The Ray Adventures: Day 12 Happy 4th of July Chicken, Alaska

We are in Chicken, Alaska, population 2, (year 'round) elevation 1,640. The two people that live here in the winter are the postmaster and her husband. We had quite a drive here from Dawson City today, we got to the ferry landing about 8, I caught the first ferry across the Yukon River but Gary had to wait an hour, they load one large RV, then fill the rest of the available space with smaller vehicles. We were advised not to attach the car to the coach, we connected in West Dawson City and started our107 mile drive to Chicken, Alaska. EZ PZ right? It was a grueling drive on a gravel road through the remote mountains of Yukon Territory and Alaska. The roads were narrow, when meeting a car Gary had to move over to the non-existent or soft shoulder. I would look straight down into a deep canyon, very curvy, we met a semi-truck on a sharp curve, the trucker wouldn't give an inch! The highest elevation was over 4,200 feet, the Border Port is the most northern in the US. But it could have been worse, it could have been raining. All we could say when we pulled in at 1pm Alaska time was WHEW!!!!!!!

Chicken Gold Camp RV Park is almost like boon docking, no water or sewer and the electricity is 20 amp, no cell service. limited wi-fi, we never we able to connect.

At 2, the owner of the RV park (and the dredge) gave us an in depth tour of the dredge, all the information you'd ever need to know about dredges. Interesting but I'd fail the test about it if there was one. Then he gave us lessons on panning gold. I got one flake. Patience and technique are required.

Gary's sister and brother-in-law traveled thru Alaska a couple of years ago, they said we must visit the Chicken Saloon, there are three business in the building, a mercantile, liquor store and the saloon. Thousands of hats and bras and panties are pinned everywhere. They fire a cannon every night, the ammo is ladies underwear.

At 5:30 our Ambassadors (wagon master and tail gunner) put on a hot dog feed with sauerkraut, chili, potato salad and all the trimmings. Mike and Lynn, the owner of Chicken Gold Camp RV Park provided dessert, homemade blueberry cobbler and ice cream. Delish!

After the driver's meeting I was ready for bed - I crashed about 8:30, I didn't hear the cannon go off at 11, I was out! Tomorrow we go to Tok (rhymes with coke), 78 miles more miles of gravel roads and mountains. But we'll have pull-thru sites, full hook-ups including 50 amp electricity. Yea!

That's it for today, enjoy the pic's.

TTFN,

Gary and Pam