A journey to fill my soul

I’ve had my eye on the weather at my northern destination and it hasn’t been looking good for next week. I had planned to meander about for a few days on the Dempster highway making my way to the final stretch sometime next week. I don’t think so….My hopes are to land a campsite on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, but if the temp is in the 30’s with rain and snow forecast I feel like plan B would work best.

So, up at 4:30, eat some breakfast and hit the trail. Like literally, the trail. I put 335 miles on today over 9 1/2 hours on the most unforgiving road I’ve ever seen. I love to drive, set back, take in the views….That’s like heaven to me. Nope, your eyes are fixed 20-30 feet in front of the vehicle with your right foot ready to grab the brakes, sometimes hard lest you send the truck and everything in the camper to the sky.

But the views…Just a peak maybe?

Words can’t describe how truly beautiful this place is. On the lower section you’re driving between mountain ranges straddling the Ogilvie River.

Up into the peaks and tundra

After a few hours following the river from down low, and then up high, you find yourself moving into what’s called Eagle Plains. Move a couple more hours and you’re at the Arctic Circle.

Oh the beauty at this elevation and latitude.

You’re on your way down…

From this peak you’re headed down in elevation towards the Peel River, but first you need to enter the Northwest Territories.

Thank goodness for the Northwest Territories!

Road rage conditions just took a drastic turn, like night and day. I’m still driving gravel but the roads are wide and groomed well. Speeds up to 55 mph are even possible. The views up in this area are even more breathtaking than in the Yukon.

I’m not sure what these white flowers are, I’m too tired to look so that’s on you, but the white fields go on forever.

The stone walls found through this higher section are so beautiful I had to stop for a shot…

Believe it or not, this is my first sighting of an animal. Some sort of fox who didn’t have a care in the world as he trotted in front of me. Wish the image was a bit tighter but we take what’s given…

Water crossing…

I get a free ride across the Peel River via ferry. On the other side is Fort McPherson but first I stop for the night at the Nitainlaii Territory Park for a night down. The local gent manning the camp check-in was extremely personal. We chatted for probably 20 minutes, I was tired but he invited me to the locals fish boil down river. He offered to run me down in his boat as long as I didn’t mind the fish boiled in onions. I passed, but on another day I may have taken him up on it, he was such a nice guy.

Time to shut down for the night. BTW… The gent said I need to stop in at Fort McPherson in the morning for gas and coffee cause when you go further north it’s just a feast on tourist and the price goes up. Hard to believe it could get worse, in Eagle Plains, Yukon I paid $9.02 per gallon….sheesh…life on the road.

As always, thank you for your time, I appreciate the likes. Tomorrow I’ll be in Tuktoyaktuk hopefully for a long weekend, and no snow. All my best…Peace.