Maquipucuna

The taxi shuttle from Quito to the Maquipucuna Cloud Forest Reserve & Ecolodge is a little more than 2 hours, but as the crow flies it's only a 35 km distance. Very slow traffic at times to escape the central part of the city, followed by several long, slow ascents and finally multiple drives and switchbacks around the base of mountains and through a couple of small villages. All the while our driver dealt with passenger buses, slow-moving trucks hauling an assortment of aggregates and aggressive drivers passing on blind, steep curves ... but visibility was mostly clear and it was all very exciting! 

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Maquipucuna is a 6,000 hectare (14,820 acre) cloud forest reserve in Ecuador. Located in the Pichincha Province, it is the closest pristine rainforest to Quito, Ecuador's capital. The reserve consists of primary and secondary montane rain forest and cloud forest.

Quito

We moved into a 'mostly' finished new home in late March of this year. We only had enough time to unpack some boxes, settle in somewhat and then prepare for a 3 month road trip that would take us as far north as Tuktoyaktuk on Canada's Arctic coast. When we returned in late September, much of the home's unfinished exterior work, (that was the developer's responsibility), had been completed. We spent most of the following 3 months finishing some landscaping and decking, in addition to minor improvements and detailing of the home's interior. 

So now, we're eager for a new adventure!  

Let's begin this one at ... 

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' The Second Highest Capital City in the World '

Neighbours shuttled us 30 kilometres to our nearest bus station. From there, we travelled to Toronto, spent the night and the next morning boarded a flight to Panama City, PANAMA then to Quito, ECUADOR.

The aircraft approach, (close to an hour of descent) through the Andes Mountains and the landing at Aeropuerto Internacional de Quito is quite spectacular. We were fortunate to fly on a day with quite clear visibility. If you look closely you can see a portion of the landing strip in the upper left section of the photo. (The following 3 stock photos are much better than any I took from the plane's window)

BACKYARD 10.19.18 ... "Cooking In 'The County' - Part 3"

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Part 7 in the Series, Exploring Our Backyard

... a Five Course Tasting Workshop ...

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Last spring I was very fortunate to attend a 'Pasta 101' Class  with  Angelo Bean, Artisan sausage maker and Italian Cooking Studio.   I enjoyed the class and time with Angelo so much that I knew I would return. I convinced Crusty it would be a good idea to attend Angelo's Five Course Tasking Workshop.  We would do a bit of cooking, some wine tasting and lots of eating!  Do yourself a 'flavour favour' and attend this workshop ... wear 'stretchy' pants and cancel any dinner reservations!

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TRAVEL SNAPSHOT: 92 Days In 2018

We began the year with our annual SCUBA and snorkeling trip to Cozumel, MEXICO in March; only one week though ... it overlapped too closely with our move into a new townhouse condominium. In late June we left on what became, an 82 day road trip westerly across CANADA and as far north as Tuktoyaktuk NT on the Arctic Ocean. LOAF has now visited all three Canadian ocean coasts. That trip included two major adventures; a canoe trip on the Teslin and Yukon Rivers and an overland drive on the Dempster Highway in Yukon Territory (YT) and Northwest Territories (NT) and also on the new Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway NT. 

We returned home mid-September; later in the month we'll attend a Canadian Truck Camper Owners rally at a campground near our home in Wellington. In October sometime, we'll join the rest of our Teslin and Yukon Rivers paddling group for a debrief and get-together. 

What's Next? ... ECUADOR early 2019, then MEXICO, then Atlantic CANADA ... stay tuned! 

The map below is interactive. To view our route in detail you will need to begin by clicking on [  ] (top right corner) for full screen. Use the hand to pan and +/- to zoom and reduce, as needed. 

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"Long Ago Peoples Place" - A Yukon MUST STOP Along the ALCAN (Alaska) Highway

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' Journeymakers  are those people who elevate your travel experience with the passion and enthusiasm for the place they call home and for the interest and kindness they give you, the traveller. '

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In 2000 we made a stop at "Long Ago Peoples Place" during our van shuttle to the Tatshenshini/Alsek River(s) put-in for a rafting trip. We enjoyed that visit so much we decided it was time to return there and see what had changed.  ... the answer was lots had! 

