North to Alaska Blog

[Bob Denman]

Just 8 more days; right?

[PrairieSpyder]

Just 8 more days; right?

Yep! Today I'm counting my medicine and will get to the pharmacy, if necessary! Shopping for the trip and for the folks at home . . . then packing!

[Bob Denman]

The Pharmacy?
I hope that you checked out the "Joke Thread" in off-topic... we've had some pharmacological doozies in there!

[PW2013STL]

I am late to this thread, but here is the gas stops I have laid out for us.

** This will not be a one pump stop. Everyone fills their own. This will give everyone time to make sure that passports and drivers licenses are readily available for the boarder crossing.
Based on one member stating 26 mpg for the low I have planned out stops no greater than 139 miles. I try to run 90 or better octane gas so I am thinking that would be the type of fuel that we choose when possible. Based on the cost of fuel in BC I am planning at $5.00 per gallon (hope I am high) so it would be $70.00 per day from everyone and at the end of each day I will add up what each bike has spent and let you know how much you have to kick in for the next day to bring it back to $70.00. This will end once we arrive at Eagle River and I will hand back any left over $. If we deviate from the planned route then we will need to adjust for gas stops.

DAY 1	29-Jun		Miles
Leave	Chelan, WA
Fill	Oroville, WA	**	97
Fill	Cache Creek, BC		106
Fill	Cache Creek, BC		125
Fill	Clintan, BC		22
	Total		350
Day 2	30-Jun
Leave	Clintan, BC
Fill	Soda Creek, BC		125
Fill	Prince George, BC		129
Fill	Tintagel, BC		124
Fill	Burns Lake, BC		19
	Total		397
Day 3	1-Jul
Leave	Burns Lake, BC
Fill	New Hazelton, BC		132
Fill	Meziadin Junction, BC		125
Fill	Bob Quinn Lake, BC		86
Fill	Iskut, BC		69
	Total		412
Day 4	2-Jul
Leave	Iskut, BC
Fill	Good Hope Lake, BC		137
Fill	Swift River, Yucon		136
Fill	Jakes Corner, Yucon		114
Fill	Whitehorse, Yucon		67
	Total		454
Day 5 & 6	3 & 4 July
Stay	Whitehorse
Travel	Skagway		270+
Day 7	5-Jul
Leave	Whitehorse, Yucon
Fill	Haines Junction, BC		95
Fill	Burwash Landing, BC		75
Fill	Beaver Creek, Yucon		96
Fill	Tok, AK		113
	Total		379
Day 8	6-Jul
Leave	Tok, AK
Fill	Glennallen, AK		139
Fill	Palmer, AK		137
Fill	Eagle River, AK		38
	Total		314

[PrairieSpyder]

Is that payable in US$? Cash, I presume?

[Bob Denman]

Once you get into Alaska; it is... (I think!)

[murphybrown]

I am late to this thread, but here is the gas stops I have laid out for us.

** This will not be a one pump stop. Everyone fills their own. This will give everyone time to make sure that passports and drivers licenses are readily available for the boarder crossing.
Based on one member stating 26 mpg for the low I have planned out stops no greater than 139 miles. I try to run 90 or better octane gas so I am thinking that would be the type of fuel that we choose when possible. Based on the cost of fuel in BC I am planning at $5.00 per gallon (hope I am high) so it would be $70.00 per day from everyone and at the end of each day I will add up what each bike has spent and let you know how much you have to kick in for the next day to bring it back to $70.00. This will end once we arrive at Eagle River and I will hand back any left over $. If we deviate from the planned route then we will need to adjust for gas stops.

DAY 1	29-Jun		Miles
Leave	Chelan, WA
Fill	Oroville, WA	**	97
Fill	Cache Creek, BC		106
Fill	Cache Creek, BC		125
Fill	Clintan, BC		22
	Total		350
Day 2	30-Jun
Leave	Clintan, BC
Fill	Soda Creek, BC		125
Fill	Prince George, BC		129
Fill	Tintagel, BC		124
Fill	Burns Lake, BC		19
	Total		397
Day 3	1-Jul
Leave	Burns Lake, BC
Fill	New Hazelton, BC		132
Fill	Meziadin Junction, BC		125
Fill	Bob Quinn Lake, BC		86
Fill	Iskut, BC		69
	Total		412
Day 4	2-Jul
Leave	Iskut, BC
Fill	Good Hope Lake, BC		137
Fill	Swift River, Yucon		136
Fill	Jakes Corner, Yucon		114
Fill	Whitehorse, Yucon		67
	Total		454
Day 5 & 6	3 & 4 July
Stay	Whitehorse
Travel	Skagway		270+
Day 7	5-Jul
Leave	Whitehorse, Yucon
Fill	Haines Junction, BC		95
Fill	Burwash Landing, BC		75
Fill	Beaver Creek, Yucon		96
Fill	Tok, AK		113
	Total		379
Day 8	6-Jul
Leave	Tok, AK
Fill	Glennallen, AK		139
Fill	Palmer, AK		137
Fill	Eagle River, AK		38
	Total		314

I'm bringing you Canadian $$ while we travel thru Canada...do you want it US?..if so back to my friendly banker I need to go....

