When we are researching and photographing material for our books we spend a lot of time on the road. In 2008 we drove to the Yukon again to get more information on steam boats. As with most road trips there were the good parts, mediocre parts and plain bad parts.

We headed up the Alaska Highway from Dawson Creek early in the morning, stopping for breakfast after finding a recommended restaurant in Fort Saint John. Normally we would then have gone a considerable distance but heavy rain and fog stopped us at Fort Nelson. Speed on the highway depends on not getting behind a convey of motor homes, avoiding road construction and bad weather.

Fortunately every few hundred miles there are small restaurants. Not only is the food good but the company is wonderful. You can hear all the yarns from the locals. Parts of the highway tend to be a bit boring but when you get into the mountain area there is a good chance of seeing plentiful wildlife. This can range from moose, sheep, bear, woodland bison as well as smaller animals. We managed to stay a day or so at Toad River. Moose are often seen in the water by the cabins. The accommodation can vary on the way to Whitehorse. In a couple of hotels you could enjoy the sounds of people partying outside the window all night.
When you arrive at Whitehorse the history of the place is overwhelming. There are many historical attractions and of course the Yukon river. While our main purpose was to collect and photograph steamboat information we managed to get a bit distracted as usual.

Parks Canada has done a wonderful job of restoring the steamer Klondike II. While we did not stop there this time the Yukon Archives is a very good source of information.

We carried on to Dawson, getting the usual cracked windshield from loose gravel. There many views of the Yukon River along the way, including the famous Five Finger Rapids. Parks Canada controls much of Dawson. The streets are dirt and even the new buildings are like the ones in the 1890s. The buildings and windows have ads and signs from that era. Many of the people are dressed in the the old attire.

For us the river history is our main focus but mining history is even more prominent. Theaters have nightly shows and you can still lose money gambling. For the steamboat buff the old Keno is the centre attraction. As usual we got a bit distracted and spent some time enjoying the place. I wondered if my great uncle would have recognized the place.

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