A doctor cliff-jumps above Dawson City.

Another cool night and bright, sunny morning – perfect for small repairs, and restocking for tomorrow’s trip on the Top of the World Highway.   We take a mid-day break by driving to the Dome for a picnic.

As we sit at the lone picnic table a small car brakes to a halt and two people emerge, quickly pulling mounds of nylon and rip-stop from the back seat.  They are friendly but hurried, and we soon realize the girl is going to jump from the edge and paraglide to the Dawson City waterfront; the guy is a friend and/or instructor, and is not jumping.

Her first jump fails when she doesn't get enough lift to get off the ground.  Her second goes well, and we watch her sail with grace over the town, landing nicely on a strip of grass at the river’s edge.  Her friend drives down to pick her up.

Turns out she is a doctor on lunch hour with maybe 15 paragliding experiences, now 3 from this dome.  After work she plans to jump again, and coincidentally we are in town about 6:30 PM and see her on the lawn repacking her gear, another safe landing.  (In another coincidence, one of our caravan mates was seen by her at a local health clinic earlier in the day.  We know in Skagway AK we were told the nearest doctor is in Whitehorse YT, and this town seems smaller than Whitehorse.  We hope she takes care of herself.  Her flight is beautiful to watch and we are impressed with her ambition, but we all agree it isn't on our bucket list.)

Dredges progressed up-river depositing hedgerows of tailings.

The Klondike and Yukon merge at Dawson City.

Dinner for eight at the Drunken Goat.

Dawson City is one of our favorite places.  Tourist dependent but still an active economy based on its traditions of gold digging.  Unpaved streets, architecture and many buildings dating to 1899.  For the first time, significant young people, at least as visitors; backpackers, hikers, hitchhikers, families.  Our waitress at the Drunken Goat loves living here year-round, something we can’t imagine but we feel we could make good use of a summer here.

Marcia vamps at one of Ruby's cribs, which stayed open until ordered closed in the 1960s.

Leaning buildings are a sign of the permafrost melting unevenly, probably because of a stove in one room.

Debbie and Jim5 - fulltimers.

Soon we will replace these caravaners on the bench.

Brie the cat basks in the window as Martha gets ready for a GAM--a get-acquainted gathering.