Day 11, Back in the USA!

Day 11, we’re back in the USA! As usual, Babs and I were up before 5 a.m. and were searching for a place to eat breakfast that was open at 6 a.m. After going to four places that were closed, we ended up back where we started, our West Mark Inn Dawson City where we had a decent meal. After breakfast, we were off to catch the ferry that takes you across the Yukon River.

After crossing the Yukon River we began our journey on the “Top of the World” highway and began an hour and a half ride on a gravel road to the US/Canadian border. This is the northernmost US border crossing point.

After crossing into the US the road turns from gravel to dirt.

Fourteen miles down the road we decided to take a detour to the Yukon Charlie River National Park headquartered in the town of Eagle 65 miles away. Eagle is nestled at the banks of the Yukon River.

The road to Eagle is mostly a narrow, windy road with several one lane sections through land slide areas. It is a road that does not forgive mistakes!

On the return trip from Eagle, two caribou crossed the road in front of us.

After once again joining the Top of the World Highway we had a 29 mile ride in the rain to the town of Chicken which consists of a gas station, souvenir store, saloon, and café where we had lunch and a piece of homemade blueberry pie.

The rid.e over the Top of the World highway and the road to Eagle really messed up the car. It was caked with dirt and had dust in every crack and cranny. It took a full cycle of a power washer to just get the caked dirt off.

Tonight we are in Tok, Alaska at the Caribou Cabins.  Babs & I have a really nice cabin with excellent internet!

Dinner tonight was at "Fast Eddies". It was fast and good!

Tomorrow on to Fairbanks which will be our departure point for the Arctic Circle bus tour Tuesday.

Babs Says: There is a group of Canadians telling their families about the stupid American they met today. All I did was ask the desk clerk when they celebrate Father’s Day in Canada. He didn’t know and went right to his computer. A guest went into the gift shop to ask. Both came up with the 3rd Sunday in June. I said how strange that was because it is today in the states. I told them how our four kids would be in touch with their dad and how he missed not being with them. I then wished the fathers standing around the counter “Happy Fathers Day” from the US. When I got into the car I realized that it is not today, but the 3rd Sunday in June, just like Canada! Oh, stupid Americans!
Three nights in a row we have had real room keys, not cards.
Don’t assume an open sign on at 6 a.m. actually means, Come on in and have breakfast. They must forget to turn off the lights and open sign. Earliest food available was 6:30, even though the in room book said 6 a.m., at Holland American restaurant and that was for the folks having to get on the tour bus.