The Adventure South in Dora the Explorer

 Day 4

There is absolutely nothing open in Haines Junction – only the To Go Gas Station where we camped last night. Anne is already in trouble having slipped under the bed, crawling to the back and how she did I don’t know, snagged a half-eaten can of dog food from a very inaccessible spot. Okay girly, you are in the crate. We are headed to Whitehorse at 8 AM and the roads are of course slick and snow-packed. You know what they say about Alaska, if you don’t like the weather wait a few minutes. Well, we’re in the Yukon and apparently the same holds true. Ten miles out of Haines we are surrounded by blue skies and clear, YES clear, dry roads! I set the cruise control to 70 MPH for the first time in days.  As we sail down the road I realize RockDog is not in his spot beside me. I call him and nothing, calling again still no RockDog. I use the emergency recall word that always works, but no RockDog. What the hell? And then it hits me. He has learned how to be an opportunist like his Aunt Anne, much like he’s learned how to lie on the dashboard of Veve from Auntie Zip. I know he is under the bed looking for food but why is he not coming? I stop Dora in the middle of the road, turn on the flashers and go have a look. I feel his fur but he has gotten himself over the bed frame and cannot get back out, Anne is much smaller. I have to open the back door and pull out the packed crates to get him out. I am not happy and he is in deep shit going immediately to his crate. This is a hell of way to start out the day.

Dry Roads - Yippppeeee!

Back to driving and ignoring the both of them, I realize the odometer just turned over 1,000 K, and we only have three more to go - plus a few hundred miles.

Wide-open clean, dry roads from Whitehorse toward Watson Lake for over 200 miles, now this is more like it. And then what happens? The blizzard from hell, whiteout conditions, icy roads and mucho inclines. My knuckles are once again gripping the wheel so hard that they are white. I am pissed. I said I wouldn’t do this again and it is getting dark. Only 70 more miles, but that’s a hell of a long way in a snowstorm. No more setting the cruise control instead we are down to 35-40 MPH and of course uphill if I accelerate at all, I am once again fishtailing. Will it ever end?

Dora the Explorer take me to a place where the cars are clean and the roads are clear of ice and snow. Take me to a place where I don’t freeze my ass off every time I step outside. Take me where there is green grass and flowers are blooming. Dora, Dora take me away. But first get me to the nearest bathroom and then a bar - in that order.

Day 4 ended safely in Watson Creek just before sundown, and there was no bar open.

Luce Goose resting in her spot

Wood Boy asleep in the Captain's Chair