Day off in Dawson City.

July 15^th, 2026

Dawson City, Yukon Territory

Slept in a bit today, but not too late.

Got up, got ready and left to go do a few things.

First, I wanted to visit the tourist office to check on what they had on the Dempster.

Walked over the 2 blocks to it, and wandered around a bit checking out the displays.

Then I talked with one of the staff who had some data on the highway, and the next few days weather predictions.

I then walked over to the paddle steamer Keno which was preserved after its retirement in the 1950s.  It now sits up on the shore next to the river and can be toured, though was closed currently.

I then went back to the room to get my other camera and then decided to walk over to the local history museum and the old train hangar next door.

Museum had some nice gardens next door with some old WWI German guns that were brought back and put on display.

The museum itself was in the old city administration building.  A nice set of displays, but not as interesting as I had hoped.

Went next door to the train place, but they were closed.  But could see inside the windows enough to at least see the old locomotives that served the mines in the area back in the day.

Then I walked a few more block over to the Jack London Museum.

Jack London had traveled in the Yukon region in his early life before he was known for writing.  Many of his works were based on his experiences travelling and mining for gold up here.

While the mine was several miles up the canyons and they lived in a cabin nearby, they did come into Dawson City for official business and to get supplies.

The small connection and the fact that it was a local man who in the mid-1960s finally tracked down the cabin from old clues and stories left behind.  They had it dated using the wood and also matched up the wood cut from it by some trappers in the 1930s that had Jack London’s name written on it. 

That board was finally tracked down to the widow of one of those trappers and eventually brought to the cabin where it perfectly matched the spot.  Hand writing experts had also verified that the writing was most probably original as well.

Through some odd partnership, the cabin as eventually retrieved and moved out of the remote area and into Dawson City, but only part of it.

With the partnership, the cabin was cut in half (top and bottom) and the bottom was left here, and the top recreated, and the top when to Oakland California (where London had spent time) and the bottom recreated for display at the Jack London waterfront plaza.

The cabin sits here in Dawson and a building was built to house photos and other history on him and the recovery of the cabin.

Board with Jack London name (Replica, original is in California)

After this, I walked back via the residential roads.  Some really nice old homes built up here.

Saw my first kitty cat in town, who just stared at me for a bit, but did not come over.

Then walked back into town.

Stopped again at the bank, same issue.

Called the Card Services number, and got voicemail!!

Left a message, went over to the other market to buy some stuff, then back to the room.

I then called the regular call center number, talked to them and after 15 minutes of trying, they were also unable to reach anyone in that department!  So, they send an urgent email.

Never did hear back.  I am thinking my time at this bank may be coming to an end, been having lots of issues with them lately.

I then stopped at the local Jamaican restaurant as I was hungry, but the Greek place I wanted to eat at did not open till 5pm.  It was only 3, so figured I would have something light to get me by.

I tried to order a beef pattie (A Jamaican dish), but they were out!

So had tacos with jerk seasoned chicken instead.  Very good food.

I then walked back to hotel and bummed around for awhile working on various things.

Walked back over to the Greek place and had dinner, but ordered a bit too much, so stuff right now.

Back at the hotel I then edited a video and got it uploaded, and now trying to get these blog entries caught up.

I have also packed a bit, but will finish in the morning.

Not in a hurry tomorrow, will get up usual time, get ready and then go to store to buy water, then stop at bank and see if they will exchange US currency (unless my bank calls me back with a solution before then).

Otherwise, will have to hope the credit card will work everywhere up north.  I have heard some places do not take them, and other times they cannot take them due to outages, so a bit concerned here.  Great time for my bank to do have something stupid going on and have such poor service.

I will then load the bike, check out and go get fuel at the only station in town.

That should be enough to get me to the first stop tomorrow, though I will carry the extra fuel as well, and there appears to be an unmanned credit card only stop right at the start of the northbound road, so if that is there, I will top off there again, which should give me enough for sure.

Then we will start heading north.  Going to be a bit uneasy though, it has rained a good amount here in town tonight, so if that same rain hit the Dempster, it could make things interesting, possibly enough that might have to abandon the trip and turn around.

Will need to monitor it as I go, see how things are and make a decision, once I reach a certain distance, I will be committed at least to the next fuel stop.

Catch ya down the road.