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.

for more from this author see www.thatroadtripbook.com

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.

 

 

for more information go to www.thatroadtripbook.com

Countdown to Tuktoyaktuk - 4 months

    My new self-published book LABRADOR – A Great Canadian Road Trip will be in print next month. That has me thinking about this year’s upcoming summer/fall adventure. The Dempster Highway wilderness route through Yukon and Northwest Territories is 742 kilometres of gravel and crushed stone. That gets you to Inuvik. From there the 138 kilometre road to Tuktoyaktuk is more of the same but maybe not quite as scenic. That’s a total of 880 kilometres of gravel road – one way! We’ll have to return via the same roads, there are no others. Makes Labrador sound like a thoroughfare. At least this time it will be in a rental.

    Services are limited to non-existent, approximately 400 to 600 kilometres apart. As we learned in Labrador, road conditions can also vary dramatically from day to day. Rain, wind, vehicle travel, grading work, all can affect how passable the road may be. The journey promises remote regions cutting through two rugged mountain ranges, miles of stunted spruce and alder forests, elevated reaches of tundra and the flat aspen covered Mackenzie River delta. There should also be ample wildlife; bear, wolves, caribou. If our track record remains intact I expect to see none of those.

    I won’t comment on it here – I’ll just wait to see how many people ask me “Why the hell do you want to go there?!”

Tombstone Mountains, Dempster Highway – from our 2003 trip

 for more information go to www.thatroadtripbook.com

 

The Dempster Highway

    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