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| September 23, 2008. Day 104 - Fort Nelson, BC - Mile 183 Alaska highway |
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| Early in the morning, Taro and Marcelo went to pick-up the solar car at
the yard next door to the hotel and bring it to Super 8 parking lot to
charge the batteries but seeing a few drops of rain and the heavily overcast
decided to wait and join Mark and Lew already endulging on Super 8 complimentary
breakfast. We have been enjoying the great our doors camping experience
but it was nice to take a break, shower, wake up in a warm room, not to
have to make a fire and cook breakfast. By the time we were done having breakfast the rain ceassed, the weather slowly started to clear. Taro and Marcelo brought the solar car over, set the solar array up, by 09:00 the sun was shining, by 10:30 bright sun and clear sky. Mark and Lew took care of the van (gas, oil, etc...) and groceries. Taro stayed by the solar car while Marcelo was running errands. The comedians Mark and Lew recorded their first "schtick" for the solar car documentary. Since no one have seeing the footage yet we don't know if it will make the cut. So we can't tell much about it but probably it has something to do with the Yukon. For someone who were not born in the Yukon (Mark was born in South Africa, Lew in Ontario) they are Yukon's ambassadors, every 10th word Mark says is "I am a Yukoner", Lew may be talking about "Miss Piggy" (his camera tripod). Just after noon, we were "on the road again!". A quick stop by a gas station on the side of the road to answer Lew's nature call, quickly turned into snack/lunch break. A few locals came by to take a look at the solar car, including two RCMP officers who were driving by, we took photos, talked about the project. It didn't take long for the weather to change again on us, clouds came back and eventually the thick overcast. The batteries near empty again we found a suitable location for the night. Didn't set up the array. Knowing the drill, we all went looking for fire wood, got the fire going. Lew and Taro got busy preparing a great meal. Ginger chicken with carrots, potatoes broccoli a la Chef Lew and Taro, it was a fantastic gourmet meal. Knowing we are in bear territory we made sure not leave any food smell lingering, any left over food was burned while fire was still going. As it darkened the sky cleared to unveiled and incredible sky full of starts and a noticeable Milky Way. We stay by the fire until late, not much else to do, no cell phone coverage and no internet. Taro played guitar, Marcelo stared at the sky with Lew spotting satellites going by, they saw a shooting star (did anybody make a wish?), Mark reading a book using a head lamp. The dark inspired them to tell ghost stories. Both Mark and Lew experienced a ghost encounter in Dawson City. Mark at the Westminster Hotel and Lew saw something by the window of an old house. Boooooohh!!!! While that sharing stories we could hear coyotes or wolfs hauling on the forest behind us :( It was a very cold night. Special Thanks to Super 8 for a super stay! |
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