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

[CA_Traveler]

We stayed at Smiths Green Acres RV Park in Delta Junction and they have totally inadequate power. I had 103V at 16A which is low enough to damage equipment. There were only a few RVs in the CG so apparently the wiring is inadequate.

There are no 50A sites contrary to the Church camping book. Some of the mobile homes in the back might have 50A.

GS indicates 30A but per above this CG can't even supply 20A. The GS rating is overblown and apparently doesn't consider adequate power or the somewhat poor condition of the back of the park.

Drive on by if you can.

[CA_Traveler]

We have arrived via the Alaskan Highway to Alaska and we were immediately driving 60 MPH on the roads!

How quick the geology changed as I didn't realize that the permafrost ends at the Alaskan border! lol

And the signs change: In Alaska the signs indicate the start of a gravel section of 100 feet while the Canadian gravel signs indicate the end of long stretches of gravel. :B

In Canada the potholes are marked. They are not marked in Alaska and a fellow traveler said that was the same as New York! 😞

[donp5311]

Need some help in finding a camper repair shop to look at my slide outs on a Forest River Flagstaff 5th whl. They are cutting the carpet when I am putting the sides out and from what I have been told they are out of adjustment. I am in Watson Lake heading to Whitehore and then on to Fairbanks or Anchorage where ever I can find a shop. Any help in finding a good shop is appreciated. Thank for your Help

[Laurie_Broussea]

A year ago, we did Alaska last summer (2012) via the western BC route and went all the way to Prudhoe Bay (Dalton Hwy), came back S & E across Top of the World Hwy to Dawson across the Yukon, NWT and S into Alberta before coming back into the US at Glacier NP and eventually back to the NW (home in OR). We did over 12000 miles in 2 months, had no specific itenerary, and loved every minute of it. Some fantastic scenery and pristine wilderness to explore. Took thousands of digital pics. We traveled over 1500 miles on all weather road with a Class B Roadtrek and did many back road side trips. On gravel when meeting other traffic, slow down or stop if possible and most other drivers will return the favor. Just be cautious of road conditions and drive accordingly. We stuck to daytime travel as much as possible and kept the gas tank topped off every 250-300 miles even though we had a range of 430 miles. Gas was very reasonable at Prudoe Bay ($5.35/gal) but saw some very pricey liter prices in northern BC, so price check ahead if you can. Have a safe and pleasant journey.

[JANETRUPP]

Hjudge49 wrote:
Janet, we use the thermocell inside. It is perfectly safe and odorless and really works. I do a lot of deer hunting in Florida and Georgia where mosquitos and yellow flies are as bad as they are up here and the thermocell is the only thing I have ever found that keeps them away. We also use the OFF deck and patio lanterns that use a candle to heat a thermocell type wick and those actually work very well outside the coach.

Thanks :B I will look for it. A lot of repellant is sold out down here in Soldotna.

[CA_Traveler]

Fantastic. DW when out and bought everything is sight from the AZ Wally for those blood suckers. We have one of those blood sucker type of "keep away" devices.
Sure hope they work!

[Hjudge49]

Janet, we use the thermocell inside. It is perfectly safe and odorless and really works. I do a lot of deer hunting in Florida and Georgia where mosquitos and yellow flies are as bad as they are up here and the thermocell is the only thing I have ever found that keeps them away. We also use the OFF deck and patio lanterns that use a candle to heat a thermocell type wick and those actually work very well outside the coach.

[yukiroad]

We are in Tok tonight, Sourdough campground. Heading tomorrow to FAirbanks for 4-5 nights either Rivers edge (space permitting) or Riverview.

I know some of you have raved about the drive from Dawson City to Chicken, maybe you were in a 5th wheel, cause it sure wasn't fun in our big motorhome. We had not planned to take it, but kept reading about how great it was so decided to do it. I understand the road from Destruction Bay to the border was bad - so can't really compare - but 5 hours of gravel, potholes, soft shoulders, narrow roads, sharp curves did not justify the scenery, actually have seen much better in the lower 48. We traveled on a beautiful day, do not attempt it in the at rain. Left Dawson City at 6:30 a.m to avoid the ferry lines, which can be really long - got to the border 10 minutes before it opened. The Taylor highway from us border to Chicken was far worse than the Top of the World. Just writing this incase any of you are on the fence about whether to take it, my husband, who did the driving said he would never do it again and wished we had never did it. Just our input...
Looking forward to the next month and a half in Alaska.
Debbie and Juan

[Hjudge49]

I had a "Senior moment" we are actually at River's Edge, not Rivereview.

[JANETRUPP]

Hjudge49 wrote:
We are in Riverview in Fairbanks tonight. (D6) Spent last night in Beaver Creek. The night before in Watson Lake at "Baby Nugget". Worst mosquitos I have ever seen and I live in Florida. Last night we used the thermocell in the coach and didn"t have a single bug all night. We will stay here in Fairbanks at least 4 nights, plan to have the coach serviced and the 5 stone chips on the windshield (all collected within 10 minutes South of Watson Lake) repaired before moving on. Any body else here?

I saw those "Thermocell" at the store. Can you use them indoors with no problems? Looked like a good idea.

Janet

[sue_t]

CA Traveler wrote:
If anyone gets caught in that mess turn at signpost city and follow the road several miles to the airport (just used for fire fighting I think) and park along the lake in that area. I just can't imagine anyone would mind...

The road out of Watson Lake that leads to the airport is actually the start of the Robert Campbell highway. The Campbell Highway and the airport are active with mining activities.

Instead, carry on northwest of Watson Lake on the Alaska Highway. There is a territorial campground just a few miles up the Alaska Highway that is a nice spot, numerous large site, on the lakeshore, but no services.

A few miles further, past the Hwy 37 junction, is Nugget City RV Park. Full services at this park. Good food too.

The Super A foods in Watson Lake is a good spot to stock up on groceries, but it is a bit more expensive than Whitehorse. Easy parking for RVs off the Alaska Highway on the business access street.

If you carry on past the Super A foods and Downtown RV Park on the side street, there is Wye Park on the shores of Wye Lake. This is a pleasant stop for lunch with easy RV access. Good hiking trail around the lake that is popular with birders. There is also a fresh water tap and a station in the parking lot of the park. Because we boondock, this park is a usual stop for us to fill & dump tanks.

[JANETRUPP]

pasco1215 wrote:

lizzie wrote:
We drove from Anchorage to Homer today in very nice weather on a great road. We are at Oceanview RV Park and plan to stay as long as it takes. Had a long walk on the beach this evening. We met Dale, (Scottiemom)in Anchorage at the Golden Nugget. Hope we run into them again. lizzie

We will be at Oceanview today for a week. Hope to meet you Lizzie

Hey, Pasco1215 and Lizzie....We will be arriving at Oceanview Friday the 28th if you will still be there. We are staying a week also. Now we are headed out of Anchorage to Soldotna for 5 nights. Staying at Klondike RV. Hope to see some of you out there!
I did meet a nice lady "Dee" next door in Anchorage at Ship Creek that although she did not sign up on "Roll Call" she has been lurking the whole time, lol. Otherwise not running into any of us "Roll Callers"
Travel safe,
Janet

[pasco1215]

lizzie wrote:
We drove from Anchorage to Homer today in very nice weather on a great road. We are at Oceanview RV Park and plan to stay as long as it takes. Had a long walk on the beach this evening. We met Dale, (Scottiemom)in Anchorage at the Golden Nugget. Hope we run into them again. lizzie

We will be at Oceanview today for a week. Hope to meet you Lizzie

[CA_Traveler]

Alan M wrote:
We are in Downtown RV Watson lake. While checking in, we were told that there is a caravan of 76 rigs arriving here on the 27th and have booked out the hole RV park.(only RV park in town). One is closed and one burned down.

If anyone gets caught in that mess turn at signpost city and follow the road several miles to the airport (just used for fire fighting I think) and park along the lake in that area. I just can't imagine anyone would mind...

[CA_Traveler]

deleted