[murphybrown]

Once you get into Alaska; it is... (I think!)

There will be a few fills and travel thru Canada and Canadian pricing...soooooooo whatever "the man" wants I will provide. I live by never ? the head dude!!! and he is the HEAD DUDE when it comes to this....amazing system...I don't even need to "get it"...I just need to "do it"!!!! Sure WORKS for me...

[PW2013STL]

Is that payable in US$? Cash, I presume?

I would prefer Canadian as we travel through Canada as the exchange rate is favorable. The last time I traveled in Canada I did not find a gas station that did exchange rates so even if the $20US was worth more I had to pay the $20 on the pump with the $20US.
I will leave the currency up to each member, but remember I do not do currency conversions so if you pay me in US funds I will be ahead

Les

[PrairieSpyder]

I would prefer Canadian as we travel through Canada as the exchange rate is favorable. The last time I traveled in Canada I did not find a gas station that did exchange rates so even if the $20US was worth more I had to pay the $20 on the pump with the $20US.
I will leave the currency up to each member, but remember I do not do currency conversions so if you pay me in US funds I will be ahead

Les

I'll bring cash for both countries.

BTW, you have Cache Creek, BC twice. I assume that's a typo?

[PW2013STL]

Correction

I see I had Cache Creek listed twice.

DAY 1	29-Jun		Miles
Leave	Chelan, WA
Fill	Oroville, WA	**	97
Fill	Vernon, BC		106
Fill	Cache Creek, BC		125
Fill	Clintan, BC		22
	Total		350
Day 2	30-Jun
Leave	Clintan, BC
Fill	Soda Creek, BC		125
Fill	Prince George, BC		129
Fill	Tintagel, BC		124
Fill	Burns Lake, BC		19
	Total		397
Day 3	1-Jul
Leave	Burns Lake, BC
Fill	New Hazelton, BC		132
Fill	Meziadin Junction, BC		125
Fill	Bob Quinn Lake, BC		86
Fill	Iskut, BC		69
	Total		412
Day 4	2-Jul
Leave	Iskut, BC
Fill	Good Hope Lake, BC		137
Fill	Swift River, Yucon		136
Fill	Jakes Corner, Yucon		114
Fill	Whitehorse, Yucon		67
	Total		454
Day 5 & 6	3 & 4 July
Stay	Whitehorse
Travel	Skagway		270+
Day 7	5-Jul
Leave	Whitehorse, Yucon
Fill	Haines Junction, BC		95
Fill	Burwash Landing, BC		75
Fill	Beaver Creek, Yucon		96
Fill	Tok, AK		113
	Total		379
Day 8	6-Jul
Leave	Tok, AK
Fill	Glennallen, AK		139
Fill	Palmer, AK		137
Fill	Eagle River, AK		38
	Total		314 Les

[SarasotaSpyder]

Why doesn't each person pay with there own credit card?

[murphybrown]

Why doesn't each person pay with there own credit card?

If you are at a station with one pump....way to much wasted time. Also not all accept credit cards and those that do...if you don't have one that is free of foreign transaction fees it can become very costly...
This is a proven method by other group's that travel. Grateful for the efficiency....these are my reasons for endorsing .... just sayin'

[ARtraveler]

Is that payable in US$? Cash, I presume?

RE: Foreign exchange: It is advisable to go to a bank when you hit Canada and exchange American cash for Canadian. We always carried a couple hundred. Use this for paying for incidentals. The vendors are always off when computing the exchange rate--mostly in their favor. Not worth getting into an argument over.

OR: use a credit card that does not charge you an international exchange fee.

The nice part--at the moment--your American is worth more than the Canadian.

Todays rate (6/9/15): one US Dollar is worth $1.24 in Canada.

[SPYDERGUY1]

Yes Fellow Americans, bring your cash here for the vacation and get AN AWESOM RATE, Us Canadians on the other hand traveling to the Us are being hammered with the exchange rate. What can you do ? Needed some cruise and travel cash into the states, and had to pay the piper ....

[SpyderAnn01]

Yes Fellow Americans, bring your cash here for the vacation and get AN AWESOM RATE, Us Canadians on the other hand traveling to the Us are being hammered with the exchange rate. What can you do ? Needed some cruise and travel cash into the states, and had to pay the piper ....

What is the saying, turn around is fair play? There were many, many years when the rate went the other way.

[ARtraveler]

Yes Fellow Americans, bring your cash here for the vacation and get AN AWESOM RATE, Us Canadians on the other hand traveling to the Us are being hammered with the exchange rate. What can you do ? Needed some cruise and travel cash into the states, and had to pay the piper ....

I do apologize. Alaska does stick it to the cruise tourists with taxes and landing fees. The "tourist destination towns" various shops and restaurants also have their goods priced accordingly. Some places are worse than others.

For the NTA group. Anchorage, Seward, Talkeetna, Fairbanks, Chena Hot Springs, and points North. Gas is now up to $3.48 and higher for premium. Am guessing $4.00 plus premium gas by July 7th.

