Tuk Trip - Day 4

     Dawson City has changed a lot since we were here with kids. The buildings are still there but a significant amount of the charm seems to be missing - and it's bloody crowded! Many of the streets are under construction and a high number of buildings and businesses are either for sale or permanently closed.
     As sad a scenario as that was even more disturbing was the revelation that the ferry at Fort McPherson is shut down and the Dempster Highway is closed so one cannot get to Inuvik or Tuktoyaktuk. All this due to significant rains causing a dangerous rise in the river. How does a ferry not run because there's too much water?
     Therefore, major changes to our plans are imminent. We will still be back to Whitehorse as planned to move on to Haida Gwaai. This type of thing is not an abnormality in our travel history but some fancy footwork is now necessary. Stay tuned!

Dawson City

perma-frost melt

It says what?!

see also   www.thatroadtripbook.com

Tuk Trip - Day 3

     We started our day on a very happy note meeting a high school friend Rosemary for breakfast then headed out for Dawson City. Our second bag containing all our rain and cold weather clothing is still missing. FYI, only the tourists call it Dawson City, locals refer to it simply as Dawson. It doesn't matter because most people confuse it with Dawson Creek, BC, Damn TV.
     It was a strange day - rain on and off (mostly off) with the sun out occasionally and dark clouds prevailing the rest of the time. It was a very pretty landscape and we were happy to be there.
     We're staying in a Gold Rush era housekeeping cabin - maybe there's some gold under this linoleum. Suffice to say it's ancient. There's a round cover in the ceiling, undoubtedly the location of the stovepipe.
     We'll be in Dawson all day and night tomorrow then begin the Dempster Highway on Wednesday. A little bit of an hilarious note - we paid $200 for windshield and tire insurance. When I was here in 2003 I thought it a northern scam but discovered it to be valuable. We have already recouped that investment. Four major hits, lovely starbursts. The hilarious part is they all happen on the paved road. I figure the Dempster should just about demolish the windshield.

Yukon River north of Carmacks

south of Stewart Crossing

Ahh - my vacation has officially begun

see also   www.thatroadtripbook.com

Tuk Trip - Day 2

     One of two of the missing bags was delivered to the hotel this afternoon. The other one they still cannot locate. Way to go Air Canada. It was on the plane - how far could it go astray. It is full of all our rain and cold wear. We're going to need it.
     Our touring today was a wonderful reliving of the last vacation we had with the boys in 2003. There have been some changes - none good. Historic Carcross is now a commercially choked version of its former self and the Carcross Desert now has observation decks and washrooms. It was also pretty busy. When we were there with Gavin and Adam we were the only ones around. In some cases progress sucks.
     As we approached the BC border the air was clouded with smoke and the smell was overpowering. We could plainly see the smoking areas. Thank goodness the river has blocked the wildfire progress into the Yukon. Paradise lost for many.

South Klondike Highway to Carcross

our ride for the Dempster Highway to Tuktoyaktuk

near the BC border

fires across the river in BC

also see   www.thatroadtripbook.com

Tuk Trip - Day 1

     We made it safe and sound to Whitehorse, Yukon. After 8 hours flying on 2 flights and 5 hours waiting we arrived in Whitehorse at 9pm last night (midnight to us), tired but happy to be here. That feeling of euphoria was quickly demolished as we discovered that none of our luggage had chosen to arrive with us. They say Deja Vu is an unusual phenomenon; why then does it happen to us with such alarming frequency?
     People always ask us why we travel to the places we do. Well check out this photo strip. There's a lot to be said for peace and serenity.

also see   www.thatroadtripbook.com

Canada Day - and it's a scorcher!

I don’t like the heat – never have and I never will. There’s something about sweating to the point of throwing up that just doesn’t appeal to me. Air conditioning is a relief but far from a permanent one. At least in the ice, snow and howling winds of winter one can always bundle up and take refuge indoors.

So many years ago as we drove through the mountains on our way to Glacier National Park in Montana on the hot US 4^th of July long weekend I was quite pleased when it started to snow as we made our way through a high altitude pass. Others pulled onto the shoulder of the road, stopped and stared in incredulous disbelief. Snow! In July! Sometimes you’re just in the right place at the right time.

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Cruisin' Into Summer

    A Toronto Harbour cruise, on a tall ship, at sunset is about as good as a pre-summer evening can get. It was a clear night and the temperature was perfect around 20 degrees C. It was even a bit cool on the water but that was a plus in my book. Built in Germany and launched in 1930 the Kajama is a three masted, gaff-rigged schooner with a passenger capacity of 225 but there were only about 50 last night. As we set sail into the harbour the lines were manned and the sails risen (you can help if you wish) then the gentle breeze off Lake Ontario set the scene of serenity for our hour and a half cruise.

    The Toronto skyline is second to no one when it comes to pleasing beauty and the only way to see it is from the water. The atmosphere onboard at sunset was perfect. Drinks are available, the retro music plays and everyone was in a festive mood. If you enjoy watching airplanes take off and land the ship passes the Billy Bishop Island Airport very closely. What a perfect way to spend times with friends, relax and enjoy the tranquility and charm of the Toronto waterfront.

for more from this author see www.thatroadtripbook.com

Happy Victoria Day

    Following her death in 1901, Queen Victoria’s birthday was celebrated on her actual birthday, May 24. That remained so until the early fifties when it was changed to the first Monday preceding May 25. Seems to me they did something similar with the first day of each season. It used to always be on the 21^st of the respective month and now it isn’t. This is a conspiracy to further confuse us as we age isn’t it?

      We never travelled over the Victoria Day long weekend but if fireworks are the common connection then the 4^th of July marks a similar celebration south of the border. I remember a western US trip that took us through Coeur d’Alene, Idaho in 1994.

      We had been driving for nearly a week so we selected a place to stay for a couple of days. We knew nothing of the area but needed to recharge before continuing our journey. Located in the Panhandle, along the eastern boundary of Washington State, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho is the state’s second largest city. It was there on the north shore of Lake Coeur d’Alene that we decided to take our rest. It was a wonderful choice because, as this internet photo illustrates, we were able to relax and enjoy the fireworks over the lake in the evening.

 

 

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