Almost D2D (6/16/23 Fri)

On my bonus day in Dawson I finally talked with some of the First Nation poeople still living in Dawson. I went to their cultural center a number of times during my week but they had staffing and atm card processing problems for their giftshop. So they just didn't open. On the bonus day I learned they had started coming out for the towns twice daily walking tour. They didn't do that when I took the tour on my first morning. So I spent some time with them before and after the tour passed.

My favorite part was how they caught caribou by coraling them into a snare, then finish them off with a knife. That's kind of clever. Apparently hunting was generally done with knife and tools made with the knife and natural materials. The local river is named after the hammerstone which was used to drive stakes into the river to trap salmon. They sun dried fish for longer storage. They also made food caches for winter use. And they could ice fish in during the long winter, as well as hunt moose and caribou.

My second activity of the day was touring the Palace Grand Theatre. I really like the outside of this building and didn't know much about the inside. They have nearly completed the renovation and it's very nice inside. It was a theatre of that time, which in the early days was skit like acts. In those days the lobby was a bar selling beer and cigars, not popcorn and candy. Access to the theatre behind it would open when ready. General seating on the first floor, higher end boxes on the 2nd and 3rd floor. The 3rd floor also had some private rooms likely used for more intimate activities. Once the theatre acts ended they would move the chairs and the lower level became a dance hall, with dance hall girls available for fee. The band certainly worked long hours or worked shifts. The builder proprietor was a wild bill hickok like guy from Arizona.

I went to the D2D registration table in the morning to learn the schedule. First a charity poker run that included many gold rush areas and the Midnight Dome. I opted out of this to save my sprockets. Giving me the afternoon to do the above two events. They offered a cookout/BBQ meal, then games and finally the midnight photo and sticker hand out.

So back I went to have a hamburger and pasta salad. Then watched slow races, slolum, ball drop, bliindfolded stop on target and poker hand play. Then they took a break to setup for the weaner bite and a few more events. Since I needed to get my bike for the photo, and it was still only about 9pm I decided it would be a good time to return accross town and use the bathroom. Maybe even rest an hour so I wouldn't be so tired to leave in the morning. I went out to check the bikes and not many had moved. But eventually I decided I should head back over with more than an hour to midnight. One of the guys was walking upto the building so I asked him where in the schedule they are? Done and cleaning up he says. What midnight is just under 90 minutes away, how can they be done? They did it early. So I rushed back to confirm that is what occurred. I was able to get my stickers, but I'm NOT in the group photo. That kind of sucks.

So even though the night ended up early, I kept thinking about how I managed to get here a week early and step out for the exact wrong moment. That's talent. Those thoughts and the next long ride to Fairbanks on my loose chain really ate into my sleeping time.