The engine roars and black smoke bellows as the hull grinds against the sandy bank.  The ramp drops, the engine slows to an idle to hold the ferry against shore.  Travelers of all sorts make their exit.  I wait my turn anxiously watching for the go ahead from the ferry operator.  Ok, it’s a go.  I am 7^th of 8 and the ramp goes up.  I wave to Kent.  He has to wait with the motorhome until the next trip.  The engines roar again and the ferry slides out into the current and swings wide downstream.  It is a queasy sort of slipping motion.  The ride is short lived though.  In only minutes we align with the far shore and in one amazing maneuver are safely snug against the bank.  I hung around to watch Kent cross…all went smoothly there too.  We are on our way.

The Yukon Government runs a ferry as an integral part of the highway system.  The ferry  is about 100 feet long and crosses the 1000 ft + wide (with a pretty swift current this time of year) Yukon River at Dawson City for all those heading north and west to Alaska.    Fuel tankers get priority and they make the trip all by themselves.  40 ft class a with toads ride it.  Pick up campers.  Motorcycles.  Even pedestrians.  It is the way to go up here.  It was a fun twist for our travels.