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| September 25, 2008. Day 106 - Mile 109 Alaska highway - Fort St. John's |
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| We woke up to an interesting frost formation on the solar car cover and
safety cones called "hore frost", it normally happen when the
temperature is very cold, an ice crystal formation that almost look like
fur. Marcelo and Taro set up the array as far away from the tall trees as possible, Lew and Mark got the usual Yukon style camp fire going. Tea, coffee, oat meal, was our breakfast as usual. Throughout the morning the solar car was moved several times away from the ever changing tall trees shade. While the batteries were charging, Taro practiced playing guitar, Mark and Lew went exploring the surroundings with a camera and film equipment, Marcelo baby set the solar car. In spite of our hidden location from the main highway, the solar car could still be seeing from the logging road. Once in a while someone would stop by to take a look at the solar car. Among the visitors we had was Bruce, who work for the oil and gas industry, he was very excited to see the solar car, on his own words "we should use the finite complex hydrocarbon to make things not burn as fuel". We noticed a yellow gas monitor on his pocket. He explained, it is a life saver in this region, recently 6 people died from a sour gas leak. We shared our bush experience and wild animal encounters. Bruce told us about an encounter he had with a black bear, he used a bear banger (pen size explosive charge used to make a loud noise to scare animals). He fired it in the air in the direction of the bear but the bear was too close to him, it exploded behind the bear instead of between him and the bear, as a result, the scared bear went charging in Bruce's direction and Bruce ran inside his truck, stayed there for a while. We had a good laugh. Just like the previous days, it started it out with a clear sky, it changed to a thin haze, later overcast. We left camp at 13:00 with Taro in the command of the support van. Lew and Mark will be returning home to Whitehorse from Fort. St.John as their time off comes to an end. Except for the lack of sunlight the drive went well. No filming or photos were taken from the support van ahead of the solar car. Lew didn't feel comfortable stopping to film or take photos due to the large volume of oversize load trucks and logging trucks on the road. Besides, we already have a lot of footage. Mark was snoozing for most of the trip. Our arrival in Fort St.John didn't start well. As we drove by the truck scale facility someone from the scale office called the RCMP to inspect the solar car. (no one came to check the solar car the first time we drove by the scale two months ago). Two RCMP vehicles intercepted the solar car as it arrived at the Super 8 hotel, the officer who approached the support vehicle said he had to inspect the solar car. It didn't go well with Marcelo who explained to the officer the solar car had already been inspected, licensed and registered. Mark who is not shy about voicing his option was threatened to be sent to jail, Marcelo was threatened to have his camera confiscated if he filmed the officer. -' If you film me, I will confiscate your camera". said the officer. - "What about my rights to defend myself and document what is happening here" said Marcelo, -"You can get you camera back in an auction" - the office replied... ...Mark went inside the hotel to cool off, Marcelo didn't film. After taking notes and checking the solar car documentation the solar car was free to proceed. No one on the team have issues with law enforcement officers doing their job, we are happy to comply with any requests or demands and have done so every time the solar car got pulled over. In fact,we take the opportunity to educate them about the project. However, making threats of jail and confiscate equipment was a bit too much. After our encounter with the Fort St.John RCMP, the solar car, van and trailer were parked at the Super 8 lot, we didn't set up the array it was too overcast. We had another complimentary stay at Super 8. Bruce Lantz from Northeast News heard about the arrival of the solar car in town and came by for an interview. The two comedians Mark and Lew got behind the camera to record another "schtic". XOF1 was placed inside the trailer for the night, a task everyone avoid at all costs but at least it is protected that way. To celebrate Mark and Lew's last day with the project we all went out for dinner. At the restaurant, as usual Mark asked for Yukon beer, no where to be found, he settled for another import. Lew ordered baked potato and made his own mash potato with sour cream, a la chef Lew, really! We had a wonderful time talking about our experiences together for the past two weeks, it has been a privilege to enjoy and share the project with some amazing people. There has been so much going on all the time, from Lew trying to catch Marcelo on film dashing to the nearest bush after a long drive, Mark and Lew's "schtick", meeting Taro on the side of the road, etc... it has been a great positive experience to all of us. |
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