Daily photos from the Yukon River
Sunday 31 July - dag 32
Again it was raining but we started at 10.20 and stopped for lunch at 12.45 and 24,7 km. After a long lunch we started again at 14.05
N 66-01.685 W 144-14.131
The wind had picked up and I was not comfortable so we stopped already at 14.30 after just 3,8 km
Total ca. 3 hours 10 minutes and 28,5 km
N 66-01.201 W 144-18.683 camp 26
This was a memorable day in that we were confronted once again with our different paddling/adventuring styles and comfort zones. Jane and I happily wait for winds, even the moderate ones, to blow over before paddling. We’ll play games, or read, or just chat in camp until the wind has died down. That said, when caught in the middle of a lake, we’ll battle through stronger winds, and I will admit to secretly enjoying the challenge. Lars and Suzi faced plenty of days with strong winds at sea in their catamaran sailing kayaks when voyaging from Copenhagen to Istanbul, so the strong(ish) winds that picked up on this day on the Yukon River didn’t really register as anything to get excited about. Jane wasn’t comfortable though, and I pushed for us to stop, make camp, and call it a day.
It was another example of lack of true compatibility, and perhaps the beginnings of some thoughts about going our separate ways. Yep, we had those thoughts. Already in Dawson City we had had the talk about being too slow on the water (me and Jane), countered with too slow getting started each day, with not enough time on the water (the family). At this rate, we were never going to make it to Emmonak, at river’s end.
We were not, however, quite ready to split up, although Jane and I might have whispered a little about it at night. Lars and Suzi might have done the same, but it had yet to become an open discussion in the group. We couldn’t know it at the time, but a major factor would encourage the split - dare I say it - later. ;-) The seeds had been sown early in June. They just hadn’t quite sprouted yet.
But once the decision had been made to camp, we clicked straight into camp life. We were good at this, unloading the boats, pitching the tents - tarp first if the weather demanded it - and making food. Suzi often cooked the evening meal, while Jane - bless her - prepared the bannock again. She made two bannocks every day on the Yukon River, with perhaps a single day here and there when one of us did it. Honestly, though, I don’t recall if we ever did. I just hope we did.
Life was still good though, and I, of course, took every opportunity to take selfies! You should see the sheer number that I haven’t posted!
We recharged - body, soul, and solar panels - ready for the next day on the Yukon River.
Everything sounds pretty hunky-dory so far . . but you keep teasing dark clouds of dissent on the horizon! 😳 That intrigues me for some reason. Sorry. 🫤