Day 16 - Top of the World Road

It's not a huge ferry, so you wait in line and the load master directs traffic.  We had to wait while some cars and a lumber truck went across first.  They were able to get both of our rigs on side by side  so if the ferry sunk one of us would have to sit and watch the rest of us go under.  We made it across fine and the road started to climb immediately.  The Dawson City golf course is on this side of the river as well as a few dwellings.  They say when the ferry is pulled out the residents have to wait until the ice thickens up before they can drive on it.  One guy said that an inch of ice is enough for a snowmobile if you go really fast.

The road turned to dirt/gravel after about two and a half miles.  It was a really good dirt road and the dust didn't seem too bad.  The views were amazing.

We got to the border and of course they had to checkout the guiltiest looking one of the bunch, Hedda.  Her green card is one of the old ones and doesn't expire, so it has the original picture from 1972.  They made her come inside and checked her fingerprints.  Everything must have been OK and they let us keep her.
That must be the best assignment in the world to work up there!

The road in Alaska was smooth brand new pavement, with wide shoulders and newly painted lines.  I noticed a mile marker count down from 10, 9, etc.  I was wondering what they were counting down to as there is nothing out there.  As soon as we ran out of mile markers we also ran out of good road.  Rough gravel road, lots of dust and potholes.  When we stopped for lunch, the inside of the trailer was packed full of dust.  Even inside the cabinets and drawers.  What a mess.  The only thing I could think of was that we had left the roof vents open because we had those super duper vent covers and it sucked the dust in.
As we neared the great metropolis of Chicken we ran into lots of trucks hauling rocks and dirt down the mountain.  We got gas and stickers in Chicken and Cathy found an apple pie for dessert tonight.
We spent at least half an hour in the construction waiting line before being escorted over rough muddy tracks that almost needed 4wd.

The rest of the trip until we met back up with the AlCan was rough alternate gravel and so called pavement.  Lots of potholes and frost heaves.
We set up camp at Three Bears RV park.  Aris and I made dinner outside while the girls scrubbed the whole inside of the trailer and washed all of the dishes.