Spell of the Wild

20 June: Day-13, Total-14; Miles-51, Total-470 - Chuck

A beautiful day; blue skies, light breeze, fast current. The miles flew by as I completed a listing of equipment I brought on this trip. Beth Lawson, who designed our website, created a link to our equipment lists and Betty has reminded me that I should send it from Dawson, like tomorrow. I knew it would be a chore, but I think I have itemized all the important stuff. Bill continues to paddle very conservatively and with the single blade canoe paddle. Fortunately, the increasingly swift current moves us right along.

We stopped at Swede Creek to get clear drinking water because the Yukon has too much silt. It was amazing to see the division in the water where the creek first touches the Yukon, this is one thick river.

Our camp tonight is on the point of an island. It's a little sandy but the breeze keeps the bugs somewhere else. We are about 8 miles from Dawson, tomorrow we will do our "town chores": send out these journal entries, send & receive email, call loved ones, visit a laundromat, get maps for the next section of river, pick up packages at the post office, snail mail the equipment lists to Betty, buy some hardware items for the trip, get fresh veggies and some other groceries. And, maybe hit a restaurant and shower if it works out. Since tomorrow is Saturday we are concerned about the post office being open. We'll see!