Day 36 Yukon River
I woke up in an oven with sweat running down my face. I unzipped my tent door and immediately felt a rush of cool fresh air. Jackson had gotten up just before me, and together we set the bug tarp back up for breakfast. Last night were some of the worst mosquitoes we have seen. The air was thick with the large, blood sucking bugs. The bug tarp, a tarp lined with mesh siding that encloses our kitchen and hang out area, has been a real saving grace.
Soon after I stripped down and took a much needed dip in the river. I walked out to about shin high water, put my head under and did and underwater pushup. Amazing. The cold water jolted me and reset my core temp. Cooled off and energized, I was feeling great and ready to start the day. Jackson, on the other hand, neglected a rinse, and instead sat under the tarp looking miserable in the heat.
Following a few cups of coffee we packed up and hit the water. It was an absolutely perfect day. Still as could be, sunny and blue skies. A massive mountain range follows the rivers northwest shore. We paddled out into the center of the river, about a mile from either bank, put our feet up on the canoe, and on this windless, sunny day, we simply let the it drift, allowing the current to be our guide. Telling stories, listening to music and passing a bottle of Ole Beam back and forth we watched the afternoon pass by. What a beautiful, wild place to be in the world.
We found camp on the upriver tip of a large island. In the midst of our drift we forgot to stop and re up our freshwater supply. As such, we opted for a low water dinner of lentils and couscous.
Life is good.
More clean water would be nice.