Dawson City,
Yukon Territory, is a Canadian Historical landmark rich in history and touted
as the Klondike Gold Rush Capital. Dawson’s streets are still dirt and the
sidewalks are wooden. In an effort to maintain the town’s history, many
buildings retain their original facades and names which makes it difficult to
determine what business they are actually involved in. An interesting example
is the Harness store, which is actually a combination liquor store/Department
of Motor Vehicles, one stop shopping. Where else can you buy a six pack of beer
and renew your driver’s license at the same time? How’s that for economy of
effort?
Dawson City
is also home to Canada’s first legalized gaming establishment, Diamond Tooth
Gerties, as well as numerous other interesting attractions. Interestingly, there is still
active prospecting and mining going on in and around Dawson City as well
Unintentionally,
we ran into Ron and Wendy again this morning. They graciously invited us to
join them for breakfast in the Downtown Hotel restaurant. Who could say no?
Although it
was a no-riding day, we had work to do today. Our motorcycles needed oil
changes. Fortunately for us we ran into “The Dick” of Dawson, former owner of
the Downtown Hotel. He offered up his home shop complete with a motorcycle
lift. We accepted and went to work changing oil and very dusty air filters from
our journey on the Dempster Highway the previous day. The Dick would not accept
any money for the use of is shop but did allow us to contribute a couple
bottles of wine to his personal wine cellar. Thanks Dick; you’re the best.
On the way
back to the hotel we took a short ride up to the Midnight Dome above the town
of Dawson City. It’s the best view one can get after only a ten minute ride.
From there you can see the entire town and the confluence of its rivers.
While we
were wrenching in the 80 plus degree Yukon weather, many of the D2D
participants were on a 70 mile poker run, mostly on dirt through the mountain
roads surrounding Dawson City.
At 6:00 pm
the official D2D dinner event took place in the hockey stadium, dirt floor, no
ice. After several door prizes were given away and other items were auctioned
off the local volunteer fire department served an excellent BBQ steak, salad
and baked potato supper. Thanks guys, good job!
Following
the dinner event, the main street in front of the Downtown Hotel was closed off
to traffic and the biker games commenced, the slow race, the blindfold stop on
spot contest, the drop five tennis balls in four buckets and one coffee cup and
the ever-popular Weenie Bite contest, where a female riding as a passenger
attempts to take a bite out of a hot dog weenie suspended from a fishing line
above the riders as they pass beneath it. Only one succeeded drawing thundering
applause from the audience.
The games
went on well past 12:00 o’clock under the midnight sun. Lane and I finished off
the evening with a Bison Hot Dog and called it a night. Tomorrow we’re off to
Tok, Alaska, via the Top of the World Highway.
Here are a
few photos documenting the events—enjoy!
No comments:
Post a Comment