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On the Road to Inuvik

On July 22^nd, 1996, a dozen Volkswagen busses left Vancouver on a journey northwards to Inuvik, in Canada's Northwest Territories. In 23 days the drivers covered 8,424 kilometers, 2,703 on unpaved roads. The busses include everything from a 1965 split-window bus to Volkswagen's newest EuroVan camper.

The trip was organized by two participants of the Internet's Vanagon mailing list, Tobin Copley and Ron Lussier. In addition to the dozen busses scheduled to depart from Vancouver, another 9 busses joined the convoy enroute for the long trip up the Dempster Highway to Inuvik.

Along the way, the travellers sent back dispatches and photos, allowing web surfers to 'follow along' from home. This web site contains the messages and photos of the journey. It's a unique portrait of a widely varied group of travellers sharing common passions... their VW bus and a spirit of adventure.

Media coverage!

• CBC Morningside - 7/22/96

• Vancouver Sun - 7/26/96

• Inuvik Drum - 8/8/96

News!

27 August 1996

A guy we met in Inuvik has written up his own journey to the arctic. His account is entitled Arctic Summer, has tons of great photos, and is very much worth a look-see.

16 July 1996

Tobin and Christa are being interviewed by Shelagh Rogers on CBC Radio's Morningside about the Inuvik trip. Not only has the trip made what is undisputably the most popular morning radio show in Canada, but the Inuvik trip will be the lead story, leading off the three hour program. Canadians can catch the interview at 09:05 local time on CBC AM.

3 July 1996

A new team of drivers has joined the trek, and instantly won the prize for 'longest distance'. Ivette Martin & Jorge E. Pasarell will be driving their bus from Puerto Rico! (Well, they're taking a boat part way...) that's about the limit for cross-North-America driving!

20 June 1996

Volkswagen has signed on as a corporate sponsor of the trip to Inuvik! All drivers will get an oil change before departing, as well as a spare air filter to use along the way. (Those dirt roads are very dusty!)

19 June 1996

One month to go! Soon I'll start adding some writings about how I feel as the trip approaches and how I'm getting ready.

I recieved a nice letter from Tony Darnell, who will be making his own trek this summer, from Atlanta to Inuvik, spreading goodwill from the 1996 Olympics. (Though I just suspect he's only going to Inuvik to find parking.)

22 April 1996

Volkswagen of Germany has named this the number one site on their list of homepages!

15 April 1996

The trip press release has finally been completed! (You'll find it under 'Information Resources'.)