We met Harold Johnson there ... Harold is a Journeymaker!

Called Kwäday Dän Kenji in Southern Tutchone; the Long Ago Peoples Place is an outdoor museum of traditional Southern Tutchone culture located outside of Whitehorse, near the community of Champagne. 

Harold calls this special place ... 'His Vision'. He grew up in the bush here, near Champagne; his peoples Crow and Wolf Clans claim this land. We spent over two hours with him and listened to his stories handed down from 'The Elders'. He described how ancient shelters were built, how tools were created, how animals and fish were trapped/caught and smoked, how his people lived.

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Hunting   Trapping   Fishing

Harold demonstrates how an Atlatl (or throwing stick) is used to throw an arrow.

Driving to the Arctic Ocean

This is our eighth drive on the DEMPSTER Highway 

It will be our first drive on the new INUVIK to TUKTOYAKTUK Highway

Engineers Creek

Helen's parents first introduced us to the Dempster Highway on a road trip in 1988. We were enamored with the landscape and remoteness of the region then and we still are today ... thanks Mae and Earl!  

SS Klondike National Historic Site of Canada

We paddled past the remains of the Klondike I on our recent Teslin / Yukon Rivers canoe trip. 

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Even at very low water there is not much to see. In 2012 when we paddled by the hull was completely submerged. 

Klondike I, August 02, 2018

Klondike I was built in 1929 and had the distinction of having 50% more capacity than a regular stern-wheeler, while still having the shallow draft and meeting the size requirements in order to travel down the Yukon River. Klondike I had a cargo capacity of 270 metric tonnes without having to push a barge.




Klondike I ran aground in June 1936 in 'The Thirty Mile' section of the Yukon River (at 61.6713°N 134.8728°W). The British-Yukon Navigation Company (a subsidiary of the White Pass and Yukon Route railway company) salvaged much of the ship and cannibalized the wreckage to build Klondike II the following year.

Canoeing the Teslin and Yukon Rivers YT CANADA

With    Team    FOUR    DEGREES

The Final PADDLERS Briefing
Clockwise: Katherine  Boyd  Peggy  Tom  Dann Helen  DM  Bryan (Photo: Waitress)

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Post Updated: August 11, 2019
Click on the links for additional detail
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Some Northern Demographics

Over a 30 year period we have driven nearly every roadway in the 

Yukon and Northwest Territories and Alaska. 

All three jurisdictions are large but for most travelers much of each is only reachable by road. I realize there are other ways to reach the back-country. In the past, we have completed paddling, hiking and backpacking trips into the Canadian Territories.

This post is an observation on road tripping!

Stock photo

Dawson City, Yukon Territory

A   Walking   Tour   of   Dawson   City

We were last here in 2012 ... 

... join us as we revisit the streets, the scenes and recall some of the history.

Click on the links for more information.

 

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Parks Canada is investing an unprecedented $3 billion dollars over 5 years to support infrastructure work to heritage, visitor, waterway and highway assets located within national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas across Canada. These investments represent the largest federal infrastructure plan in the history of Parks Canada. 

Currently, Dawson City is benefiting from those monies. Roadways and infrastructure are being improved and modernized and a number of the historic sites located in town are under significant renovation. Unfortunately, during our walking tour, entry to some of those sites were closed to the public.

Under the guidance of Parks Canada, town administration has made a conscious effort to retain as much of Dawson's' pioneer spirit as possible. Front Street (that runs through town) is paved, however all other streets are unpaved and feature wooden boardwalks instead of sidewalks. The architecture of buildings and the materials used are very much in keeping with the authenticity of this Canadian Klondike Gold Rush Town. 

