On the Road with "Roll Call Alaska 2013"......

[JANETRUPP]

Okay all my Alaska family...Here it is...
As requested I am starting a new thread for all you "Roll Call Alaska 2013" travelers to blog all your adventures.
This may help others traveling behind us or those going next year. Any news on roads, gas, what to see or miss. Anything.... just blog and tell of your adventures on one of our most memorable trips.

We start out tomorrow (only as far as Vegas..:C) but will be slowly heading up and away on our trip.

So start Bloging and lets keep in touch.

Travel safe and smart!!!!
Janet

[KPSmithSr]

DW and I are in Fairbanks at River's Edge. We are going to spend a week here before going down to Denali. The Dempster and Top of the World Highways were an adventure. Since this is a family site I thought "adventure" is descriptive enough. WOW, they are not roads to drag a 5th wheel down. Having stuck my toe in the Arctic Ocean and toured the Icehouse dug out of the perma-frost in Tuk, I am glad we did it but what a trip.

I have only seen one "Roll Call" sign but didn't get a chance to talk to them.

Safe Travels

[fanrgs]

Happy Canada Day for all who are still not in Alaska or already headed home. We are stopped at the visitor's center in "Planet Houston" on TC 16 for the WiFi and will spend tonight in Kitwanga. We are planning on an early start up the Cassiar Hwy. tomorrow. Planning to have a BIG July 4th holiday in Hyder, Alaska (if they celebrate the 4th there instead of Canada Day!).

We have our "Roll Call Alaska 2013" sign taped just above the license plate on our trailer, Justin case anyone else is in the vicinity. See you in Alaska soon!

[mhwarner]

Unexpectedly in Whitehorse after getting 3 blown (and shredded) tires on the toad just NW of Burwash Landing heading toward AK from Haines. We think the auxilliary brake in the toad malfunctioned and kept the brakes on as we left a stretch of gravel and we must have dragged it about 300 feet. 😞 At least 2 rims ruined as well. Good Sam had the car towed back to Whitehorse (179 mi in the wrong direction but gave us no other option) but with Canada Day tomorrow we won't even get it looked at until Tuesday. Arrived at Pioneer RV last night at midnight and got the last site which sucked as we were sandwiched between two large caravans (SMART and Adventure) about 2 feet apart. Got a site here at Hi Country and will likely be here several days. Can't get a rental to at least do some sightseeing as they are sold out until at least Friday. What a bummer, but at least the RV is ok and we have a place to stay -- and they have great wifi and decent cable. FYI if you want to avoid them or get ahead, SMART is headed to Skagway next and Adventure is going to Dawson City.

[lizzie]

No problem. It was good to see you again. We are back in Anchorage at the always lovely and charming Golden Nugget RV Park. We want to say good bye to our friends, go to Costco, and do some laundry. ChuckD37's rig is here but nobody home right now. We do plan to head north tomorrow. lizzie

[pasco1215]

lizzie wrote:
Last call for a site with hookups in the city park at Seward. I posted on another site that we are leaving in the morning. Since they are first-come, first-served, nobody can have this one until we leave. Not sure where we are going, maybe Eagle River? lizzie

Lizzie- thanks for waiting for us. Things were a little hectic and rainy when were getting settled and you were leaving Seward. Just want to tell you thanks again and be safe on the road.
N&E

[CA_Traveler]

We've asked about kids on the bus tours in Denali and it seems like a mixed bag depending upon a number of factors. Our 4 hour trip to Eielson was boring and we saw more buses than animals. Animal sightings picked up on the return trip but most were far and not easy to spot so that might be a factor. Sightings depend upon fellow travelers to yell "stop" and then we scramble to find the animal and determine that it's not moving (as in white rock). This may be more difficult for children.

So it's certainly the luck of the draw especially for children.

One grandmother was deep into flowers and both grandchildren went with her each time the bus stopped. So my suggestion is to have alternatives. At Teklanika take their picture while they hold antlers up on their head. Very young children will need help.

Hope this helps others plan.

[CA_Traveler]

Bad news: The wind picked up last night and it's windy and overcast in Denali.
Good news: The wind cleared out the smoke so Denali should be more enjoyable.

Yesterday we got a good view of Denali mountain from the Eielson center. Visibility is rarely good in the summer because the mountain creates it's own micro climate. The view was gone as we left.

Animal viewing has been limited perhaps to the late spring and rain. We were very fortunate to see a red fox, 3 bears and a snowshoe hare up close. We did see 3 other bears, caribou, dahl sheep and a golden eagle but they were a long way from the road. The red squirrels were around.

[CA_Traveler]

InTheSchool wrote:
We will be in Montana Creek State Park in Talketna Wednesday evening if they still have space. Denali the 4 th and 5th. We'll be in a 31' rental. See you soon.

We're going to try to stay in Talkeetna starting on Tuesday with no reservation. Have Hurricane Turn train reservation on Thrs. Perhaps we can connect up as we'll be driving around the area.

[b2egypt]

We are on ferry sitting in port at Ketchican...Arrive Haines tomorrow morning. FERRY has been wonderful experience...

[InTheSchool]

We will be in Montana Creek State Park in Talketna Wednesday evening if they still have space. Denali the 4 th and 5th. We'll be in a 31' rental. See you soon.

[Hjudge49]

See you Tuesday

[JANETRUPP]

Hjudge49 wrote:
We will be there on the 2nd, what space are you in now?

We are in site 16. Back in 50amp.

[Hjudge49]

We will be there on the 2nd, what space are you in now?

[JANETRUPP]

Hjudge49 wrote:
We are in Soldatna now at Klondike RV park. Nice people. Fishing tomorrow out of Ninilchik and Monday on the Kenai out of Cooper's Landing. We will go to Homer and stay at Oceanview on the 2nd and stay for a few days. Anyone else going to be there over the Fourth?

Hjudge49, We are at Oceanview now and will still be here until the 5th. Weather is nice. A little chilly but the best....NO MOSQUITOS!!! Yea. I have given so much blood while we stayed at Klondike RV in Soldotna that I feel faint, lol
Park has great Wi-Fi, cable TV with a few stations. Only about 4-5 sites have 50amp so if you need or want 50amp call them ahead of time. The sites are terraced so it does make it a challenge to level but the view is to die for!
Look forward to meeting you! Travel safe!

Janet and Gary

[lizzie]

Last call for a site with hookups in the city park at Seward. I posted on another site that we are leaving in the morning. Since they are first-come, first-served, nobody can have this one until we leave. Not sure where we are going, maybe Eagle River? lizzie