August 2001
8 August - We visited North Pole and Santa. Very good. Arranged for letters to be send to grandchildren and stayed in Blitzen Road on the campsite.
76 miles south on Richardson Highway. We stayed in Rika's Roadhouse state park $5 only us there, though a tour bus called at Roadhouse with UK travellers. Dusty bought his Australian hat. Then back to Delta Junction and Tok again. Saw mole dog mushing and met up with Carol and Ken again.
Everyone was warning us about bad state of Top of World Highway but we found first 45 to Chicken was paved. 30 miles gravel. No problem. Chicken 1 shop, 1 pub, 1 cafe, that's it, but a must to see. We stayed overnight on camping park $5 clean "dry" WCs.
The road from Chicken to Boundry border back into Canada. Yukon was rough and bumpy, but views were spectacular, really felt as if you were on top of the world. From Border to Dawson City was paved with a few pot holes. Then ferry across Yukon River into Dawson City. One of the highlights of our trip. In the summer it is busy, but seems as if it was in gold rush days, we were fortunate it did not rain when we were there. The streets and roads are unpaved, and rutted so rain makes it very muddy. The sidewalks are wood, and shops, cafes and such are the old buildings, some were built without permafrost bases, so are collapsing, just adds to the atmosphere. Dusty had "Diamond Toothed Gertie" sit on his knee during her performance at the saloon.
We also got closest to a grisley bear on the lookout above Dawson City. We got a lift up and a bear was eating berries by the side of the road, we watched him for 10 mins. He watched us too but carried on eating. Marvelous.
The Al Can highway south through the Yukon was a great experience. We saw a moose family at the camping at Toad River. Buffalo, bears, caribou we saw by the sides of the road. Our regret later was that we stayed on the highway, some of the gravel roads led to great places we read about later. We were thinking of fuel back tracking.
We had been told about cinamon buns in Bradburn, well worth the stop.
Whitehorse was a disappointment after Dawson City and Scagway but worth the visit nevertheless. Beringia Museum of the Mammoths V.G. Watson Lake was fun to see the signposts. Started by a worker on Al Can Highway, it had grown to 1,000s from all around the world. Some must have had them made specially to leave. At Liard Hot Springs camping there was a warning, bear on prowl, but we did not see him.
At Muncho Lake was the northern most point of the Rockies, beautiful views, mountain goats on road side. The erosion made marvellous pillars of rock on that stretch of road. We camped in Fort Nelson; saw a Fall Fair advertised fruit and veg. Was of CD$1 each. 1st prize was a parsnip 1 inch thick. Fort St John. 0 of Alaska Highway, not much to see at Dawson Creek.
The trip to Grande Prairie was oil and gas fields. We stayed 5 days in the town, camping. Rotary Club had free information trip around area, a very up and coming place, plenty of money being spent. We met pleasant people. Had meal at a house with family. Still can't get used to family breakfasts eating out.
Went to Shining Bank Lake and met up with Cindy and Doug, who we met in Prince Rupert. had evening and meal at their house. Halibut and salmon from their trip, dear meat. All very good. The park warden at the camping gave us a little back of freebies, pencils, erasers, pins and badges. A very friendly place.