Why Chase Gold You Ask

 
George and Dave are living their dream.  You wonder what drives them and you think they are searching for gold beyond their wildest dreams.  We thinks that's what we all want, but I believe these two guys have already discovered what really drives people and what everyone really wants.  It's the chase of the dream and pursuing that dream with abandon.  It's truly the secret to staying happy and healthy.  Have they found gold?  Of course.  Are they upside down right now?  After the purchase of this bulldozer; I think I can answer that without even asking them.  If you think you can't live your dream, you're wrong.  These guys are proof of that.  I believe everything is first a thought.  If you think about; it your headlights only light a little bit of the road at a time, but don't you agree you still know you will get where you are going?  Look at how far our gold miners have come.  I have to add; only by the grace of God.  And we all thank God for that. 

P. S.  One reason I would chase gold in Alaska would be for these beautiful views. We say Merry Christmas everyone!  I will keep you posted.   

The skid is loaded and ready to go

The Skid is loaded and ready to go. 

The plan is to drive the bulldozer and pull this skid with all their supplies to The Fourth of July Creek which is about 40-45 miles away.  Deadwood is about 6 miles away from there.  They will have to do this the first couple of weeks in March.  I think Barney is in charge of getting this job done.  Just to let you know, George does have a pair of boots that are for -65 degrees just in case.  He bought them in Anchorage.  Everyone in Alaska probably has these as a staple and all I have is a pair of Totes.  I will never need a pair of -65 boots folks.   

And our mission is accomplished

What an adventure it has been.  They are worn out but happy.  They are excited to see things come together.  Just reading back through all they have overcome is amazing.  I am amazed myself they haven't gotten eaten by any bears.  I still believe George can outrun Dave though so I haven't really worried about increasing his life insurance.  Dave might need to think about that.  They have met some wonderful people along the way that have truly made a difference in helping them pursue their dream.  We thank them all and can't wait to see what next year brings.  Hopefully GOLD!!!

LAST ROOM IN ANCHORAGE

Oct 5, 2014 LAST ROOM IN ANCHORAGE

They got into Anchorage and got a taxi to take them to their regular motel.  The driver informed them that everyone got their dividend checks and about 20,000 natives are in town to get their shopping and business done.  The taxi driver said it’s a crazy time and that every man, woman and child got a whopping $1882.00 check.  He had a list of people to pick up and asked the guys if they had reservations.  Guess what our hard working, problem solving, innovative gold miners said?  "No."  Are these guys lucky or what?  The taxi driver gave them a list of places to call and they got one of the last rooms.   

A Day of Welding their Sluice.. in the cold

Oct 4, 2014 A DAY OF WELDING IN THE COLD

They unloaded everything when they got back with Barney’s fork lift.  Someone was already waiting to use the community trailer.  They unloaded their equipment in a little spot on the outskirts of town.  This morning the guys borrowed Barney’s 4 wheeler and took off in 15 degree weather just to eat breakfast with Buck, the dozer man, 2 miles away.  Sausage, eggs and homemade biscuits beside an old pot-bellied stove.  The guys were loving Buck’s hospitality and someone else’s cooking. 

George is usually the chief cook but he said Dave is actually starting to cook a little more.   Remember their first trip when Dave asked how to boil water?  Well, I guess he has learned how to open a box and even read the directions and he made a great dish of mac and cheese one night.  This is really big news everyone and I don’t know if Marlene is on to him yet.    

 

 

The guys borrowed Buck’s welder and George cut the pieces while Dave welded.  You can see the before and after pictures.  The sluice was only missing one grate inside so they had to make on with the angle iron they had gotten.  Dave is from Florida and it started snowing while he was welding.  I think this is when our miners had an epiphany moment.  Dave was cold and it was only 27 degrees.  If they come back in March to “walk” their equipment in, it will be -30 to -40 degrees.  Guess what they decided?  Smart miners. 

After they got their sluice welded and the Ross box ready, they sat back and admired their work.  They came, they conquered and now it was time to pack up to fly out tomorrow.  It will now be up to Barney to get it to their site. 

