YUKON RIVER KAYAK TRIP – Week 4

#4 JOURNAL – JULY 5 TO 12

July 5, Wednesday – Day 13 On Water I sent out the 3rd Journal on Wens afternoon from the visitor’s center in Dawson. It took me all day to wash clothes, take a shower, give Stormy a bath in the river, buy groceries and a few things, have a nice steak dinner, baked potatoes and ceasers salad. What killed us was the almost 2-mile round trip walk from where we camped, take the ferry across, walk into town and then walk around. We did it 3 times. That is what it took. All I had to do was stop for the night few miles upriver. Hit the bank right in town at 8 And I would have been done by 12 and back on the water. It is just another example why I don’t do these trips with someone. I also wore the shoes Cam had given me with no socks and they chafed the hell out of my feet. Very stupid.

1562102769235 00July 6, Thursday Day 14 On Water My plan was to get up early and get out of there. Didn’t happen that way. As I was packing up I dropped the camp stove on the face/glass of my notebook. Shattered it. Nothing worked although it would come on. I am obviously upset, this means no more pictures, videos or Journal. Let alone work on the book.

I do have a tablet for the drone. I decided to go back to town one more time to see if I can get some help. I found a guy named Patrick from Cheslovokia who worked at the Visitors center. There was nothing he could do. I got another bag of ice, few more things and headed back.

I finally got packed up and on the water about 11:30. KC has gotten a very bad rash/infection on his left cheek butt. He has decided to go to the clinic. I am going to go 20 miles, then 30 next day for him to catch up.

1562105799455 00This picture was taken with the drone.

Stormy and I stopped at what is called 12 Mile River. The water is crystal clear and a very beautiful place. I tried catching some fish. No luck. We went for a walk and saw fresh moose and wolf tracks.

July 7, Friday – Day 15 On Water Both Stormy and I slept hard. Some guard dog she is, she has been going to the bottom of the sleeping bag. However, I know she is very sensitive to noise and her hearing is phenomenal. We got up at 6:30 and what another beautiful morning. We were on the water by 7:30. I was not in a hurry because we are only going 30 miles to a predetermined camp spot to give KC a day to catch up.

1562108751570 00They say this part of the river is the most scenic and I agree. I spotted some ice up in a creek bed on the north slope. I managed to get to shore about ¼ mile down stream and loaded up my ice bag that surprisingly enough has been working great.

We arrived at the camp spot about 1. It is a good one Government run, at the Confluence of 40 Mile River. It is a Heritage site run with the Natives. It is here, 40 miles upstream that the 1st gold was found that started the gold rush to the Yukon. There is also some archeology work going on. KC showed up about 4. He did get to the clinch. At the visitors center they sent him to a Native Lady for some salve made from Birch sap. We shall see. More mosquitoes here than any place else. Up until now I don’t think I have been bit 3 times. I got the notebook out and figured out I can turn the computer on and use the mouse. I just can’t use the touch screen. Tomorrow we will see how easy it is to take pictures and videos.

15621011756390 00July 8, Saturday – Day 16 On Water– I was up very early and on the river by 5:30. It was later I figured out it was 4:30 Alaska time which meant I was up at 3. It was a beautiful morning until about 10:30 and the wind came up blowing up river. I stopped for 2 hours hoping it would lessen up. It didn’t. We took off and all I did was keep the kayak pointed in the wind and tried to keep us in the current. It is still very warm. Before long in about an hour longer than normal we were in Eagle.

Once I tied up and got on top I was right in the center of town, about the size of Tumalo. I asked a couple in a motor home from Nebraska set up on a nice lawn in front of a nice log home if I could stay on the lawn over in the corner. She said I would need to ask the lady in the log home. When you are on thru river and cross the border from Canada to the U.S. you need to go to the Laundromat and use the Yellow phone in a box outside on the south wall. It is a direct line to the Customs office in Circle, which was what I did.

Then I went back and asked the lady if I could set up my tent and she said yes.

I got set up, got a few things at the store that was closing and found out the library has Wi-Fi 24/7. I was very tired. The wind was still blowing and a storm was coming. KC hadn’t showed up yet. He struggles in the wind with his craft.

