We had a timely departure from Cochrane on Sunday. Some dogs were not eating well, which is typical on a long trip, but everyone was happy and energetic. Sunday’s route would be one of the most remote, especially the long stretch from Hearst to Long Lake Ontario – over 150 km with no gas or services, and no cellular coverage.
We gassed up before starting this stretch. The Tundra was in the lead, followed by the U-Haul and then the Subaru. Brittany and Nicole were great navigators, and we used some small handheld radios to keep in touch, plan stops, and tell bad jokes.
Our first major mishap was almost in the middle of this desolate area. There was a loud bang, and the U-Haul had a blown tire. The outer of two left-hand rear tires. We were truly in the middle of nowhere, with no cellular service.
Less than a kilometer up the road, we saw some buildings. It turned out this was lodge: Pagwa Wilderness Outfitters. The proprietor, Gerry, was very kind and helpful. He sold us some calls on his satellite phone, so I could call the U-Haul road assistance hotline. I explained the situation, and they dispatched service from Hearst. It was going to be several hours, and we were at the end of daylight so asked Jerry if we could spend the night.
He had a nice bunkhouse, and we got comfortable for the night. After a short night’s sleep the night before, it was welcome to relax. We also had a nice meal, and spent some time giving the dogs walks.
The tow truck arrived just before 9pm, and within around an hour the tire and wheel were replaced (Greg helped). The tow truck driver said all of the truck’s tires were under-inflated. They mostly had 80-90 pounds per square inch (PSI) but should be 110-120. We made plans to add some air at the next opportunity.
We tucked in for the night, and planned an early departure on Monday, which was the Canadian thanksgiving.
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