Design Guidelines for Historic Dawson City

" ... in order to achieve a sensitive re-creation of the character of early Dawson City in at least a visual sense, an awareness of the historic design features is essential. Although alterations to existing buildings and new buildings for modern uses are necessary, the traditional building forms and materials must be respected. Also such characteristic principles as proportion, symmetry, and design elements must be maintained. "

Front Street

A THIRTIETH Anniversary Road Trip on the Alcan (Alaska) Highway

On The ALCAN Highway

Section: Dawson Creek BC to Whitehorse YT, CANADA

BASECAMP 06.21.18 ... " Planning for Up North 2018 "

           I thought it might be interesting to document planning for this adventure. 

The process began in October 2017; approximately 9 months prior to our departure from Ontario, in July 2018 ...

" What is the effort required to plan for ... a 3 month trip that entails driving about 7,000 kilometres (one way) across much of Canada, involving 4 couples, using different methods, routes and schedules to rendez-vous in Whitehorse YT? All are travelling west from southern Ontario to as far north as Tuktoyaktuk on the Beaufort Sea in NWT. The trip includes a couple of different activities in fairly remote landscapes, each of those requiring as much as a 2 - 3 week commitment. "

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For this adventure, our group has chosen the name ... 

TEAM     FOUR     DEGREES

So, by way of introduction and in no particular order, WE Are ...

Katherine and Boyd - Hiking: August 2016, Salmon Glacier BC CANADA

The ALCAN Highway

For all those folks travelling to northern North America this season. 

You can't get to Alaska, USA without travelling through Canada first ... unless you fly or ferry the Inside Passage from British Columbia to Alaska.

I've noted recently, in a number of social media groups that I am a member of, that ... there seems to be some confusion surrounding the history, of the building of the ALCAN Highway.

For all you history buffs and to provide travel clarification, here's some information ...

In Canada, many oldtimers and locals still refer to this highway as the ALCAN, not the Alaska Highway.

Currently, the ALCAN (Alaska Highway) runs 2232 km (1387 mi) from it's beginning at ... Mile 0 Dawson Creek, British Columbia, CANADA to it's ending at Delta Junction, Alaska, USA.

START

BACKYARD 06.09.18 ... "Cooking In 'The County'- Part 2"

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Part 6 in the Series, Exploring Our Backyard

... learning to make pasta a mano (by hand) ...

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While trying to explore some of the many things that our new stomping ground (aka 'The County') has to offer (and also to stay out of Crusty's hair), I came across Angelo Bean, Artisan sausage maker and Italian Cooking Studio.  A quick search of his website  found his 'Pasta 101' class, an introduction on how to make pasta a mano (by hand) using the old Italian techniques. I quickly signed up for the class and was certainly glad I did.

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BACKYARD 05.21.18 ... " Cooking in 'The County' " - Part 1

Part 5 in the Series, Exploring Our Backyard

... learning to cook Thai ...

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The County

After a 6 month delay we finally managed to move in to our new 'villa' (aka townhome) in March.  Our new home is located in Prince Edward County (fondly known as simply 'The County').  The County is known for its' vineyards, craft breweries, art galleries, restaurants, boutique shops, orchards, artisan cheese, quaint Inns and also for a couple of cooking schools.

After spending several weeks unpacking, cleaning and getting settled, I decided it might be time to explore part of what The County has to offer.  I did some research and decided to enroll in a couple of cooking classes.

From The Farm Cooking School

Swimmin' With The Fishies!

We weren't sure if we'd even get away!

We had intended on being away for the whole winter once again, but (as was the case, with our winter of 2015 plans) ... things got overly complicated!

A townhouse we are having built has been delayed by about 7 months now. We should have been moved in by August of 2017; unfortunately, we're now looking at mid-March 2018. We had also hoped to be away for 2-3 weeks but, now we're down to only one. We'll be joined by Heather & Randy but, unfortunately will miss our American friends Janet & Andy who will be there ' just a few days after us ' and Mark and Reese whom it seems, we will now ' miss by just a few weeks ' ... SIGH!

