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In 1978 I rode a moped from Toronto to Fairbanks, Alaska, and Inuvik, NWT,
and back: 12,500 miles in total.
This was truly one of the most memorable trips that I have ever taken.
There is a full
travelogue with pictures of this trip on the
Moped Trip website
I figure that I was the first vehicle to travel the full length of the
Dempster Highway in the Yukon. This road had been completed only days before I
traveled on it from Dawson City (Yukon) to Inuvik (NWT). The main obstacle was the
Peel River. There was no ferry for cars until a year or two later - I got across in
a freighter canoe.
As well, there were the immense distances on that road - 365 miles between towns. At
that time there was no gas available for that stretch of road. I saw maybe 3
vehicles in that whole distance. But what a beautiful trip!!
I traveled north up the Alaska Highway. At that time it was a real
challenge, almost 1,000 miles of gravel road. When I returned I came down the
Stewart-Cassiar Highway - at times this "highway" was no more than a logging
road barely 2 lanes wide. I imagine that it has changed a bit by now!
In all, I was away for 3 months, traveled 12,500 miles, and spent only
$100 in gas. I averaged 100-300 miles per day on the moped, which
delivered about
250 miles per gallon (which is about 55 miles per liter).
This photo was taken the moment that I arrived back in Toronto. I
was truly wondering what on Earth I was doing back here in the city.
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