Day 45 14. June 2000, Rest day in Dawson City Our rest
day does not qualify as one: We have to drive around a loop in Bonanza
Creek (were the first gold was found).
The test is quite demanding as only seven cars manage to get zero penalty.
To save weight, Karl decides that he is not going along, especially as
part of the section is uphill. The regulations require one driver and
one co-driver. We manage to clear the section with zero penalty but when
Kaya, the navigator, saw the time on the official's clock, there were
only two seconds left! We actually took one ten metre early (and wrong!)
left turn on the section which, after 800 metres, took us up a plateau
with an antenna - we decided that this could not be the route and made
an immediate return, probably losing two or three minutes. After the test
section we realize that the battery has not been charging and take it
to a garage on the way back to Dawson City. While waiting for the battery
to charge after switching the alternator, Sami tries his luck in panning
for Gold in the river behind the garage and actually finds some gold!
It is probably not even enough to buy a chewing gum but makes our day.
Overall 1 hour 11 minutes penalty The official results can be looked up on this website
|