We ended much like we began, asking for water. By the time we reached Whitehorse city limits, our water supply was completely depleted and we still had another 28 km to go. Google maps took us the scenic route to get to our vehicle, which was parked at Glenn and Kathy’s here in Whitehorse. The route was gorgeous, but long! Almost three hours later, when we arrived at our destination, we were very parched.
This ending, while uncomfortable, felt fitting in regard to the purpose of this trip. We’ve been raising money for Mennonite Central Committees water projects around the world, and we have felt firsthand the importance of water and the challenges that accompany not having easy access to it. Our deepest appreciation goes out to those that have already supported our efforts (we’ve surpassed our goal!) but every little bit helps and it’s not too late to add your own contribution: https://mcc.org/get-involved/giving/community-fundraisers/cycling-north-60
Squanga Lake was our home last night, and its namesake provided a picturesque companion. Our campsite was lovely—private, conveniently located near the necessities (bear proof food storage, garbage (and recycling!) cans and the bathroom), and directly on the lake. Getting up, even if it was at 6 am, was worth it for the view! The one downside to this lovely spot was that it did not have any potable water supply. Our only option was to retrieve water from the lake and then boil it for drinking. (This was the cause of our lack of water later in the day.)
The day was relatively uneventful.
Heat, sun, mountains, trees. A cool breeze (that turned into a warm breeze and we had to fight the whole way), but less bugs and clear skies.
Just 40 km from our trusty Honda CRV, another spoke broke on Gerald’s bicycle. Erring on the side of caution, Gerald decided to keep going, but slowly. The rest of us had to adjust our speeds accordingly (so we could keep an eye on one another) and we all took extra time to breathe as our pace slowed down.
Our vehicle had been dropped off at the home of Glenn and Kathy by Ray over a week ago. As we climbed yet another hill, expressing desire to drink from a lawn sprinkler on the way, we encouraged one another and were grateful to view our Jets licence plate. Glenn and Kathy gifted us with water (the greatest blessing!) and, through our exhaustion, we unpacked our bikes while Gerald joked about not being able to drive over 20km/hour.
Upon a recommendation from our vehicle’s guardians, we headed to Klondike Rib & Salmon for a celebratory supper. The rustic setting did not disappoint, and we surprised one another by polishing off our plates. Cycling 117 kms creates quite the appetite!
Just across the street from the restaurant was a hotel. Since we hadn’t reserved anything for this night (being one day ahead of schedule), Gerald walked in and asked if they had a room. To avoid further searching, and because we wanted to reward ourselves, the price was agreed upon, breakfast vouchers were given and we proceeded to make multiple trips to and from the vehicle. First we brought our bags packed for the non-biking portion of our travels, then came the bikes, and, finally, we went back for all the items we had in our biking bags that we still needed.
Showering was a satisfying experience. With the dirt and grim of the last couple days stripped away, we could climb into bed feeling refreshed and accomplished.
Despite the challenges of this journey (broken spokes, isolation, lack of water, cold and rain) we have much to be grateful for. We arrived in Whitehorse safely (our daily prayer!) and we didn’t have any other tire issues!
On the road we had waved to vehicles and motorists and received waves, thumbs ups, peace signs and even a “rock-on” gesture in return. On a few occasions, passengers eagerly waved to us first and we found a certain solidarity with motorists.
We’re grateful that we never had any dangerous encounters with wildlife (even though we saw quite a bit!) and got to enjoy the beauty that is Canada’s North.
Some new skills were developed—distinguishing a bear from a raven (Yukon’s national bird and a prominent fixture in the bushes on the side of the road could invoke fear from a distance because of their black shape and rustling) and finding the perfect road-side bathroom. With time, we became less afraid of mooning passing vehicles…
Food always tastes incredible after you’ve worked for it, and we’re grateful that we not only had the sustenance we needed, but were also able to taste goodies, such as award winning cinnamon rolls, that according to folks we met on our second day of cycling that asked us where we were “paddling,” locals drive over 45 minutes just to enjoy.
Our goal for this adventure (as indicated on our fundraising page) was to cycle 1,111 km from Fort Liard, NWT to Whitehorse, Yukon. Having arrived at our destination, but still being 7 kms under our goal, Amelia will pedal the remaining distance on Thursday, so we can officially say we completed what we set out to do.
The memories from this trip will stay with us forever. As will the lessons we’ve learned—don’t ever let fear get in your way of a new experience, and always have an extra supply of water!
Thank you for joining us for the journey!
*Thank you as well to those who answered the riddle! The correct answer is 4 ducks (in a square). Cheryl and Amelia got it. 😉
Adventures on a bicycle 