"Blink and you'll miss it" is how someone described Dawson to me. Granted it isn't huge in area but it is massive in heart. Friendly locals and visitors to the area greet strangers and offer kind chit chat.

While most people have dessert after dinner, somehow we ended up at the Downtown Hotel (original name, hey?) and had a Sour Toe Cocktail. And when I heard the meaning behind the name it didn't make any more sense.

Like kissing a fish in St. John's, Nfld., Dawson's version is a real human toe in your shot glass and when you drink up the blackened toe needs to touch your lips. You read that right. Quit squinting at the screen.

Naturally I was a trooper and participated in this time-honoured tradition. After my drink, a four-toed man put his mangled foot on the table much to the delight of the cheering crowd.

Much of the chit chat was about the area's local celebrity: Caveman Bill. He is known locally but was featured in the National Post several years ago for his unique home. Turns out Bill lives in a cave -- a real cave. When I heard about him our team tracked him down and we landed an afternoon interview with Bill.