Dawson City, Gold Strike, Jack London Museum, Dempster Highway

Dawson City and On To Tuktoyaktuk

Today

The coffee shop Riverwest in Dawson opened up today (Sunday) promptly at 0700. Kevin and I made the mistake of letting Roberto go ahead of us.

Another barista cashier had to be called five minutes into opening. The second line was now faster than the first line on account of our friend. The rest of us and everyone in line order straight from the chalkboard menu; without any special instructions or customization of the meal but, not our friend Roberto.

And then we hit the road towards the Dempster Highway. (South of Dawson). There’s a gas station called two roads and it’s only 20 miles out of town. That gas stop is one that you do not want to miss because that 20 miles may make the difference between you running out of gas or not.

Most everyone that heads out on the Dempster Highway carries extra fuel. The reason being is that apart from this gasoline stop; the only stop between Dawson city and Inuvik is Eagle Plains. And you better pack your lunch if you’re interested in eating anything.

Eagle Plains- This is the only lodging and fuel station available. This place is where I am at now. So why drive or ride this far? I could give you a lame example or go into how most people in the US are geographically challenged but, I won’t.

Well, part of it is for the adventure and it really isn’t adventure riding on this road. All you see is a ribbon of road once you get into it.

Yesterday

Ever wonder about that dividing line that separates Alaska and Canada? Well wonder no more my dear friends because you are about to find out how that border was made.

In 1825, when the territory was occupied by the indigenous peoples but, the Russian and British controlled all of the territory and America only had 24 states. Those two countries held a little power wow.

The diplomats in presence with their powers that be negotiated the current boundary line that is on the 141st meridian, plus the “panhandle” part which should rightly belong to Canada but, doesn’t. That little strip of land extends southward along the coast to 54°40′ north latitude.

This boundary line became the permanent boundary line between the Yukon Territory and Alaska. At the time that it was drawn, no one (except, of course, the (few indigenous inhabitants) knew anything about the land that the line bisected.

In later years, the Canadian and American governments gave the First Nations peoples of the Yukon River valley an opportunity to choose. Everyone stayed put in the Canada part.

Tomorrow

Inuvik – our last major stop before reaching Tuktoyaktuk. The trans Canadian trail runs through it and so does the Dempster Highway.

Highway 5 now stretches all the way from where I am now in Dawson City to the end at Tuktoyaktuk. The Arctic circle is halfway between Dawson and Tuktoyaktuk.

The Dempster highway for all you riders reading this has made its way onto the bucket list of adventures for motorcycle riders to go on.

I was told that the list started sometime ago so, I am rather late to the party.

From June to October we are able to cross on a ferry but fall brings freeze up and the water converts itself into ice bridges.

The next services available to us is a native village called Fort McPherson 120 miles later.

I took a walk yesterday along the Dawson dike trail that separates the town from the Yukon. When I got to the end of my walk I stepped down the bank and onto the street. The RCMP have their officers there and outside is a monument about the Lost Patrol.

In March 1911, searchers found the bodies of two of the men of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police “Lost Patrol.” They had died of starvation and exposure while trying to return to Fort McPherson after an unsuccessful dog-team patrol that should have ended in Dawson City in the Yukon.

The story of this “Lost Patrol” made world headlines back in 1911.

And then I took a little boat ride with Tommy Taylor who owns an island by the name of dog island. He showed us sights like the paddle wheel graveyard and a fish ladder.