After a beautiful, but tiring drive, we arrived in Dawson City last night. There isn't a bridge across the Yukon, so everyone waits in line for the short (free) ferry ride across the river. Last night we went to Diamond Tooth Gertie's Saloon and Dancehall. They have real dancing girls reminiscent of the gold rush days. We thought it was hokey, but the crowd seemed to enjoy it. It is a casino too. Eldon lost $10, I lost $5, then we went to dinner at Klondike Kate's. The whole town is on the historic register. A lot of the buildings are painted in bright colors; the town is trying become a replica of its gold rush days and caters to tourists. Today we got to drive on a paved road....... We are in Carmacks at a campground on the Yukon River. A very nice, uncrowded site with 3 TV channels. Carmacks, not surprisingly, was also a gold rush town (coal too). We should have about a 5 hour trip to Skagway tomorrow - back in the USA! In Skagway, we will start on our trip on the marine highway. We hope our luck with not making reservations ahead of time continues.
Comments from Eldon: The Top of the World Highway from Chicken to Dawson City was gravel and the most pot holes I've ever seen. It took about 3 1/2 hours to drive 110 miles, then a 1 1/2 hour wait for the ferry ride across the Yukon into Dawson. The road lives up to its name - it is on the Top of the World. If I had done this drive at the beginning of the trip, I would think it was even more awesome but we have seen a LOT of beautiful scenery. Dawson City is kind of like a Hollywood set of a gold rush town.
Comments from Larry: More pot holes and more pot holes - what else is there to say? I need a nap.