouch of gold, it would be weighed on these little scales to pay for their drinks

Shots of unique buildings in town

Today when they are restoring they put sheets of metal to protect the wood.  Not very pretty but helps protect the wood during the harsh winters.  

                                                               

We had such a good time at the Gertie show Sunday night we went back Monday to an earlier show.  We would have been fine if it had been the same show but it was different and also very good

We also visited the log cabin that Jack London, the author lived in for a winter.  He got ill and was advised to go back to the states which he did.  People feel like many of his novels include experiences he had during his short time in Alaska

Inside the cabin

                                         

We left Tuesday morning to return to Tok - This shows a large motorhome coming off the ferry right before we boarded.  Only had to wait about 5 minutes to drive on.

On the trip back and forth to we had to go through customs.  I asked the American crossing guard if they stay open all winter and he said no - last year got to -44 degrees and the snow covered the homes they live in.

Wednesday, July 31st we left. Tok to drive to Destruction Bay.  It is 227 miles of the worst roads you can imagine but we made it going up so knew we could do it coming back.  So grateful that Jerry is the awesome driver he is and that the motorhome and the Jeep are still in one piece.                                               

We stopped at a rest stop for the night and we had a beautiful view - I said it was God giving us something beautiful to look at after the road conditions we had driven on.  Once again the crews work tirelessly but the permafrost keeps them from winning                   

                                                       

I am stopping the blog before the end of week #9 for several reasons

#1 - it is late and I am tired

#2 - it is already long and the rest of the week has been outstanding - so many more pictures

#3 - we have a terrible internet connection and it is taking forever to upload pictures

Will blog again in a few days to finish off week 8 1/2 which has been a wonderful time for us in Haines, Alaska.  Tonight August 5th is our last night in Alaska - cannot believe we have been in Alaska for 6 full weeks - we have done so much but the time seems to fly by.

Watch out Canada and USA here we come!