Day 4: Alaska to Mexico Marathon Rally Adventure
Day 4: Alaska to Mexico Rally 2023 - Whitehorse to Watson Lake: Desert Adventures and Test Challenges!"
It was another crisp morning in Whitehorse, with the temperature hovering around 5°C under clear skies. As we geared up for another day of the Alaska to Mexico Rally, the excitement was palpable. Two Regularities, a Test, and miles of the stunning Alaska Highway lay ahead.
Our day started just 8 kilometers from Whitehorse, at Andy Inskip's MTC in the hotel lobby, precisely at 7:30 AM. The Wilderness City held the promise of exciting adventures.
One team, Nick and Serita Sleep, had an earlier start. They had faced an unexpected challenge when one of their Mercedes' shock absorbers broke loose a day earlier, requiring rear suspension mounts to be reassembled. This setback would delay them significantly, but their determination was unwavering.
The first Regularity, named "Where the Fox At," was initially all gravel during Fred and Sarah's recce. However, the relentless march of progress meant that by the time we got there, almost half of it had been paved. Nevertheless, it was an excellent way to ease into the day, leading us onto the highway and in the right direction for the Carcross Desert Passage Control.
The Carcross Desert, while not a real desert, provided a surreal Dakar-like experience with its series of dunes. The morning was filled with excitement as we navigated this unique terrain.
Our second Regularity, intriguingly named "The First Resort," turned out to be the star attraction of the day. It took us deep into ancient woodland along a narrow track that was barely wide enough for Jim Gately's Cadillac. The 4-kilometer stretch was riddled with ruts, boulders, and roots. Dust from previous cars hung in the air like a veil, adding to the adventure. Navigating wasn't the challenge; it was maintaining the correct average speed that kept us on our toes.
The mid-morning Time Control at the Southern Lakes Resort offered a welcome oasis of calm after the dusty morning. We gathered on the terrace overlooking the beautiful Lake Tagish, sharing stories and enjoying a light buffet. Local critters scurried about, hoping for stray crumbs to enjoy.
Our journey continued as we aimed to reach lunch, 145 kilometers further down the road at the Yukon Motel on the shores of Lake Teslin. The cars were refueled, and we were refueled with hearty beef stew and cornbread to keep us going.
A mere 35 kilometers away, the Morley's Test was ready to challenge us. Jim Smith and Dr. John Llewellyn sent us into the fray, while Iain Tullie and Chris Mills manned the cones and stopped the clocks. Unfortunately, Tim Eades and Jim McLaren's Ford Escort didn't make it this far, grinding to a halt shortly after lunch. They needed a new gearbox, and both car and crew returned to Whitehorse for repairs.
Watson Lake welcomed us with a delightful dinner. As we shared stories of the day's adventures, one tale stood out: Nick and Serita Sleep's remarkable journey to have suspension mounting brackets machined for their Mercedes, ensuring they could continue their rally all the way to Cabo and beyond.
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.