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This first view is from our our rental apartments' deck in Bath ON ... it was easy to leave! 

A 3 hour drive to Toronto, then a 4 hour flight, almost due south to Cozumel MEXICO and the next view ... it will NOT be easy to leave! 

BACKYARD 11.24.17 ... " A Re-purposed Distillery "

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Part 4 in the Series, Exploring Our Backyard

... a new brewpub opens ...

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Getting There

Open the map as [Full Screen], from the left-sided list choose a Numbered Location and click, zoom in/out.

Upgrading LOAF's Rear Suspension

' Technical posts, like this one, usually only get published on our other website / blog MEET LOAF. However,  this time I felt it was appropriate to also publish it here. There is a constant process of repair, modification and upgrade required to keep rigs, like our truck camper, safely conditioned for extensive adventure travel. 

We have travelled over 70,000 kms in 4 years, with this current set-up. 

This is our most recent upgrade ... it's just one example, but it places the continuous maintenance that is required, in perspective. '

Post follows ...

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Supersprings model ss13, were installed in June 2014, in an attempt to strengthen LOAF's rear suspension. After driving an additional 50,000 kms, we noticed they 'appeared to have lost their effectiveness' and we weren't sure why?

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Contributing technical author for this post, Shane Hanthorn, has been LOAF's passionate, lead mechanic since June of 2015.

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TRAVEL SNAPSHOT: 183 Days in 2016 / 2017

The travel statistics for this period begin in mid-December 2016 with an ' Around the World Trip. ' We visited 3 new continents and 6 new countries in almost 15 weeks. All that tired us out somewhat ... we returned home, took care of some adult-type responsibilities and then found time to embark on a few day trips exploring our own backyard. Once we were rested up even more, we tackled a couple of shorter adventures.

The maps below are interactive. To view our routes in detail you will need to begin by clicking on [  ] (top right corner) for full screen. Use the 'hand' to pan and +/- to zoom and reduce, as needed. The first map displays our Around the World trip, the second tracks a couple of adventures around Ontario, New Brunswick and PEI, for the remainder of 2017. 

If you've been following our most recent BASECAMP posts you'll understand why we've launched a new Series, Exploring Our Backyard. You'll also know why we were only able to road trip around our home province until early August, before escaping to Eastern Canada for a few weeks.

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FIRST CTCO Rally: Ontario Chapter

First Rally of  the Canadian Truck Camper Owners Facebook Group

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A suggestion by Gilles prompted the get-together, Helen advertised and organized the event, Marie & Steve gathered us all for a session of t-shirt tie-dying, Cecile organized use of the Legion's horseshoe pits, Nancy & Jim brought in a tailgate of firewood and Everyone provided good fellowship and entertaining conversation. 

We camped at the Lions Club CG located downtown; along the banks of the historic Rideau Canal. Merrickville is a pretty tourist town and is known for its' cafes, art scene and music concerts. There are several nearby historic sites within easy walking distance from the campground.

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Attendees

Christa & Stefan Garber, Kelly & Bob Paquette, Nancy Shepheard & Jim Bell, Cecile Cousineau-Forget & Luc Forget, Andra & Brian Wintonic, Cathie & Jeff Loos, Lydia & Gilles R Cote, Marie Misiura-Holm & Steve Holm, Martine Chagnon-Buda & Colin Buda, Peggy Belanger & Tom O'Kane, Gordon Baker & Lianne, Helen & Dann O'Kane. 

Missing
Unfortunately Peter Ovesny broke his foot. He and Lisa Stanton Ovesny were booked in but cancelled and stayed home; she played nurse.

Most members live nearby; Marie and Steve were already on the road travelling but they were the furthest away in Niagara Falls. Christa and Stefan are from Alberta (and Germany) but the timing worked for a scheduled visit with their Toronto-based children. 

The Tally
23 members, 1 guest, 3 dogs, 7 truck campers, 1 travel trailer, 1 class c, 3 cars