I HAD A UNEVENTFUL RIDE FROM COLDFOOT BACK TO FAIRBANKS WHERE I CAMPED FOR THE NIGHT, BOUGHT A NEW REAR TIRE AND RODE THE NEXT DAY TO TOK. I SPENT THE NIGHT IN TOK AND TODAY RODE TO DAWSON CITY BY WAY OF CHICKEN.

AT ONE TIME CHICKEN WAS A IMPORTANT GOLD MINE, IT HAS NOW STRUCK GOLD AS A PRIME TOURIST LOCATION.

LEGEND HAS IT, THAT THE MINERS WANTED TO NAME THE TOWN, PTARMIGAN, AFTER AN ALASKAN GROUSE ABUNDANT IN THE AREA, ABOUT THE SIZE OF A SMALL CHICKEN. THEY TRIED PARMESAN , TARRAGON AND PARTAGON BUT COULD NOT AGREE ON THE SPELLING SO THEY JUST WENT WITH CHICKEN TO SAVE A GUN FIGHT.

AGAIN THE RIDE OVER THE TOP OF THE WORLD HI-WAY WAS WET, COLD AND MUDDY.

TOMORROW I WILL RIDE OUT TO INUVIK, SPEND THE NIGHT AND PROBABLY TAKE A LEISURELY RIDE OUT AND TAKE PART IN SOME FISHING ALONG THE MANY STREAMS AND RIVERS, INCLUDING THE MASSIVE MACKENZIE, CROSS YOUR FINGERS I DON’T END UP LIKE BILL.

ALASKA IS GETTING A LOT OF RAIN, UNUSUAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.