Saturday, July 6, 2013 (Hi Country RV Park, Whitehorse, Yukon)

Well, the initial plan for today was to make it a work day...I had a mountain of laundry to do, the fridge was bare and Steve wanted to clean out the basement.  That plan changed, though, once Steve looked up the weather forecast.  It was supposed to be nice for a few days before some rain was forecast, so he decided that we should do some outdoor touristy things while the weather is fairly good.

It was late morning after our exercise routine by the time we headed across the highway, taking Robert Service Way down the hill into Whitehorse...

 (Remember...just click on pictures to enlarge) 

This is the S.S. Klondike...it is now a National Historic Site of Canada (we will visit it later on this afternoon)...

Our first stop was at the Visitors Centre...

We watched a short video on the Yukon and then spoke to one of the reps about things to do and see around Whitehorse....hmmm...we might have to be here awhile to see everything we want to!  As we were finishing up at the Visitors Centre, we noticed a trolley-car outside and asked about it.  Apparently it is restored, bright yellow 1925 Waterfront Trolley that runs along the riverfront, making various stops...it runs back and forth with a round-trip taking about an hour.  So we immediately ran out to catch it.

This is the Roundhouse, where a box car is stored...it is also where the trolley is stored at night...

After we were finished our round-trip ride on the trolley, we walked down to the White Pass & Yukon Route office to book a "One Day Combo" trip to Skagway, Alaska.  We are going on the trip tomorrow...sounds like fun!

After that, we decided to take a walk down Main Street.  The left (south) side...

...and the right (north) side...

We started our walk on the north side and walked back down on the other side...

Here are a couple of heritage homes along First Avenue...many of these were squatters homes that the railroad allowed on their property...

Next on our agenda was a tour of the S.S. Klondike ...

The self-guided tour starts at the Paddlewheel...the location of which, makes the Klondike a 'sternwheeler' - as opposed to a 'side-wheeler'.  This puts the paddlewheel in a less vulnerable position for operation on fast flowing, shallow, winding rivers such as the Yukon.

 The Klondike, including her paddlewheel, is 73 m (240 ft) long; and could carry 270 tonnes (300 tons) of cargo with a draught of only 1 m (40").

 Then we went onboard...

Steam Boiler...Yukon sternwheelers were powered by wood-fired boilers.  The Klondike's was a locomotive style fire-tube boiler. It held 15,000 litres (4000 gallons) of water, and operated at a pressure of 184 lbs. per square inch.

Freight...Before the advent of roads, the settlements and mining camps in the Yukon were totally dependent on the BYN sternwheelers to bring in the food, supplies and equipment needed to work and survive.

Engine Room...this is where the steam was put to work.  There are two engines which work in tandem to rotate the paddlewheel.  They are compound jet-condensing engines rated at 525 horsepower each.

Crew's Quarters...the Deckhands, who worked under the Mates loading and unloading freight and keeping the Firemen supplied with wood, bunked in the starboard cabin.  The Firemen were in the port-side cabin.



As officers, Mates and Engineers enjoyed more comfortable accommodation up on the Boat Deck.

Paddlewheel arms...

Ore bags...these ore bags are the reason the Klondike was built big - to move large amounts of the ore, coming out of the silver mines...

Next, we went up to the Observation Lounge...this is where passengers traveling 1st Class could relax and enjoy a view of the river...

Dining Room...1st Class passengers and officers took their meals in the dining room.  It was very formal with seating at assigned tables and service by Stewards clad in white shirts, bow ties and white waiter's jackets.  The Klondike could carry 32 First Class passengers, requiring two sittings for each meal.

The Purser's Office...

A well stocked pantry...

Out to the Sun Deck.  Walking to the sun deck we passed staterooms for crew and 1st Class passengers.  Sleeping accommodation for 2nd Class passengers were bunks lashed to stanchions at the aft end of the freight deck, or the freight deck itself.  In 1937, when the average salary for a Canadian worker was $25/month, a 2nd Class ticket from Whitehorse to Dawson City was $25; a 1st Class tick was $35.

Nice view from up here!

This is the screened-in meat locker at the stern ...

The sun deck is where passengers caught a breath of air or enjoyed playing games...while 1st Class passengers had the run of the boat, 2nd Class passengers were confined to the Freight Deck and the Sun Deck.

Next, we went up to the Boat Deck...where the officers' cabins are located.  Master and Pilot occupied forward cabins on either side giving them a view of the river ahead.  The Wheelhouse (the next level) was closed so we weren't able to go take a look.








Wow...we're up high!

...and that concludes our tour...

Well, we hadn't gone grocery shopping...and there was virtually no food in the fridge...so we had to go out for dinner (ah...darn!!).  Here we are at Earls...enjoying a glass of Yukon Gold..."Beer Worth Freezin' For"...