A few weeks ago we started really thinking on the return trip and looking at alternatives. After such an adventure by boat, I was not so keen to be flying back. It appears such an abrupt end to a big journey. It is also rather expensive. We decided that to continue the adventure and return home by ourselves as well instead of using other methods we should buy a car and use that.
We still have to fly from Tuktoyaktuk to Inuvik as the only road is available in winter – an ice road up the Mackenzie River which we don’t want to wait for! We will find a friend willing to drive up to Inuvik to meet us and drive back with them. It also turns out that the car we bought is very similar in price to what the flights from Inuvik to Edmonton would have cost us, and at least this way we have something to show for it afterwards.
The car we bought is a 1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport 4wd. A great little car!
Recently, we also had our first camp in ‘full expedition-rig’ as I like to call it. That is, with tipi, inner-tent, and stove. It was great, a little more practice is required to get used to the stove as I have never used one in a tipi before, but it was certainly warm enough! Unfortunately, we arrived so late at the campsite we did not have much time to collect wood as it was pitch-black by the time the tipi was set up, so we had to conserve wood so I had to re-light the stove twice – once during the night, once in the morning. Not that that was a big issue, I’m sure that with more experience, we will have a warm fire all night.