7/9/1991 - Tuesday

John:  We drove158 miles on the Top of the World Highway to Dawson City.  It rained and snowed on us along the way.  The rain eliminated any dust problem, but created muddy roads for 200 miles.  The truck was very muddy.  We ran out of propane and waited for almost an hour for the guy who does propane to wake up in Chicken, Alaska population = 25!  He never woke up, so we put our stuff into our ice chest and split.  We didn't get the full effect of the scenery due to the clouds, fog, rain & snow.  We had to take a free ferry to cross the Yukon River to get to Dawson City.  Dawson City is all dirt roads with old old buildings.  We arrived after the bank closed, so we had to find a place to stay, as we need to convert some money.  We had just enough Canadian money left over to get the camp spot (lovely parking lot), wash the main mud off the truck, and to have a pizza in town.  While at the pizza joint, Peter and Betty walked in!  We didn't have a chance to talk much as they couldn't get in the restaurant because it was so crowded... maybe we’ll catch up with them tomorrow.

ODOM:  28358

Kari:  I found a pair of moose antlers today, but I could not keep them.  That ferry boat ride we went on today was barely any fun because it was so short.

On board the Hwy 9 Ferry.

Hwy 9 Ferry.

6/25/1991 - Tuesday

John:  We Drove the truck onto the ferry.  It’s hard to believe that all those vehicles will fit inside.  One of the crew said the ferry can hold about 125 cars/trucks/campers/buses etc.  The ship is real nice and our cabin is great with a window.  There is a forest service girl on board that gives explanations of the history of the different areas we sail through.  We can go almost anywhere on the ship.  The front has a big lounge area, the middle has a bar, back is cafeteria the upper deck has a solarium on the back.  While up in the solarium, I played guitars with a couple guys... one played voice harp, mandolin, flute & another git player.  In our cabin we can hear a constant sound of the engines and feel a slight vibration.  Have met some interesting people from the Pr. Rupert campground who are on this ferry.  May see them along the trip once we hit the road again.  We got off the ferry for a short time in Wrangell and Susan & I bought some Garnets from the local kids.  The kids are all lined up with pie tins full of Garnets.  They get these Garnets from cliffs around there that have zillions of Garnets in them.  The parents hand dig them out & the kids sell them.  They wheel & deal with you - pretty shrewd little bunch!  But it’s all for their “college education”... (Ya right!).  Then Susan and I and about half the people on the ship got up at 12:30 to watch the ferry navigate through Wrangell Narrows in the dark.  Pretty tight squeeze.  We nearly froze to death.  We then went to our cabin and went to sleep.

Kari:  I go to sleep on a top bunk for the first time.

Karen:  We had a 3 hr. wait to drive onto the ferry.  The ferry left port at 10:30 AM.  The weather was foggy when we left but got better.  Kari wasn’t thrilled with getting too close to the deck rail.  We’ve really enjoyed our first day on the ferry.  we had the sweet rolls we brought on for breakfast & have enjoyed other meals in the cafeteria.

Our Ferry's Stats

Driving onto the Ferry.

John jamming in the Solarium.

Susan, Kari & John on the ferry.

Susan & Kari on the ferry.

Kari on the top bunk.

Susan & Kari in the ferry Cabin

6/24/1991 - Monday

John:  We did our laundry this morning, filled the camper’s water tank, and emptied the crapper.  We also get the Coleman propane bottles & Coleman fuel all together as this all has to go into a special place on the ferry.  We also got all our clothes packed that we’ll take to our cabin.  We got the Coleman cooler fixed for keeping our stuff cool during the sail... as the propane has to be shut off.  we saw an Indian museum & an old firehouse museum in Pr. Rupert.  Most people we run into are real friendly & like to talk!  We have to be at the ferry slip 3 hours before they sail... it will be 7:30 which works out normal, as we’ve been waking up at 6:00 every day.

Susan & Kari at the campground playground.