Day 8 – Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Today was the day we drove the ice road from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk and back.  It is about 185 kilometres one way.

After topping up with diesel, at $1.790/litre, it was onto the ice road.  The temperature stayed around -24C to -26C all day.  With windchill it felt like -35C.  It is still winter in the north!  Julie notes “Don’t worry about that little crack in the ice honey bun” Brad kept saying.  All those episodes of Ice Road Truckers I was forced to watch tell me it’s time for the dramatic music and maybe an under ice camera view to see the ice moving and the water sloshing. ”

Tuktoyaktuk.  We were at about 69.46 N, -133.04 W.  I’m not sure if you can drive further north in Canada or not but this is getting up there.  Julie notes “Is there such a thing as joining the ‘As far north as you can drive’ club? or is Brad trying to trick me again?”

…signing off from Inuvik, NT

…be of good spirit

Julie notes “Our 2,802 song iTunes library has been shuffling lots of great tunes our way during our journey.  Of note, we ended yesterday poetically, with one of my mom’s favourites, ‘Hallelujah’, sung by KD Lang’, as we always have my dad and her in our thoughts as we travel this great country they love so much.  Today, after our tires made the first few crunches on the ice road, Van Morrison ,on cue sang ‘Down the road I go’ as if the shuffle gods knew how exciting an achievement this was for Brad.”

 

Day 7 – Tuesday, April 2, 2013

I forgot to mention yesterday, April 1, that is was 33 years ago that we left Camborne, ON for a few years in the West.  Who would have thought that 33 years later we would be in Eagle Plains, YT?  Julie notes “We celebrated in the hotel restaurant surrounded by an amazing display of stuffed wildlife including musk ox, moose and mountain goats and historical pictures telling the story of the Mad Trapper of Rat River.  This might seem strange to some but I’ve been travelling with a mad old goat for years, 33 years in fact.”

We arrived in Inuvik, NT today after driving the northern half of the Dempster highway from Eagle Plains, YT.  Another amazing drive. The temperature today varied from a high of -16C to a low of -24C.   Julie notes ‘Until yesterday our temps had been wavering plus and minus 6 degrees around zero.  We remembered what serious wind chill felt like today.  Brad has blocked the weather app from my phone so that every day is a surprise.  He HAS however emphasized a couple times today that he is getting his long johns out for tomorrow.  That is a bit worrisome.”

Shortly after leaving Eagle Plains, YT we crossed the Arctic Circle – 66o 33′ North. WooHoo! 

After crossing the Arctic Circle, I tried to convince Julie it was like joining the mile high club, but she wouldn’t be fooled so easily, (again) haha :-).  Julie notes “You can only fool me with that kind of line four times and then I’m on to you!”

Soon after crossing the Arctic Circle, we crossed into the Northwest Territories.  Time to set the clocks ahead an hour. 

We stopped in Fort McPherson, an aboriginal community of about 900 people on the banks of the Peel River, long enough for Julie to mail a postcard to some family.

We crossed the MacKenzie River ice bridge at Tsiigehtchic (Arctic Red River).  After a brief tour of the hamlet, we stopped for lunch in the middle of the mighty MacKenzie River.  Julie notes” And in case you are wondering, NO Arctic Circle Mile High funny business in the middle of the MacKenzie River either!”

A church is perched high on the banks of the river.  Julie notes “Probably to keep an eye on people parked in the middle of river who are thinking about joining the Arctic Circle Mile High club.”

We arrived in Inuvik with time to tour a bit of the town.

We found our hotel and prepared to check-in.  The Nova hotel was rated high on Trip Advisor and did not disappoint.  Julie notes “Well it might still disappoint someone who really wants to be inducted into the Arctic Circle Mile High club.”

But where else in the world can you check into your hotel with 4 dog sleds parked out front?  Julie notes ‘Well that just turned me to mush. haha get it?”

…over and out from Inuvik,  Brad notes “wink, wink.”

…on to the Ice Road tomorrow to Tuktoyaktuk

Day 6 – Monday, April 1st, 2013

We are in Eagle Plains, YT tonight after a spectacular drive on the Dempster Highway.

The Dempster is one of the truly great Canadian roadways. Completed only in the late 1970’s, the Dempster is still the only fully public road in North America to cross the Arctic Circle.  That will be one of the highlights tomorrow.

We started in Dawson City, YT this morning.  We attempted to make a dent in the Braeburn Lodge cinnamon bun, toured the town a bit, and did some grocery shopping before heading out on the highway.

We are having trouble uploading photos on this internet connection.  We have been fighting for 3 hours trying to get some photos uploaded.  We will try and post the rest tomorrow.

We drove up Dome road to get a view of Dawson City and the Yukon River.

Then it was on to a bulk fuel station where, after fighting with the unmanned cardlock system, we were able to fill up for $1.440 versus $1.729 in town. Julie notes “There was talk about having to use the ‘big nozzle’ but that sounded a little personal so I didn’t ask questions.”  And then it was on to the Dempster highway.

We made multiple stops along the way for photos.  We saw numerous ptarmigans on the southern part of the Dempster.  Julie notes “One disgruntled ptarmigan wasn’t happy with the paparazzi and literally flipped us the bird with his tail feathers along with some indignant clucks.”  We stopped for lunch and got out the BBQ and made some delicious burgers. The scenery was amazing and the views of the Oglive mountains were spectacular.

Hopefully, more pictures will be uploaded tomorrow from Inuvik.

Again, we are thinking of Julie’s mom and dad, and 2 uncles.  …take care all