My Journey to ALASKA

[(RIP) rustygates]

Bob mushing in the winter,going from Wiseman to Bettles some 60mls to pick up goods,he only had 3 dogs,the lead dog was called "cheena" and weighed around 70-80kgs and and was as big as a calf they said, the other 2 dogs were like rabbits around him,Bob said in his letters.

 

[(RIP) rustygates]

Bob with his collection of Guns and Rifles and six shooters.
He went to the Post office in Wiseman for a gun licence and was told it would be $10 and he would be asked questions as to where he purchased the guns,he told the postmaster he had come for a licence and not to be asked questions so he picked up his $10 and went, and never had a licence for all the guns.
I was offered the winchester to bring home,it was very valuable,but alas I had to decline.

 

[solarman216]

think if you had gone to a gunsmith and had it disabled with a ticket to say you would have been OK, Rick

 

[(RIP) rustygates]

think if you had gone to a gunsmith and had it disabled with a ticket to say you would have been OK, Rick

I did do some enquiries when I got back to the UK,but I was told it had to be imported by an Arms Dealer but then only to a gun club,I would only see it at the gun club.

rustygates

 

[(RIP) rustygates]

Bob with his favourite Husky sled dog "Chena"

 

[(RIP) rustygates]

Bob trying to extract gold

 

[(RIP) rustygates]

The willis jeep sent up to Bob,it came some years before the roads were made.

 

[(RIP) rustygates]

Bob sawing lumber in the winter months

 

[96terrano]

How many pics have you taken?

Must say, bloody good, just getting me Thinking, ill need to have a epic adventure sometime

Was going to go to Cornwall with my mate after I've passed my driving test but, I'm thinking bigger :lol

 

[(RIP) rustygates]

I have not taken these pics, they are of my great uncle and were taken between 1940-1950
before you were ever thought of Ryan.that's why mostly black&white

 

[(RIP) rustygates]

Bob stoking the steam boiler, the boiler fired by wood raised steam which they used to melt the permafrost by means of steam lances which was rubber hoses and a metal pipe 20mm and 2mts long, they only dug mines in the winter so there was less chance of a collapse in the mine and in the summer they would wash the paydirt that they had mined in the winter, in the photo you can see the windlass to bring up the bucket full of paydirt

 

[(RIP) rustygates]

Bob with a pan of nuggets ready for the clean up

 

[solarman216]

Bob stoking the steam boiler, the boiler fired by wood raised steam which they used to melt the permafrost by means of steam lances which was rubber hoses and a metal pipe 20mm and 2mts long, they only dug mines in the winter so there was less chance of a collapse in the mine and in the summer they would wash the paydirt that they had mined in the winter, in the photo you can see the windlass to bring up the bucket full of paydirt

I wonder who first thought of this approach, and how much wood would need to be used to power a days digging, life must have been incredibly hard, cos that wood did not just "arrive" a fantastic insight to another world, I am so glad you kept up with this, the effort you have made is really very much appreciated, I never for one moment thought that I would learn so much from a "4 x 4 forum" Rick

 

[(RIP) rustygates]

First of all thanks for kind replies,it is time consuming but it keeps me occupied as i have been diagnosed after 8 months of steady decline in my ability to walk or even stand unaided. From walking the offa's dyke some 180mls and various other walks,i now have been told that i am suffering Motor Neurone Disease which is terminal and no treatment for it.But at least i have time to sort things out financially and i'm in no pain at all, so i keep going as best as i can,i don't drive now,i'll see how things pan out.
rustygates.

 

[(RIP) rustygates]

This is Bob's cut-throat razor

 

[(RIP) rustygates]

And this is Bob's compass which was a life saving piece of equipment for him in the wild wastelands of Alaska.

 

[solarman216]

I am so very sorry to hear of your problems, but if keeping this going is helping to keep you occupied, then you just carry on, it is certainly keeping me going, and I am sure others, I will be down loading this entire thread to view at my leisure some time later, Rick

 

[(RIP) rustygates]

A recorded letter sent from my mother to Bob

 

[(RIP) rustygates]

Here is an article written about Bob in1963,you may be able to download and enlarge

 

[(RIP) rustygates]

Here is Bob's membership card for the Pioneers ID