North to Alaska Blog

[PrairieSpyder]

I'm glad you made it back to the "outside" world. Can't wait to hear more about your arctic adventure.

 

[cptjam]

USA!

Omak,Washington. Good to be in USA! I had that post deployment euphoria that I used to get after being oconus. Relief! Best western after a delicious American meal of none other than.....Mexican food! What a fantastic trip! What a Spyder road trip! Issues were few, considering this trip is more miles than most will ever rack up!
NTA crew; post mileage total when you get home! Fred, boat miles don't count! Odometer!
We actually saw 70 degrees today! Boise tomorrow! Joe

 

[Highwayman2013]

Omak,Washington. Good to be in USA! I had that post deployment euphoria that I used to get after being oconus. Relief! Best western after a delicious American meal of none other than.....Mexican food! What a fantastic trip! What a Spyder road trip! Issues were few, considering this trip is more miles than most will ever rack up! We actually saw 70 degrees today! Boise tomorrow! Joe

90's and rain here for the weekend.:yes:

 

[PrairieSpyder]

Omak,Washington. Good to be in USA! I had that post deployment euphoria that I used to get after being oconus. Relief! Best western after a delicious American meal of none other than.....Mexican food! What a fantastic trip! What a Spyder road trip! Issues were few, considering this trip is more miles than most will ever rack up!
NTA crew; post mileage total when you get home! Fred, boat miles don't count! Odometer!
We actually saw 70 degrees today! Boise tomorrow! Joe

"oconus"???? Outside Continental U.S.??

 

[cptjam]

Yep

Conus, continental United states. Oconus, outside continental United states. Bad guy land. After the marines killed today at a recruiting station, we need an executive order making all soldiers be armed at all times. I support retired soldiers being armed, too. Wait, never mind. Go figure!

 

[PW2013STL]

For us this was the end of the Alaska Highway at Dawson Creek. If you're headed north it's just the beginning. Ran into some construction and mud and the Spyder and trailer came of second best.

If any future travelers are concerned about gas, we haven't had a problem yet, although the low gas light did come on once a couple of miles from a station. We did carry 2 extra gallons of gas, but so far haven't needed them and not likely to for the rest of the return trip. Les and Kathy did an awesome job mapping out the stations headed north and we stuck to their plan on the return trip - never pass a gas station unless you know for sure where the next one is.

Hi Gorge,

Well guess who ran out of gas todaypps: We ran out 1.5 miles from Tok. Found out that with a fully loaded trailer running at 65 I can go 201 miles on one tank of gas.
A local stopped and gave me a ride to and back from a gas station.
We are now in Chicken and will head to Dawson City tomorrow.

Les

 

[PrairieSpyder]

Hi Gorge,

Well guess who ran out of gas todaypps: We ran out 1.5 miles from Tok. Found out that with a fully loaded trailer running at 65 I can go 201 miles on one tank of gas.
A local stopped and gave me a ride to and back from a gas station.
We are now in Chicken and will head to Dawson City tomorrow.

Les

I was also running on fumes when I pulled into Youngs at Tok. That must be a tough 200 miles, because I've done more than that on a tank before. My light had come on, and I knew I had the extra gallon on my passenger seat. But I was wondering if it would start the next morning when I went across the road to fill up.

 

[ARtraveler]

Originally Posted by PW2013STL Hi Gorge,

Well guess who ran out of gas todaypps: We ran out 1.5 miles from Tok. Found out that with a fully loaded trailer running at 65 I can go 201 miles on one tank of gas.
A local stopped and gave me a ride to and back from a gas station. We are now in Chicken and will head to Dawson City tomorrow."

"Les
I was also running on fumes when I pulled into Youngs at Tok. That must be a tough 200 miles, because I've done more than that on a tank before. My light had come on, and I knew I had the extra gallon on my passenger seat. But I was wondering if it would start the next morning when I went across the road to fill up. "

Welcome to the "Gaslight" club. Me too! And we all have Tok, in common. Mine was Tok to Destruction Bay/Burwash Landing. The longest 30 miles or so I ever drove when the "light" came on.

Glad you all made it through the situation. :yes::yes:

 

[NautiBrit]

Hi Gorge,

Well guess who ran out of gas todaypps: We ran out 1.5 miles from Tok. Found out that with a fully loaded trailer running at 65 I can go 201 miles on one tank of gas.
A local stopped and gave me a ride to and back from a gas station.
We are now in Chicken and will head to Dawson City tomorrow.

Les

Thank goodness that you and Kathy are great people but I'm sorry, you have just lost all my respect for you as the gas gurus. :helpsmilie: I guess it's the old "don't do as I do, do as I say". Hope you're having a great ride.

 

[NautiBrit]

Jasper and Banff National Parks

Helen took some photos with her iPhone as we rode through Jasper and Banff parks. Enjoy.

 

[PrairieSpyder]

I spent 2 nights at Mukluk Resort in Whitehorse and am now at Watson Lake. At Whitehorse, I toured the SS Klondike, but they had much of it roped off, even though it was in the tour brochure. I also went to the McBride (?) Museum of Yukon history. Very interesting. I got to know Manuella (proprietress of Mukluk) better and she has an interesting story. She is German, and was a carpenter, but couldn't get work there so she came to Canada on a work/travel visa. She kind of fell in to the position at Mukluk and is now running it and a part owner. I asked if Jeff (her SO) was a musher who worked there already and she said no, she'd hired him. I guess he really fell into it! Yesterday morning Manuella let me use their washer/dryer, so I tried to help with the dogs. I went outside while the washer started and asked what to do next. The next thing to be done was scooping the poop near the house! So I did. Then Dave and I walked a couple dogs to the river. Sled dogs don't heel, BTW. So I actually walked beside Dave while he held the lead for one dog and the other scrambled through the brush. At the river, apparently I didn't throw the stick into the river fast enough and I got a muddy paw print on my clean shirt! No worries . . hand washed it and threw it into the dryer with the rest of the load.

The weather yesterday and today has been really pleasant. When I left Whitehorse, it looked like it might rain a bit, but it didn't. I hadn't slept well last night because I now have my traditional vacation head cold! So I'm glad I'm not trying to push the miles so much.

Tonight I'm at the Air Force Lodge in Watson Lake. Pretty basic, but really clean. No en suite, but men's and women's dorm style bathrooms. I had dinner at Bee Jays truck stop about 1/4 mile away. No curb appeal, but really good.

Tomorrow . . Fort Nelson, BC.

 

[PW2013STL]

Thank goodness that you and Kathy are great people but I'm sorry, you have just lost all my respect for you as the gas gurus. :helpsmilie: I guess it's the old "don't do as I do, do as I say". Hope you're having a great ride.

Yep I have no right to be called a gas gurus!, but I have been known to produce it:shocked:

 

[vided]

ffy

Helen took some photos with her iPhone as we rode through Jasper and Banff parks. Enjoy.

 

[Bob Denman]

Patti,
It almost sounds as if you're looking at the possibility of relocating...
Yukon; or #49?

 

[PrairieSpyder]

Patti,
It almost sounds as if you're looking at the possibility of relocating...
Yukon; or #49?

:lecturef_smilie: No way! I'll always be PrairieSpyder - or at least Lower48Spyder.

 

[Santa Ken]

Thanks for Posts/Pictures

Santa Ken wants to thank all for the constant updates and pictures. We are one month out and anxious to hit the road. Following your group and the weather closely. Travel safe and enjoy!
Santa Ken and Sachi
San Clemente, CA

 

[NautiBrit]

Glacier National Park

Here are some pics we took riding through Glacier today. Hint - if you plan riding through Glacier, go west to east. You'll be in the downhill lane and All the scenery and the best pull outs are on that side.

 

[PrairieSpyder]

I spent a lot of time at Glacier NP several years ago and loved it there. I'll probably just breeze by on my trip south from Canada.

I'm in Ft. Nelson, BC, tonight. When I arrived all the power was out over much of the town and the desk clerk said the restaurants are all closed because they have no idea when it would be back on. The room includes a kitchenette with a gas stove and kettle. So I figured if it didn't come one I'd at least be able to make instant coffee in the morning. And I have snacks to dine on tonight. Then in no more than an hour the power came on!

Just one more day on the Alaska Highway, and then I'll turn south. I'm kind of anxious to get home now. I've been traveling for more than a month, now. The temps today reached the 70s. Just a little bit of rain, but more :cus: road construction.

I have some pics on my phone and will try to post them later.

 

[murphybrown]

In Chicken AK for the night

We are staying at the RV/Cabin property that boasts the "ONLY FLUSH TOILETS IN CHICKEN"....well that is true...but there are a couple "qualifiers". Dave & Joni have the deluxe (seriously verrrrry nice) suite with all amenities. Roger and Linda have a darling log cabin facing the creek...a mirror of the one I have...at this point I am a little envious of boys and their "handy plumbing". Linda and I are like "dang it is a long way to the bathroom"...but hey only for one night and this is an adventure that we are on...tomorrow we travel the "top of the world road" cross the border into Yukon. Guess officially you could say North to Alaska is over...but I'm not done until I roll into my place in Chelan. Spent the past 2 nites at Girdwood, AK...did the fjord glacier tour. AWESOME is an understatement. When we went to check in the clerk said this is a "weather day" and proceeded to tell us our options...huge chance the Captain would consider the seas to rough and turn back...we said what the heck let's "roll the dice". Captain was awesome..generous 15 ft swells and he slid up and down like they were satin...unfortunately many of the folks who decided to stay with that ship spent mucho time with white bags clutched to their faces. NOT US...we are adventure seekers...and we said bring it on...YeeHaw...Glacier was gorgeous and the sea lions sunbathing on the chunks of ice numbered close to 400...that fjord inlet will be totally frozen end of August. Wow so hard to pick favorites on what we have done and seen...so guess I won't...just say if you have even considered seeing AK...just do it. Chicken is a great little area...so glad it was on my "hit list". Well, will post more when I have internet again...it is pretty spotty and sometimes not at all.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

We are home! 650 miles today from Idaho home. Took a shower in my "deluxe" bathroom and now for a good nights sleep in my "deluxe" king sized bed with my very own puppy dogs. Life is good.