The Lady in the Van - A roadtrip

[Lifemagician]

Dawson City

After an uneventful trip, surrounded by a host of colourful wildflowers, up the Klondike, a brief stop over in Mayo and another quick drive through Keno (all places I had visited in more depth in 2012), I arrived in Dawson City in time to check out the visitor centre and some shops, as well as the bank, to get some more Canadian cash. The NW Territories visitor centre - which really should be called the Dempster Highway visitor centre - was closed by the time I got there, so headed to RV Dawson City for the night.

Wet weather was forecast for the night, and the coming days, and as much as I wanted the forecasters to be wrong, this time they were spot on. That was not the sort of weather one would choose to drive the Dempster Highway to Inuvik.

Next morning when I arrived at the NWT visitor centre, the condition of the road was described as Fair! In 2012, it had been described as Very Good, when I was there, and many of the folk who had driven the highway had left messages extolling its condition, in the visitor centre's Dempster highway log. This time there were only a couple of entries, none of their authors had actually attempted to get to Inuvik. With the forecast the way it was, all I could do was to abandon 'plan A'.

Plan B was to be in Alaska.

I headed back down the Klondike. Having been told that the cheapest fuel was at the Cardlock site, right where the Dempster turns off to head north. My card was rejected by the system. The next folk who arrived were two young men in the bosses small truck. I asked if I gave them the money, could they use their card, which they did. It was only after they left that I realised I had given them $60, but they had pumped only $50 into my tank. Saying they needed the receipt for the boss, I did not even get a look at it. (It was the first time I have ever been ripped off by anyone on my road trips.) I felt saddened by the fact that someone could do that to you, forgave them and continued, knowing I had sufficient fuel to get to Whitehorse.

Whitehorse has grown these last four years, and I was not even able to find the visitor centre and the RV place where I stayed last time. It was getting late, as I was driving around looking to see what I could find, when I saw a half dozen or so RVs parked and camped on a small grassy patch in a busy part of town. BBQs were out, chairs were out, the full works short of a camp fire. I noted it was by a McDonalds, and as I wanted to use the wifi, joined them. It was only when I went into McDonalds that I realised where I was....... I had to enter through Walmarts.

It was still raining on and off.

(Odo - 147273)

Lifey

[Lifemagician]

Some days are just more memorable than others. It's either a great memorable moment, or something you wish had never happened. This day was both!

I had not slept well, and made a late start. By the time I got to Destruction Bay, I needed a break.

The drive from Whitehorse into Alaska is for a large section over permafrost, which causes frostheave on the road. Up and down and over one small hump after the other. Most times too small to see, and then some surprise you by being larger than expected..... and you wonder whether all the crockery in the van survived. It is a tiring section of the road..

The large turn out at Kluane Lake is a wonderful place to stop at any time, and this time I pulled in, parked at the far end, and flopped onto my bed. It was an hour or more later when I awoke - got ready to continue.

In Northern Canada, and Alaska it is a requirement that you have your headlights on at all times. Just turning the engine off when I parked did not turn off the headlights. When I attempted to start the engine, there was nothing there.... not a sound. The battery was as dead as it could get.

I had not noticed any other vehicles in the area, but right at that moment, two gents were walking along the shore of the lake, a few feet away from me.

"No worry! We've got some cables with us."

There were two RVs parked not far from me. One was being towed the other was towing a toad. They were travelling together They brought the towing vehicle to mine, and without further ado, started the engine, and suggested I not put my lights on, and not stop anywhere for a while.

With that they started to pack away the jumper cables, which came all neatly rolled up in a small plastic zip up pouch. I admired it, and asked to see the make of it. It is the sort of thing I should have in my van, and these were so neat and tidy. The two gentlemen conferred and came back to me and gave me the jumper cables all packed up. He said since they were travelling together, and each had a set, they would be fine.

A nice and neat set they are too..... even nicer since I gave the cables and the pouch a good clean.

Arrived in Tok well before dinner time, after an uneventful border crossing. As usual my first stop is a visit to the visitor centre, where the lovely lady sold me my 'mosquito hunting licence'. (As it was, I did not need it. There were surprising few mossies.) A visit to the adjoining library got me the password to the wifi, which was very good, even outside. Sat in my van with the computer for hours after the library closed.

At the end of a memorable day, I joined others at the Chevron truck stop across the road from the visitor centre. A great place to park for the night.

(Odo - 147650)

Lifey

[Lifemagician]

It's a long time since I have been able to attend to this thread. For one thing my computer went to where all old, hard working computers go. Not even my trusty tech (glc) could fix it. However, by the time I got to Joplin, a new computer was waiting for me, completely configured to the way I like it with the programs I use most. Now that all the data from the backup disk has been installed on the new computer, I am set for a few more years of trouble free computering.

Meanwhile, not everything goes as planned, to which I think most roadtrippers can attest. In California, on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the death of James Dean, about a mile from the Memorial intersection, I was unfortunate to have an unplanned meeting with another vehicle. Fortunately no one was hurt and my vehicle was still mobile, given that I was going fairly slowly, the damage is purely cosmetic.

I could not communicate with the Japanese folk in the other car, but the officer who attended, commented that the damage supported my description of what happened.

Now on my way back to NC to put the van into storage - damage and all - before I fly home in a little over a week. Guess the rest of the report will have to wait till I get home. Hopefully the photoshare will be functioning by then.

Lifey

[Southwest Dave]

Glad to hear that you were not injured in the crash and that the van is [hopefully] not too badly damaged. Have a safe journey home and I look forward to more trip updates and hopefully some pictures.

Dave.

[DonnaR57]

I, too, am glad that you were not hurt! Regarding the van, if it's only cosmetic, and it's in covered dry storage, it will still be fixable when you return.

Also looking forward to reading the rest of your report!


Donna

[Lifemagician]

and it's in covered dry storage, it will still be fixable when you return.

No way!! It will be out there in the open.... hurricane and all..... just like it has been in the past.

Not sure if I will get it fixed. Maybe wear it as a badge...... of something.

Lifey

[glc]

Here is a pic of Lifey's van, taken this morning.

[Southwest Dave]

A bit more 'cosmetic' than I imagined, but a used fender and grill (?)bolted on from a wrecker and it'll be [almost ] good as new !

[Lifemagician]

.... but a used fender and grill (?)bolted on from a wrecker ....

It shall have to be as it is almost impossible to get a new one.

.... and it'll be [almost ] good as new !

I'd rather it looked like a twenty year old van..... next time I get back.

Meanwhile we have been busy making a few improvements so that things stay more in place during hard braking. That together with the lino on the floor and the led lights.......

She looks really great, all tidy and clean. Am having some pics of the inside taken, as soon as the photographer is free.

Lifey

[glc]

From the front seat looking back:



From the side door: