Day 15 July 16, 2025 Inuvik Northwest Territories to Tuktoyaktuk Northwest Territories 99 miles
The mosquitoes are terrible again today. Thank goodness the bug spray seems to work. We have learned that once you get in the woodie or the teardrop and you get the mosquitoes killed more don’t usually find their way in.
We are moving slower today. The drive should be shorter but we have heard it is really rough. We have to pay on our way out this morning. Even though we were in a hook up spot they didn’t charge us the hook up fee. So we only paid $30 Canadian. They had potable water so we filled the container we have been using for drinks and so forth.
While Rob was paying the bill another Arctic fox came in the driveway. This one was a little bigger and darker in color. It may have been one of the parents of the two last night.
Finding the gas station was a little more tricky. They listed three but two of those were in fact the very same station and it was closed. The third one was under a different name. Updates definitely in order.
The roads seem okay. Lots of washboards. We came to a stretch where new gravel is being applied. We had quite a chat with the flagger. He said he had heard about us. He was also going to post pictures on Facebook. His cousins own the construction company doing the road work. They are hoping to build a refinery in Tuktoyaktuk. Well that would change things. He also told us that this is whale season. We have seen numerous snow machines just sitting on the tundra. Well the locals take these out to the nearby lakes to fish for trout. We had been wondering about that. There must have been at least 50 of them scattered along the way.
Most of the terrain today is tundra. Only a few small trees. Lots of brush and grass. Numerous small lakes and rivers. The only wildlife was mosquitoes, flies and crows.
We had to wait for another section of road construction. More gravel going down. Sure glad we aren’t hitting this in the rain.
We saw two of the folks we talked with in Eagle Plains. They were headed back south.
The Visitor Center is on the edge of town as you come in. We talked to that person for a bit and picked up the flier. She could book campsites but not other lodging. Those you must call. We got a room at a BnB right on the ocean. Businesses in the town have some unusual hours and there aren’t many of them. Tourism doesn’t seem as prosperous as we expected.
We found the BnB and a good place to park. Sure enough the only window does look out on the ocean. It is a sheltered portion so it is very calm.
We walked down to a small cafe that served mostly hamburgers and chicken sandwiches. It is the only restaurant in town. A group of Japanese were waiting for their order. They also got some of the whale meat. One said it tasted like very fatty fish. This little place sits on the edge of the water. Some people were wading and some were swimming. The Japanese left and a group of motorcyclists arrived. They were much more talkative.
Back at the BnB to catch up with the blog and Facebook. Almost every car that drives by slows down to take a picture. The motorcyclists swung by to take selfies.
The city services here deliver fresh water and pickup the black water. The tundra is too cold to dig any lines. By the way, the sun will not set again until July 26. So its 24 hours of sunshine.
Spoffords Travel 