[SPYDERGUY1]

Our gas price just jumped to 1.13 a litre, not sure what that translates to the US gallon figure. NOTHING YOU CAN DO . As far as the US/CAN, exchange rate or vise versa, IF YA WANNA PLAY , YA GOTTA PAY. It is all good.

[SpyderAnn01]

I do apologize. Alaska does stick it to the cruise tourists with taxes and landing fees. The "tourist destination towns" various shops and restaurants also have their goods priced accordingly. Some places are worse than others.

For the NTA group. Anchorage, Seward, Talkeetna, Fairbanks, Chena Hot Springs, and points North. Gas is now up to $3.48 and higher for premium. Am guessing $4.00 plus premium gas by July 7th.

Our gas price just jumped to 1.13 a litre, not sure what that translates to the US gallon figure. NOTHING YOU CAN DO . As far as the US/CAN, exchange rate or vise versa, IF YA WANNA PLAY , YA GOTTA PAY. It is all good.

That sure makes me miss Texas and their cheap gas.

[murphybrown]

Yep...June 12 is official start of summer tourist season and prices go up up up. Yesterday premium had jumped 20 cents a gallon ($3.62).

For you traveling in just an FYI. Stoplight corner has 3 gas stations: Chevron: 18 cents less on premium ... Shell: always highest for premium .. 76...read the fine print that is a cash only price so add 10 cents to their posted price, for credit
We have 2 other stations: Safeway...again cash Price add 10 cents .. they also have those "stupid" EPA approved accordian thingies on their nozzles and unless you have a McCuff cuff (I think that's the name)...UGH (IMHO) and a Bill's Cut rate (across from Apple cup cafe..good Denny's type restaurant) that is just that cut rate gas...IMHO avoid..)..
Weather? NICE, very NICE. This is Lake Chelan and we have at least 400 days of sunshine each year!!! (not Seattle - west side of state, that has minimum 500 days of rain)

[PrairieSpyder]

Here's our route north:



The brown pins show the gas stops. The green pins are Denali NP and Chelan Hot Springs. I ended it at Fairbanks, since that's where I'll separate from the group.

[PW2013STL]

Based on information from another Spyderlovers member (Thanks Gary!) I have revised my fuel stops. Any one who doesn't think that they can make 165 miles on one tank should bring extra fuel along. I laid this out for a max of 145 miles between stops, but there is a chance that we may have to go further.

*Rancheria, Yucon. The lodge has gas (fingers crossed)

DAY 1	29-Jun		Miles
Leave	Chelan, WA
Fill	Oroville, WA	**	97
Fill	Peachland,BC		68
Fill	Merritt, BC		72
	Clintan, BC		97
	Total		334
Day 2	30-Jun
Leave	Clintan, BC
Fill	Williams Lake,BC		102
Fill	Quesnel,BC		73
Fill	Prince George,BC		75
Fill	Burns Lake,BC		143
	Total		393
Day 3	1-Jul
Leave	Burns Lake, BC
Fill	New Hazelton,BC		132
Fill	Gitanyow, BC		41
Fill	Bell II		140
Fill	Iskut, BC		96
	Total		409
Day 4	2-Jul
Leave	Iskut, BC
Fill	Dease Lake,BC		52
Fill	Junction, Yucon		145
Fill	Rancheria, Yucon		62*
Fill	Teslin, Yucon		100
Fill	Whitehorse, Yucon		109
	Total		468
Day 5 & 6	3 & 4 July
Stay	Whitehorse
Travel	Skagway		270+
Day 7	5-Jul
Leave	Whitehorse, Yucon
Fill	Haines Junction,Yucon		95
Fill	Destruction Bay		65
Fill	Beaver Creek, Yucon		115
Fill	Tok, AK		113
	Total		388
Day 8	6-Jul
Leave	Tok, AK
Fill	Glennallen, AK		139
Fill	Palmer, AK		137
Fill	Eagle River, AK		38
	Total		314

[Spyder Wraps Pete]

Dave asked me to post a video of his new graphics that were applied before the trip. We did a little trip tribute map on the Freedom trailer along with some extras. The kit was produced in reflective film so at night everyone will know which one is Dave and Joni, especially from behind. We hope you enjoy it:



Have a safe trip everyone..

[murphybrown]

Dave asked me to post a video of his new graphics that were applied before the trip. We did a little trip tribute map on the Freedom trailer along with some extras. The kit was produced in reflective film so at night everyone will know which one is Dave and Joni, especially from behind. We hope you enjoy it:



Have a safe trip everyone..

Anxious to see in person...(just checked, they are scheduled to arrive Chelan on 6/27)...very awesome...we are having a send off BBQ with 60 attendees and media coverage (small towns, gotta luv 'em)...also setting all Spyders in area for great photo ops....EXCITING...
That is a mighty gorgeous wrap...

[PW2013STL]

Dave asked me to post a video of his new graphics that were applied before the trip. We did a little trip tribute map on the Freedom trailer along with some extras. The kit was produced in reflective film so at night everyone will know which one is Dave and Joni, especially from behind. We hope you enjoy it:



Have a safe trip everyone..

Looks fantastic and like Murphy Brown I can not wait to see it up close.