June 23, 2017 - Dawson City, YT

I woke up with my nose and throat stuffed up. It could be an allergy to the environment. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful morning.

 

 

We stopped at Yukon Visitor Center to get special Gold Tickets for free admission at Dredge #4. While there we picked up Canada Park Pass (free this year in honor of Canada's 150th anniversary).

Yukon Visitor Center

 

Inside the Visitor Center

Scale model of a dredge

  

 

From Germany or Austria
We saw several of them in this small town!

Another one from Europe

On way to visit Dredge #4 we stopped to check out Claim #33. To pan for gold it is $15.75 CD. The lady said it is guaranteed that each bag has gold (might be worth $4 to $6). We decided not to pay to pan because we will have an opportunity in Fairbanks, AK next month.

 

 

There were lots of bird houses set up like this
all over the area.
We learned that the houses were set up for barnswallows
because they eat mosquitoes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After leaving Claim #33 we spotted a wildfire going on in the distance

Dredge No. 4 is an historic site, was the largest wooden-hulled dredge in North America. It was in operation from 1913 until 1959.  The guided tour starts at the hour every hour. It lasts about an hour. 

Dredge No. 4 recovered about 8 metric tons of gold in over 46 years.  Lost digging time meant lost money, so the dredge shut down for a short while to allow crews to clean out the sluices.  In the past the company would ship about a dozen new gold bricks to the bank.

Dredges covered about 1/2 of a mile in 8 months, while operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our tour guide

 

Inside the Dredge

 

 

 

The tour guide's gold nugget
He allowed each of us to get a feel of it

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the tour we wanted to go to Discovery Claim, but the roadway leading there was roadblocked due to the wildfire few kilometers away.

The roadblock due to the wildfire

Active gold mining

Dredge piles

The Cook's Quarter
The lady cooks meals for gold miners

 

 

 

We checked out the Firehouse Museum, were given a guided tour in one of the two museums. It was very interesting.  There were many archived pictures of fires occurred in the old days. David, the guide, took his time in explaining how the 1899 Waterous Steam Fire Engine works. It was pulled by four horses, and could pump 1,300 gallons per minute! 

 

 

 

1933 Ford Tanker

 

 

 

 

 

David, the guide

 

The 1899 Waterous Steam Fire Engine

 

1927 International Hosse & Ladder Truck

 

 

 

We strolled along part of downtown Dawson City. We went in Gold Trails Jewelers to see if Andrew was still making jewelry. He was making a ring as we walked up to him and said hello.  I bought a beautiful wedding ring for Erwin 5 years ago, showed the jeweler the ring.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew Kuczynski, the master jeweler

 

Erwin's wedding ring

 

We, the caravan members, met for 7 pm dinner at Jack London Grill in Downtown Hotel at 2nd and Queen Street.  After dinner Pat Brooks, the owner of Gold Rush RV Park, presented his talk about his background and Dawson City.  

The Saloon

 

 

Pat Brooks, owner of Gold Rush RV Park

Afterwards Steve, our wagonmaster, took up the challenge to drink Sourtoe Cocktail with a human toe in it at Downtown Hotel.  It is the most famous drink in Dawson City. The toe is dried and preserved in salt.  In order for Steve to receive a certificate he has to drink it fast or slow, but must touch the toe with his lips! He TOUCHED it!

 

 

 

The human toe preserved in salt

 

Since the night was still bright Erwin and I went out exploring some more before going back to the campground.

Yukon River

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you see me?

 

 

 

 

By the time we got back to the campground the night was still bright and the sun had not set. I went out by myself to go find a spot to get pictures of the sunset.  It was after midnight when the sun finally set.

Sunset as seen from Dawson City Ferry Terminal

~~Edith