Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
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El Dorado Gold Mine |
| This is the second time the two RV Gypsies have been to the El Dorado Gold Mine, but the first time for their family. |
On the way to El Dorado Gold
Mine, a quick stop was made at the Alaska pipeline. |
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| Below: The adventure at El Dorado Gold Mine began with a ride on a replica of the Tanana Valley Railroad near some of the original rail routes. The two RV Gypsies and their family boarded the train station and enjoyed a short narrated journey to the mine. | |
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| Below: The conductor and commentator was Earl Hughes, who provided lively commentary as everyone learned about mining from actual working hands at sites along the way. Earl has sung back-up for Johnny Cash. His father was also famous. | |
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| Below: The journey went through a permafrost tunnel where a miner with a head lamp and pick-axe gave an explanation of underground mining in days gone by. While inside the tunnel, the kinds of mineral and rock formations that tend to produce the most gold were seen. | |
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| Below: After a short course in gold mining, everyone grabbed their own poke which was filled with pay dirt right out of a sluice box and then everyone tried their hand at panning for gold. Everyone found gold. It is guaranteed! But most people paid more for the experience than what the gold they found was worth. LOL | |
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| Below; Once the gold was panned, everyone entered the Cook Shack to have the gold weighed and find out the dollar value based on the current market price of gold. Then everyone could choose and purchase the perfect keepsake locket for their gold (if they chose to). A 14K gold necklace or earring lockets can be made with the gold while you wait. It only takes a moment. The two RV Gypsies and their family did not get very much gold after all their hard work, but they enjoyed the experience. |
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| Below: Alex and Karen holding a big gold nugget worth $40,000 - NO, it is NOT one that they panned and they do NOT get to keep it ! BUMMER! | |
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Below: A very large cabbage |
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Menu for the two RV Gypsies in Fairbanks, Alaska
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Pioneer Park |
El Dorado Gold Mine and a $40,000 gold nugget (this page) |
Fairbanks, bowl carving, old cars, family |
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The original
Tanana Valley Railroad served over two dozen gold camps scattered throughout
Interior Alaska in the early 1900s. Supplies arrived in Alaska on vessels
that traveled from Seattle to the mouth of the Yukon River. Freight was
then transferred to sternwheelers, which hauled it up the Yukon and Tanana
Rivers to Interior Alaska. From there the Tanana Valley Railroad carried
supplies to the gold camps. 
AFTER you have viewed all five (5) sections above, please continue on to