MARCH 31 TO APRIL 02 2013
WHEN THE GOVERNMENT CLOSES THE WINTER ROADS FOR THE SEASON, THE RATE IS NOW "DOUBLE OR NOTHING". THE REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO INSURANCE, NO ONE IS GOING TO HELP YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE TRAVELING THE ROAD. BASICLY YOU ARE RISKING IT ALL AND IF YOU MAKE IT THEN THE REWARD IS EXELLENT. IF YOU DON'T MAKE BECAUSE YOU BROKE DOWN OR GOT STUCK IN A WATER HOLE THEN YOU PAY AND PAY BIG TIME TO BE RESCUED OR TO BE REPAIRED.
THIS WAS A SIMPLE TOUR TO RUN 300kms TO LAC BROCHET ON THE CLOSED WINTER ROAD WITH 2 OTHER TRUCKS. PLUS XENA DROVE THE PINK CREW CAB AS A SUPPORT VEHICLE WHICH SHE HAS DONE MANY TIMES ON THIS ROAD.
IT IS OFFICALLY CLOSED WHEN THEY PUT UP THE LITTLE BARRICADE.
XENA GOT TO FOLLOW ALONG SO ALL SHE GOT TO SEE WAS THE BACK OF THE VAN TRAILER.
THE SUN IS MELTING THE SNOW AWAY ON THESE DARK SPOTS.
BUDDY VINCE'S FREIGHTLINER TRUCK JOINED US WITH HIS NEPHEW DRIVING.
THE ROAD WAS A LITTLE SLIPPERY SO I PUT ON MY STEERING TIRE CHAIN WHICH REALLY HELPS.
WE HAD A FUEL TRUCK JOIN US ON THIS TRIP SO WE STUCK TOGETHER IN A SMALL GROUP.
THE WATER HOLE AT KM 69 WAS NOT BAD BUT IT WILL GOT WORSE WHEN WE DID THE TRIPLE OR NOTHING TOUR TWO WEEKS LATER.
THE ROAD WAS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE AND WE WERE MAKING GOOD TIME.
THE FIRST GROUP SHOT AS WE ATE SUPPER.
XENA ENJOYS TAKING SUNSET PICTURES.
ANOTHER PICTURE OF HER VIEW FROM THE PINK CREW CAB FOLLOWING THE VAN TRAILER.
THE SUN WAS GOING DOWN SLOWLY THAT NIGHT.
WE HAD TO BOIL SOME WATER TO THAW OUT A FROZEN AIR VALVE. NO PROBLEM WHEN YOU HAVE A PROPANE TIGER TORCH.
THIS IS A NICE PICTURE OF THE NEXT MORNING WHEN WE WERE ALL WAKING UP. THE FUEL TRUCK DRIVER COULD NOT SLEEP WITH THE NOISE OF THE "SCREAMING FORD" SO HE IS PARKED FURTHER BACK, LOL.
XENA AND THE PINK CREW CAB ARE IN THE LEAD AS WE HEAD TO MY FAVORITE WATER HOLE.
THIS WATER HOLE AT KM 77 HAS BEEN MY FAVORITE ALL WINTER BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN LOTS OF FUN. XENA HEADS CROSS TO SEE HOW IT IS, THEN I FOLLOW IN THE "SCREAMING FORD".
NO BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE THE ICE ONLY BROKE OUT ON ONE SIDE AND WE HAVE 2 MORE LOADED TRUCK TO CROSS.
THE ICE BROKE AWAY BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING UNDERNEATH TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF LOADED TRUCKS. THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE CROSSED THIS WATER HOLE IN THE EARLY MORNING WHEN IT IS COLD WHICH MAKES THE ICE STRONG.
THE OTHER LOADED TRUCKS CROSSED WITH NO PROBLEMS BECAUSE WE TOOK OUR TIME AND CHECKED THINGS OUT.
ONE BIG LONG ICE FIELD WHICH WAS NO PROBLEM.
THE ROAD CREW HAD A CAT BREAK DOWN AND THEY ARE WAITING FOR PARTS SO THE ROAD JUST WENT AROUND THE CAT WHICH IS NORMAL.
THE NEW BY PASS AT KM 99 WHICH SAVED US A LOT OF PROBLEMS. LAST YEAR WE SUNK EVERYTHING WE OWNED AT THIS WATER HOLE.