The storm hit and it really rained and blew. KC showed up about 8 and was wet and tired. He had stopped about a mile out of town at a boat dock. He had gotten a ride into town. He walked back and camped there. He had to have had a miserable night. I have yet not been unprepared. My hip waders and the tent Cam gave me is making this trip.

We were up at 4, thinking it was 5. I bought a cheap watch at Walt Mart in Whitehorse and hadn’t changed it. I got the kayak packed, went to the library and then Stormy and I set in front of the new hotel/café and waited for it to open at 7. I had biscuits and gravy with 2 eggs, sausage and hash browns. Then a cup of tea and a piece of blueberry pie. KC showed up about the time I was done. We talked a bit and planned on another 50 miles.

15621016793210 00We both left at the same time. It was beautiful, complete opposite of the day we had yesterday despite it starting the same way. As we left town there was this huge beautiful granite wall. I stopped and got the drone out and sent it up and took what I hope is a good video. I am getting better at flying the drone. The day remained very nice. Hot once again and little breeze.

I got out ahead, stopped a couple of times and we had another good camp spot on an island. I flew the drone once again. I even flew it off the kayak so I am not so certain there isn’t a glitch in the controller and or drone or both.

July 9, Sunday – Day 17 On Water I am going to let this day pass.

July 10, Monday – Day 18 On Water We got up to the wind blowing once again. I decided to once again let the current do most of the work. I stopped about 10 and put Stormy’s cover on and put my rain skirt on. It started raining but not hard most of the day. Very tough day. KC was beat by the time he reached camp. He was cold and very tired from rowing. He put his tent up, got his bed rolled out and climbed in. We both were in bed early. It rained very hard throughout the night. But this tent once again kept us very dry and warm.

15621019620230 00July 11, Tuesday – Day 19 On Water We were up a little later. The wind was still blowing but not raining. I don’t like sitting on the bank so once again I decided to get packed up and go. We decided to do 40 miles instead of the 50 miles we have been doing. It blew most of the day but about 3 it died down and cleared up a bit. At 6 it has completely changed directions and is blowing pretty good. I am very comfortable.

I fried up a half of onion, made some gravy and put the onions in the gravy and the made some mashed potatoes. It was very good. Last night I fried up some onions and put them in a can of chili and had a bagel. For breakfast I had oatmeal, can of V-8, a bagel with cream cheese. For lunch in the kayak I have dates, cookies, apples, oranges, energy bars and a few sweets. I repack it every morning.

So far it is working good with me using the mouse to type, take pictures and videos.

We will be in Eagle by 8 in the morning.

July 12, Wednesday – Day 20 On Water Up at 4 all packed and can’t push off. Thick fog. Too thick from a safety aspect. There is some maneuvering to do thru some islands to get to Circle. Circle is only 2 hours away. Once the fog clears it feels like it could be a nice day. I had planned on it being a full Circle day anyway.

15621023188930 00We waited till 8:30 and I and Stormy pushed off. A mile down river no fog but a lot of smoke. We got to circle about 11. I changed out of my hip waders into the walking shoes and headed to the store. Two hours later had bought what I had on my list, charged up what I wanted to and KC was done and we headed out and did another 30 miles before camping.

One of the Native fisherman named Mike we met gave us about a 6lb Chinook, which meant we were going to get to have fish for the 1st time. As we were leaving Mike mentioned he was an Iraq war veteran. I mentioned I was in Vietnam. Then he casually mentioned he was with 101st Airborne. Then we both realized a bond. Then I said I said my unit was B 2nd 502 Co C. He looked at me and said that was also his unit. Very few know this but it was the unit that was sent into Mosul to get Saddam’s 2 sons. It was the first person in 50 years I had ever met that was in the same unit.

-270582-26116661 00Once camp was set up, I flew the drone. KC built a fire and cooked the fish. I had bought some Texas garlic bread not knowing we were going to get the fish. Fish was excellent. So was the bread.

I hadn’t prepared for rain so was up about 12 putting the cover on the tent and the covers on the kayak seats. 1st time the mosquitos got me.

Website Designed by James Web Design LLC. • All Right Reserved © David Scott – One Independent SOB