Whitehorse again--June 26

Today I got up by 6 so I could get on the computer and write yesterdays blog and begin todays. At night everyone else is on and it is so slow I prefer not to do it then. There was a luner eclipse very early thing morning but I didn't know about it soon enough and I missed it. It was supposed to be huge.

At nine this morning we are to have our briefing for our trip tomorrow and then at 11 we get a tour of the S.S. Klondike which is a grand old sternwheeler that sits beside the Yukon River on dry land and they do tours. Before the tour we saw a 20 minute movie about what, where, when and how the boats were used. The steam powered river transport was central in the development and connection of the Yukon to the outside world for almost a century after the first vessel reached Fort Selkirk in 1866. Overland winter travel supplemented the summer river transport, but in the late 1920's aircraft came into use and after WWII road transport finally ended the importance of inland water transport.

This specific boat was built in Whitehorse in 1929 and was 50% bigger than other boats so she could carry more cargo without pushing a barge in front of her. Unfortunatlely in 1936 she ran aground and sunk. The company immediately built the Klondike II. From 1937-1952 it was primarily a cargo vessel with a few passengers and then in order to save this flag ship of the British Navigation Co. it was refurbished to a cruise ship; however since that didn't make as much money they ended that in 1955 and brought the ship to Whitehorse to dry dock.

They could only make use of the river 5 months out of the year. This boat ran from Whitehorse north to Dawson City (1.5 days) and back which took (4-5 days). It took one or two cords of wood per hour to run the boiler and they took on wood from specific stops along the way every 12 hours. A fireman stood at the front of the furnace and threw in a 4' log every 30 seconds for 4 hours and then someone else would come on duty. Then the they would have to bring a load of maybe 500-800lbs of wood down from the bank to the boat on a gang plank. This wheeled dolly type thing had no brakes and one man did it by himself while others were stacking it down below and others unstacking it above. They hauled all kinds of food stuffs as well as silver lead ore and lots of beer kegs for upstream and the ore coming down stream. Very interesting tour.

Then we went to lunch at The Chocolate Claim and it was real good. Bob had a bowl of white bean and potato soup and we shared a chicken with asiago cheese and flavored mayo on a good bread and I had a bowl of Italian bolognese soup and it was also good. Then Bob bought a sliver of dessert which was good. Right next to us was 3 women and one had a small child a little less than a year old and I just wanted to ask if I could hold it but I knew I couldn't.

We went from there to the visitor center which was very nice--got there just in time for a good movie and then went out to view what they had in the lobby. One of our group had seen an eagles nest right by a rest area on the road into town so we stopped and sure enough one adult was sitting above he nest with 2 young ones in the nest. The young must be getting ready to fly soon because we saw wings practicing by flapping.

Before we left town though we went back to the lunch spot for a dessert for Dee and to a 50's diner in town for some ice cream for Marvin and then home. Marvin is taking a nap,Dee is probably reading, Bob is writing notes from our briefing into our log and here I am informing you of our activities.

Tonight about 8pm we are to meet down town to see the Frantic Follies, a vaudeville stage show. It features cancan dancers, rousing music and hilarious skits from Robert W. Service ballads for about an hour and a half. It should be good. That's all I am writing for now. If after we see it I have anything to add I will edit this blog. Tomorrow we are up bright and early to head to Dawson City, the longest mileage of the trip at 337 miles thus the naps for the guys especially since we will have a later night tonight for Marvin (he goes to bed early and rises early). After driving for awhile early you need to get out and do something or take a nap. So long for now.