Running out of North!

The Mackenzie Valley Highway was constructed between 2012-17 connecting Tuktoyaktuk to the world... and it's been heavily traveled ever since. It winds through vast expanses of tundra dotted by hundreds of lakes and it's stark beauty is difficult to describe.

Miles of wild blueberries growing in the tundra, which makes a comfy kneepad for picking, but there's so many you end up with purple stains on your knees. 

Finally reached the Arctic Ocean in Tuk at 5,095 miles, 13:30 MST, 04SEP2019!

Stopped by Grandma's Kitchen for local foods served from a food trailer by friendly Julia.

(Top to bottom) dry smoked whitefish, "mipku" beluga smoked jerky and "muktuk bites" beluga fat. Really tasty and filling.
Enjoyed on a huge driftwood log with last two Ft Worth beers!

If near water, it's to fish, not swim, so started inquiring about fishing spots, including a visit with Sean, friendly Mountie with RCMP. Sean said even HE is having difficulty with indigenous fishermen protecting their traditional fishing grounds... so we opted for stream fishing later.

Few more photos before it was time to head South...

Tuk boasts the world's second largest "pingo" or ice hill. Not sure where the driftwood jam ranks, but pretty high prolly...

And with that, we've run out of North!
But have already identified some new roads headed South!!!