What they found at Deadwood

The guys were very happy miners with all they found at Deadwood.

First time on Deadwood site

The guys did a little testing

 They did a little metal detecting

 This is their pilot, Barney, doing a little gold panning himself.  Looks like he might come down with the gold fever

Back to Yankee Creek

Oct 2, 2014 Thurs

They made the deal to buy what they wanted with Benny and then got another truck with a hitch from Barney’s mom.  They went to the airport and picked up a community trailer.  This time the miners took more provisions.  They actually made some sandwiches this time.  Same door problem with this truck too.  What’s the deal with the doors anyway?  Wonder if they had a recall on the doors and these vehicles got missed.

The guys took off for the Yankee Creek mine around 10 AM in 49 degree weather.  It started snowing a little as they went up the mountain just enough to make the road wet.  When they got to the site, Barney told them they could use the forklift to pick the sluice up.  The battery wasn’t quite strong enough to turn over so now they had to find a battery charger and a generator.   

 

What would be the luck of finding a battery charger and a generator for the fork lift?   Well, sure enough they found a battery charger and generator.  So they took their jumper cables from the truck and hooked it to the battery charger and then to the fork lifts battery.  The battery charger was plugged in to the generator because it needed 120 volts.  How do they figure this stuff out?  Now what were the odds of all that working?  All that stuff has been sitting on this site for years and the guy quit mining last year. 

After all this ordeal, George noticed the front tire on their truck was almost flat.  So now they had to find an air compressor.  The God’s were smiling down on them and sure enough they found one.  George said it was from the 40’s with an old antique motor.  As old and rickety as it was it worked!

They loaded the trailer using the fork lift.  They loaded all the pieces of the sluice, extra scrap iron, and angle iron and headed home. 

As the story goes…they made it back safe and sound.  Whew. 

Takotna Hospitality

Here are a few pictures of the post office in Takotna.  Their pilot’s wife works there part time so they stopped in for a visit (In the back on the right).  They are only open a few days a week because the mail is only delivered a few days a week. 

Again, I have to tell you how wonderful the hospitality is in this little village town.  George raved about the food.  Misty, Barney’s wife, prepared moose ribs that we just don’t find in our grocery stores here.  Their multi-talented pilot is also an avid hunter (He is also building a new house).  George said the ribs didn’t taste “gamey” and were very tasty.  I still can’t wait till someone fixes some whale blubber. 

Shopping at Yankee Creek

.

October 1, 2014 

The next morning the guys took off for Yankee Creek.  Barney, their pilot, loaned them his truck.  George said they were warned that the doors don’t shut tight and sure enough that was true.  The doors came open when they went around their first corner.  Of course the guys are laughing as usual and George hung onto to it to keep it shut.  They couldn’t go very fast because they didn’t want to over-heat the transmission.  Barney had given them his satellite phone and said if they weren’t back by 5, someone would come and find them.  They left about 10. When they got to the site it was about 12:30.  Our prepared boy scouts had a couple apples and the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches I made Sept 29, 2014.  They also had some nuts and 2 cokes.  What a feast huh?  3 day old peanut butter and jelly.  I guarantee George would never eat a PB&J that was even 1 day old back home. 

After they ate they shopped around at this guy’s site.  They found a hydraulic cannon and a generator but decided that stuff wouldn’t work with their situation.  They guys hiked around his site looking over all the old equipment and found an old sluice with all that equipment which happened to be for sale.  It was 2’ by 20’.  It had all the grates except one.  They also found some strapping metal and angle iron that would work great.  They were just amazed at all the materials and equipment that had been for years.  Some from the early 1900’s. They had tool shed, work shop, bunk houses, kitchen and the list goes on and on.  You can see all the stuff that was just left behind.  There were dozer parts, trucks probably from the 40’s.  They thought they might have been from the building of the Alcan hiway.  They would have had to barge them up there.  George said there were cars from the 1950’s with the license plates still on them.  They started back down the mountain about 1:30 and took about 2 hours to get back.   They check in with Barney when they got back and then went to the mush house.  Later that night they ate Moose ribs with Barney’s family. 

