We went to Whitehorse this past weekend for some cat food and a few home repair items. We took a couple friends with us and left early and planned to return early. Hah! The best laid plans....
The day started off with a bang. On the way to Canada, we saw a moose watching us from the side of the road. While we have lots of moose around, they must be shy, because we don't see them very often. So this was a real treat.
On to Whitehorse we went. We ate. We shopped. We headed home.
And this happened:
Yes, that's our radiator cap exploding off into space like he's on some sort of mission. And that's TUCT Tape (not to be confused with DUCT Tape) on the radiator hose, which sprung a leak abut 15 miles earlier in the middle of the Yukon. Thankfully, the 100th car (or so) to go by, stopped and offered us some help. We sacrificed Jared and sent him off with the total stranger to Carcross in search of supplies. He came back an hour later with another total stranger bearing gifts: TUCT tape and a 5-gallon jug of water with a colorful sheen floating on top. I suspect the 5-gallon jug used to hold cooking oil at one time, because once we refilled our radiator and drove off into the wilderness, our engine started emitting a suspicious fried chicken smell.
About 20 miles later, we ran into this:
It actually spreads nicely across the entire highway, which isn't shown in this picture. This time, we left Jared and Brett behind to warn traffic, and Keith and I set off for Canadian Customs to alert them of the rock slide. They gave us orange cones to put on either side, and feeling like our work here was done, once again, set off on the open road. And saw this:
And his friend Blackie:
And just in case you're wondering, no zoom lenses were harmed in the taking of these photos. Jared and Brett, our resident budding photographers, took one for the team and hung out the top of the sunroof while these little guys sniffed around the car. They were so close, we could smell their breath. It wasn't pretty.
*I did not take any of the pictures in this post. Jared did. He doesn't know I'm using them, but he DID post them on Facebook, which pretty much makes them fair game, right? And besides, I was too busy watching his back in the getaway car while he was THIS CLOSE to the bears.
Im thinking you need to stay out of Canada.. :) what an eventful trip.
Posted by: Joy Gross | 06/13/2011 at 11:36 PM
What an exciting adventure! And just on a shopping trip! Thanks for sharing :-)
Posted by: Michele | 06/14/2011 at 02:08 AM
Holy cow! I can't believe you got so close to those bears! I would have been shaking in my boots! But awesome photos - thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Lesly Wade-Woolley | 06/14/2011 at 03:02 AM
Quite an eventful trip! Those bears were awfully close. Glad you made it home safe & sound. Jared takes great photos.
Posted by: julie in the barn | 06/14/2011 at 03:08 AM
Talk about an exciting adventure! Perhaps the bears smelled kitty food? I didn't mind that you snagged the photos. LOL I enjoyed!!
Posted by: Mary Flynn | 06/14/2011 at 05:11 AM
wow - sounds like the car needs a going over before you head out for supplies next time.!! Love the wild life - good think you had the skylight :)
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
Posted by: Karen | 06/14/2011 at 05:41 AM
What an adventure!
Posted by: LoriD | 06/14/2011 at 06:35 AM
Wow, I can't say I've ever had a day like that. Loved reading your post, but I'm really glad that all ended well!!!
Posted by: Laura | 06/14/2011 at 07:11 AM
I LOVE days like that...when someone else has them!! LOL! Wow and holy cow (to quote other commenters).
Posted by: Christine Thomas | 06/14/2011 at 11:24 AM
Wow. What a day. Glad you made it home safe and sound. And...what is TUCT tape??
Posted by: Kathleen | 06/14/2011 at 07:28 PM
Laughing at the fried chicken smell!! Too funny. What a wild and wooly trip :)
Posted by: AnnieO | 06/15/2011 at 07:44 PM
I've only just discovered your blog a few days ago and have now caught up with reading ALL the months of your blog. I've really enjoyed the humour and some of your quilting projects have inspired me to dig through my stash (somewhat smaller than yours!) and get cracking on some new projects. I look forward to your next entry. ps. love the cats!
Posted by: Donna | 06/19/2011 at 05:57 AM