Day 3: Alaska to Mexico Marathon Rally Adventure
Saying goodbye to the charming Dawson City was bittersweet, but as they say, all good things must come to an end. It was time to pull ourselves away from the alluring Klondike Kate and Flora Dora Hotel. Our next destination: Whitehorse. The Yukon Territory truly lives up to its reputation of being "larger than life." As we journeyed through this massive landmass on the eastern edge of Beringia, the landscape's scale left us in awe. We had two Regularities and well-placed Time Controls to fill this vast canvas.
Our first Regularity kicked off right out of Dawson, along the 'Bear Right' section that wound through abandoned gold mining territory on the Bonanza Creek Road. For over 30 kilometers, we had this picturesque road to ourselves, filled with countless loose corners and breathtaking views. It was an unforgettable journey, up and over the hills and down towards the Stewart River. Unfortunately, Jeff Urbina and Chris Pike's Belair didn't make it far. Its rear axle gave in shortly after the start, and the crew had to arrange to have the car shipped home. They're hoping to rejoin us later with another vehicle.
After the excitement of this once-gilded section, we were back on the highway, speeding toward the Time Control at Stewart Crossing. Fred Gallagher and Sarah Ormerod ensured that the crews were on their way at the right time, and we set off down the Klondike Highway towards the Pelly River and its renowned crossing, before sliding seamlessly into the Frenchman's Lake Regularity.
The Frenchman's Lake Regularity was another gravel section par excellence, stretching for 32 kilometers over mixed terrain. We encountered sandy sections, rocky stretches, and even some smooth, well-graded areas. Thanks to being on the dry side of a mountain range, there were ample traces of dust in the trees as we passed. We were now in bear country, and while sightings had been scarce, the sharp-eyed Anthony and Sonja Verloop managed to capture photographic evidence of their ursine encounter today.
As the day neared its end, the crews had a chance to refresh themselves at the Passage Control at the Carmacks Hotel before the final leg into Whitehorse. But it wasn't all coffee and cakes for everyone. Kilian Kozka and I, Gian Paolo Scorzo, were dealing with a "slow but steady puncture" in our Mercedes all day. By the time we reached Carmacks, we'd had enough of the issue and made arrangements for four new tires by day's end.
In the hotel parking lot, Jack Amies and Andy Inskip were hard at work fitting a new brake pipe to Lee Harman and Winston Conyers' Ford Model A. The original pipe had worn through, losing its fluid some 258 kilometers ago, leaving Lee to nurse the old car into the parking lot for repairs.
Tonight, we find ourselves in Whitehorse, the cosmopolitan capital of Yukon. After a quick freshening up at the Gold Rush Inn, the rally ventured out to explore the city's dozens of restaurants, bars, and street food stalls, all lining the streets alongside the same river we had left behind in the morning.
