Shocking Numbers

In speaking with the Regional Tourism Officer in Inuvik yesterday, she told me that 100 bicyclists traveled the Dempster Highway last year. Can you believe that? That's amazing!

I want to be there right now...it's just waiting for me, not only the trip but reconnecting with some amazing friends. We're all set though, just a matter of saving money now.

Day 1 - Depart from Whitehorse to Dawson City
Days 2-4 -  Dempster Driven, hiking the Tombstones and avoiding bears
Day 5 - Lesley and Karen fly back to Whitehorse from Inuvik :(
Day 6 - Maybe Tuk, or Herschel Island?
Day 7 - 9 - Dempster and Top of the World Highways...semi tight timeline, but we should be ok.
Day 10 or 11 - Flight back to Yellowknife from Whitehorse

Top of the World

Yesterday I (Samantha) received a notification on Facebook...

"OK girls, can we do this route on the way back from Inuvik??" followed by a link to Travel Yukon...
http://www.travelyukon.com/things-do/scenic-drives/klondike-kluane-loop 

Trudy - "Google "top of the world" and you'll be blown away when you see the vistas! Taking this route from Dawson, into Alaska and through Haines Junction would add less than 500 km to our trip.... :)" 


So, I googled, "top of the world highway". The first image to pop up? 

STUNNING!

Trudy must be excited because I had four more notifications on Facebook today to back up the reasoning to tack on this loop:

• Trudy - Just an alternate route back to Whitehorse. It's quite spectacular and wouldn't take much extra time. I've been over to Destruction Bay and as far north on that route to Burwash. The Top of the World highway has been on my list...Whadda ya think??
  

  19 hours ago ·
• Trudy - It's an extra 400 kms if we do the Top of the World highway!
  

  19 hours ago ·
• Janet Watch the road on the top of the world, we did it and the pot holes could hide a car and the wash outs were bad, we were the first car thru in the spring in early May, but it was worth it have a good time
  

  7 hours ago ·
• Trudy - Last August that road washed out and people were forced to turn around....A friend of mine owns an RV park in Destruction BAy and he filled up with people pretty quick! It should be in good shape come August!

Now, with the above comments and from what I've heard, this highway can get a bit washed out at certain times of the year.

I say we GO FOR IT, pending weather and road conditions! I think we'll have enough time from Inuvik to Alaska back to Whitehorse in three days...would this sacrifice Herschel Island? Do we extend the RV rental a day? The open road sure is calling...

The Heat is On!

Photo Courtesy of J.Vallillee/Facebook

Well, I think we can safely say that we're now free from winter! Today's temperature was over 25C in Yellowknife, NT.

That being said, I'm now looking forward to the middle of summer to start this trip on the Dempster.  The RV is rented, vacation is booked, money is being put away (or at least the credit card is being paid down).

I found this great video on You Tube of a couple's trip on the Dempster, which gets me excited. I love the song they picked!

Shuffle the Deck

Well, the Dempster Highway trip is just over 3 months away now and I am beyond excited, as you've probably already guessed.

So, I've been thinking of putting together a checklist of things I need to bring, fun activities we could do along the way and bear safety! Two of the items that top my list to bring are a deck of cards and a great mix of tunes. I'll have to check the RV specs, but I am pretty sure we'll at least be equipped with a CD player, which means "Roadtrip Mix CDs" are to be made.

Personally, I LOVE 80s tunes! When I think about a group of girls getting together 80s music always pops into my head. The Dempster Highway brings out the sing a long country girl in me too. Either way singing along is a must!

http://www.80smusicvids.com/ 

Ok, there are already too many exclamation marks in this posting, so here's what I have so far...

Anything ABBA
Everybody wants to rule the world - Tears for Fears
Black Velvet - Alannah Myles
Take on Me - A-ha
Forever Young - Alphaville
Old Time Rock and Roll - Bob Seger
Anything Bob Marley
Mony Mony - Billy Joel
Anything Old by Bon Jovi

Ok, this is going to be a really long list..and I'm already rocking out, so I have to go dance around.

What's on your list?