In 2003 Karen and I
travelled with our sons Gavin and Adam to the Yukon. It was the final holiday
we had with them after 20 years of wonderful road trips. We knew then that gave
the Yukon exceptional status as a destination and that some day we would
return.
Despite the associated Gold Rush lore it
was the Dempster Highway that stuck in my mind. We ventured out on it in ’03 but
only for a day trip and we only managed about 80 kilometres north of the junction
to the Tombstone Mountains. We didn’t have time to get to the Northwest
Territories.
Initially a 740 kilometre bucket list
gravel road journey from Dawson City to Inuvik, the Dempster Highway has now
been extended (as of November 2017) an additional 140 kilometres providing
year-round access to Tuktoyaktuk via the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway.
Tuktoyaktuk is the farthest point north
one can drive in Canada on an uninterrupted permanent road. Therefore, I want
to drive there because I can. In a lot of ways that is the essence of a great
road trip – because it’s there!
The photo I took in 2003 highlights the loneliness and
wilderness. After the joy and serenity we found on the Trans-Labrador Highway
last year we’re all set to undertake the journey to Tuktoyaktuk at the end of
August this year. Nearly 1800 kilometres of gravel road; here we go again – but
this time in a rental.
for more
information go to www.thatroadtripbook.com
No comments:
Post a Comment