Today we left Whitehorse at 8:30 am by bus for the 340 mile drive to Dawson City, heart of the Klondike gold rush. We made 3 stops, saw a grizzly bear and cub walking off the highway, marveled at a soaring eagle, watched a moose cross a stream and saw beavers building a dam.

The first stop was Braeburn Lodge. It was a very small joint specializing in cinnamon buns the size of your head! No kidding! We split one with another couple-Jim and Carol from New York. We sampled it and then wrapped it up for towmorrow's breakfast. Our next stop was around 12:45 for complimentary lunch. It was a campground on the side of the Yukon with several moose racks on the picnic tables outside. After eating a buffet inside, we took a group picture with the moose racks and individual shots also. Those things are huge and weigh a lot. I'm glad I don't have to lug 50 pounds on my head all day and night! The camp house was octangular and the grounds had several cabins. The last stop was at Moose Creek lodge. This place had desserts like rhubarb tarts,and pastries. It was very country with chickens and roosters running around. You could climb a ladder up a tree outside and crank up the phone. Of course Gary had to try it! We also had a few picture stops including the 5 Finger Yukon rapids which surprised many of the miners coming up the Yukon. They perished until the Indians helped them cross overland or showed them how to navigate the treacherous waters. We also stopped at a 240 mile long trench made by an earthquake or volanic activity.

At 2:30 we rolled into Dawson City, which by code has to have all buildings, new and old, look like the Gold Rush town of 1898. It has a lot of character. Going into the valley, we saw the south side of the town has been ruined by mining company tailings- scrap rock and silt from the mining process. Canada is preserving it as a historical site. Tonight, we went to a Saloon-Diamond Tooth Gerties-it is like a two story western saloon, and casino with a good can can show. The show was well done. I won 35 cents on the 2 cent slot machines-whoopee! After the 8:30 show we went on to a famous hotel that has a bar known for their Sour toe whiskey shots. A real preserved toe is put into your shot of whiskey and if you drink it and let the toe touch your tongue, you become a member of the Yukon Sour Toe society. Your own Gary Jackson is now a member! It is 12:30 am and seems like 6 pm with plenty of light. There will only be 2 hours of semidarkness tonight.