Day 9: Alaska to Mexico Marathon Rally Adventure
Day 9: Alaska to Mexico Rally 2023 - From Sleepy Towns to Challenging Trails"
Prince George greeted us as a sleepy town at 7.30 in the morning. The deserted streets seemed to whisper of the adventures that awaited us in the day's road book. Little did we know that it would unfold into another classic day of endurance rallying.
Our journey started with a short run along the tarmac highway before turning onto an astonishing 100 kilometers of well-maintained gravel road. The Cleswuncut Lake Regularity was nestled in the heart of this terrain. The weather was cool and damp, and dust was the least of our concerns. It was an excellent way to get the crews warmed up, though they had to keep a watchful eye out for the occasional elk crossing our path.
Our next destination was the Passage Control in Quesnel, where we were joined by Ron, the Mayor, and a couple of Mounties donning their iconic Red Serge uniforms. This historic town, nestled between the Fraser and Quesnel rivers, boasted the world's largest gold pan, a nod to its gold rush heritage. Although panning for gold with a shovel remains legal in British Columbia, we had no time to stake a claim. Instead, we made our way to the Cariboo Raceway Park, where we tackled a couple of 'three-dimensional' Tests. The Porsche of Tobias and Silvia Koenig and the Mercedes of Andreas Honegger and Peter Kruse navigated the turns with style.
Afterward, we relished coffee and cakes, which were as welcome as the impressive circuit. Everyone left with a grin on their face and a deeper appreciation for vehicle dynamics. Following our time on the track, we hit the highway en route to the Time Control at the Fox Mountain Brewing Co in Williams Lake. Here, a satisfying lunch awaited us, accompanied by views overlooking the valley.
The highlight of the day arrived with the Edmund Lake Regularity. It guided us through nearly 20 kilometers of dense woodland, along a track that presented a delightful mix of broken, dry, dusty, and muddy terrain. Unlike the morning's Regularity, this one had plenty of opportunities for navigators to get creative with wrong turns, blind alleys, and dead ends. The pressure was on for the drivers to maintain the average speed, ensuring a fun-filled afternoon for all.
The calm of the Cariboo Lake Passage Control was a welcome sight. Over coffee and cake, crews engaged in some constructive post-match analysis. Meanwhile, Jim Gately and Tony Brooks dealt with a leaky radiator.
Our journey to Kamloops was an easy run down the Cariboo highway, through the Desert Hills, reminiscent of a Mexican landscape. The Sandman Signature Hotel in Kamloops promised us a night of pampered luxury and fine dining, providing the perfect end to another day of thrilling adventure on the Alaska to Mexico Rally.
