Tues, Wed Aug 28, 29 Turn around time
I'm trying to write this as we bounce and slide along a very bad stretch. We're heading south, disappointed, but realistic.
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| Start of the day! |
Yesterday we advanced north as the highway and weather deteriorated. There were a few cars off the road - not surprising considering the conditions. These roads are built on permafrost and gravel is laid 6 to 10 feet deep to keep the roadbed from melting underneath. The narrow shoulders are soft gravel, sloping acutely down into the muskeg. Normally you drive down the centre of the road, picking the best route through the potholes, but there is no room for error when passing someone.
We were feeling somewhat apprehensive about conditions even before the flat tire, but that was the deciding factor. We limped into Eagle Plains (km 369) on our old spare, crossing our fingers all the way. At least here we could get the tire repaired, fill up with diesel, and spend the night. It's not the Hilton, but at this point a muddy yard and an electrical outlet seemed like luxury.
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| A flat tire is a complex problem with a camper on the truck. An hour of hard work. |
We chatted with the other campers. Those with completely blackened muddy exteriors had been further north and all agreed the road was much worse ahead. Two couples had made it to Tuk, but had hair raising stories about driving off the Peel River ferry through 2 foot deep rushing water. (These ferries land on shifting gravel shores, pushed into place daily or hourly by a bulldozer. When the river is high the gravel can be washed away and the shoreline very eroded.)
Today the Peel is still closed. The forecast, which clearly changes hourly, is for continuous rain further north, turning to snow Thursday and Friday. The decision is easy. We only hope for no more flat tires on the way back to Tombstone.
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