 

 

Takotna Hospitality

Sept 30, 2014

The guys slept in a little and got up at 7:00 AM.  They went to get their groceries because they needed dry ice.  They shopped at Fred Myers.  They love this store.  They packed all their stuff up and took it over to the airport.  After they got that done they went down to the Alaska Mining and Diving shop just to see what they had.  They took a little nap back at the hotel before dropping off their car.  Then they were off to the airport to fly out at 2 for Takotna. 

When they landed in Takotna their pilot, Barney, was there to pick them up.  He took them to his house and went over their plans and ate some bear stew and cornbread.  George said it was good.  So far they seem to like the Alaskan cuisine but I bet that might change when they have to eat some whale blubber.  They called Benny who owns a gold claim on Yankee Creek and was told they could check out any equipment he had.  He was selling it all.  They decided they would head up the mountain, which is about 20 miles.  Barney said they could use his vehicle but they needed to go slow because the transmission heats up.  After a long day the guys stayed at the mush house, which is a resting point for the Iditarod. 

Pilot Barney and Takotna

Sept 30, 2014

The guys slept in a little and got up at 7:00 AM.  They went to get their groceries because they needed dry ice.  They shopped at Fred Myers.  They love this store.  They packed all their stuff up and took it over to the airport.  After they got that done they went down to the Alaska Mining and Diving shop just to see what they had.  They took a little nap back at the hotel before dropping off their car.  Then they were off to the airport to fly out at 2 for Takotna. 

When they landed in Takotna their pilot, Barney, was there to pick them up.  He took them to his house and went over their plans and ate some bear stew and cornbread.  George said it was good.  So far they seem to like the Alaskan cuisine but I bet that might change when they have to eat some whale blubber.  They called Benny who owns a gold claim on Yankee Creek and was told they could check out any equipment he had.  He was selling it all.  They decided they would head up the mountain, which is about 20 miles.  Barney said they could use his vehicle but they needed to go slow because the transmission heats up.  After a long day the guys stayed at the mush house, which is a resting point for the Iditarod. 

Shopping for pumps

Sept 29, 2013

The miners went around Anchorage all day checking on pump and seeing where they could get hoses.  They started at 6:00 AM.  Remember Dave is from Florida and usually gets up at 3:00 AM, so 6 o’clock Alaska time, is like 10:00 AM for him. Dave insisted on going to Lowe’s and George kept telling him it wouldn’t be open.  Well, George’s little wifey was right… just like home.  They went to the CAT place and picked up some supplies and took them to Alaska Air Transit. 

They guys picked up their old pilot, Ken, from the airport and spent a little time with him.  Remember he is their first pilot that had to make an emergency landing on a river last year 3 miles from a village.  George said his plane was up and flying now.  They had a good time seeing him again. 

Off to Alaska

Sept, 28, 2014

I dropped George off at the airport.  The weather is nice here in Kansas but I had to make sure he took appropriate clothing for Alaska.  He always says he’ll be fine, but I told him I wanted him back with all his fingers and toes so we packed his warmest winter hat.  He will be glad he did even though he always insists he will be fine.  George hates to admit it, but he usually will tell me later he was glad I insisted on some things.  I also make him promise to wear his fanny pack which he does but he has to endure some razzing from Dave. 

The guys are going back

Sept 2014

Well, it’s official.  The guys are going back.  They leave for Alaska Sept 28, 2014 and will do some gold testing on their new site Deadwood.  

The Dozer Arrived

Aug 2014

Well, the dozer was picked up and made it to Takona.  Their pilot, Barney and his dad, picked it up and have used it on some of their needs.  The guys are sending up some sprockets, oil, and filters and Barney will get the dozer ready for the trip next spring.  The gold miners are home but their gold fever is getting the best of them.  There is talk about going up to Deadwood (their new site) yet this year. 

Pictures of Old Mining equipment in Chicken Alaska

 

I took some pictures of some old mining equipment in Chicken, Alaska just add a little interest to this site.  George was panning for gold...go figure.  We saw lots of old equipment and George and Dave found lots on their new site, Deadwood.  I will post those later