Flat #2=Disappointing Day

So we knew our little Honda Fit would never survive a trip all the way up the Dalton Hwy up to Prudoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean (plus we don't have time), but we had promised the kids we'd take them as far as the Arctic Circle, and were hopeful the Fit would make it at least that far. But alas, we fell 60 miles short!! :(

Joey pulled over at the Yukon River crossing to take a picture and noticed a flat tire. We are praising God that he noticed it very early on before any damage was done to the rim. It was simply pierced by a small rock that we were able to fix for $14.95 at WalMart the next day!! Whew! BUT the huge bummer was being "so close but yet so far" to our destination! But we would've been idiots to risk the 120 miles (there & back) on the donut spare tire with no additional spare. Unfortunately our car is just too small to carry a full sized spare tire. My cousin suggested strapping one on the roof rack beside the cartop carrier, but that would've been a lot of rigamaroe plus slowed down our gas mileage even more.

The Yukon River Crossing where we pulled over is a big truck stop, last gas stop before Coldfoot, lodging (looks like trailer houses), restaurant, etc...not an appropriate place to pitch a tent. Joey wasn't willing to risk driving even another inch on the flat tire, and since it was already late at night, our tent was still wet from the night before, it looked like it was going to rain again....we ended up sleeping right there in the car! Needless to say it was a miserable night! The next morning, we unloaded the whole back hatch to get out the spare, Joey changed the flat, we reloaded the car, and sadly turned around, just shy of our goal, to drive allllllll the way back to Fairbanks, defeated & discouraged. One thing we won't get to cross off our bucket list of things to do with our kids :( Crossing the Arctic Circle is definitely epic...we would've bought the kids T-shirts, gotten certificates from the Park Service, a bumper sticker to add to our collection on the cartop carrier, etc. Pre-kids, we had driven all the way to the Prudoe Bay and camped on the Arctic Ocean, but that was with a 4wheel drive SUV (Honda Passport). Maybe Jonas & Alea will add it to their list of things to do with THEIR kids in the future....although, they will probably be burnt out on traveling by the time they leave our home!! ;)