August 03, 2008. Day 53 - Eagle Plains - It's raining a lot!

Last night a light drizzle started early in the evening but it stopped and one of the most beautiful sunset we have seem charmed and colored the sky. Was like if the sky was on fire, beautiful red, orange burning clouds. We are less than 40km from the Arctic circle, still under the spell of the midnight sun. The beautiful sunset was short lived, the sky darkened and rain descend on Eagle Plains, early in the morning the became torrential with very strong winds, blowing the solar car cover away. Marcelo ventured into the rain to cover over the solar car, the cover had to be strapped down with ropes. The forecast calls for more rain. So, we'll stay in Eagle Plains today. Finally by late morning we had a break from the rain. At about 11ish the rain stopped. We uncovered the solar car to show it to guests staying the the Eagle Plains Lodge and other passerbys including the local MP for the region. Ahead of us are the worst sections of the Dempster Highway with the most damage (potholes, rocks, mud, arrow head rocks, etc...) and the biggest hills (the 7 mile hill and others). As a result we may end waiting for the road to dry a bit before venturing on it. On the way to Inuvik, the solar car almost didn't make it on some muddy spots. to give an idea of how bad it can get, even some motorcycles turned around a few days before we got on the Dempster. Not much of solar radiation coming through the clouds but enough to brighten things a little. By noon the solar array was generating ~250watts. Occasionally, there was a gap in the sky and the sun quickly make an appearance for a few seconds here and there, generating as much as 950 watts for a couple of minutes but eventually the sky darkened again an remained overcast. More later...