NewallaBus
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Re: Roll Call Alaska 2015
Just returned to the land of Version internet, not much good in Canada or most of Alaska. Left home on 5 May, will get back 2nd week of Oct. No problems on the roads. Some construction in June, a lot more in August. Most frost heaves were marked with the orange flags, and you can usually see the center and side markings get squikley at the frost heaves; but not always. The key to the drive is slow down, after Haines Junction, we averaged about 40 MPH till just short of TOK. Average,in the construction, 20MPH. Coming home from Discovery RV we took 1.5 hours to go 30 miles. One point the pilot car lady stopped and came back to tell me to keep up. Told I would do my best, but my best was about 25 mph for awhile. On the way up we were passed by a 5th wheel, the back tires were airborne over a frost heave as he passed us. We are fortunate that we had lots of time to make this great trip, and did not have to rush. Richardn607Views0likes0CommentsRe: Roll Call Alaska 2015
Been offline for a while, Version service pretty much none in Canada, up the highway. Observations on the trip so far. Everything in Canada is 20% off because of the exchange rate, much nicer than the last time we visited Canada, exchange rate was not in our favor. Rv parks are mostly gravel and fine for an overnight, nice Provincial parks. Get some Canadian dollars to pay for the parks. Road is pretty good, we traveled at 55 to 60 most of the time to Testlin, then about 45 to 50 to Cotton Wood Park on the south end of Kulane Lake. Best view of any RV park we have ever stayed, owners Mary Ann and Glen keep a very clean park and are nice and friendly. From Cotton Wood to Destruction Bay about 40 mph. After there it was sometimes 30 to 35 due to the frost heaves, sometimes slower or faster. There were several short the pavement breaks, gravel for 25 to 50 yards. There are 2 long construction zones, 15 and 29 kilometers, close to the Alaska border in Canada. We drove the construction zones at 15 to 20 mph, and slower. Faster and the washboard will shake everything. One time we were first behind the pilot car and she pulled away from us by 1/4 mile till she realized that I was not going to drive 35 mph, she slowed down to my speed. We were passed by many 5 wheels, trailers and some gas motor homes. One 5th wheel passed us in the frost heaves area, the rear wheels came off the ground as he flew over the heaves. One day in the frost heaves area I only got to 6th gear 2 times, mostly in 4th and 5th due to road conditions. Drove from Border City RV park, (not anything like Church or Milepost said), but fine for a $25 overnight. Do not use the 2 spots close to the building, bad power, go to the marked RV area. I would not cross their bridge to the lower RV park. Lots to do in Fairbanks, did the Riverboat, fine for a one time look up the river, got tired of the commentator's "Paul Harvey" style, perhaps that is why Harvey did a 5 minute show on the radio at noon. Fountainhead Auto museum is well worth the fee, $10 I think. Many Pebble Beach Concours winners. 70 cars from 1889 to 1938, and period clothing by the cars. Rented a raft for a 4 hour float down the Chena River, nice. Smoke in Fairbanks, was pretty thick when we left Yesterday. In Healy RV and Motel, fine park, nice owners. Not much smoke here, never saw a fire or a closed road. More as we progress toward the Kenai. Newalla Bus On edit; we are at Denali RV and Motel, south of Healy, north of the park. R431Views0likes0CommentsRe: Roll Call Alaska 2015
Crossed over at sweet grass Mt Friday the 29th. Real easy till the agent in the both ask where we are from. Told him Oklahoma, he looked at me like I was a member of the Waco TX Bandito's gang and told me to pull over and go in side to verify I was from OK. Went in and I was told to go back out and pull in door #4 (of the big inspection building for verification. Real nice female agent, usual questions, got a gun, No, got any gun parts? No. Own a gun at home? Yes. Has it ever been inside your rv? Yes. Then she said she was going to swap parts of the coach for residue, which might lead to a further deeper inspection, so try and remember any place I might have set it. No problem, gun had not been in the rv for months. We walked the dogs, about 20 minutes she was finished and away we went. No questions on egs, fruit, dogs or dog food. Dawson Creek Northern lights tonight, further north tomorrow. Newalla Bus524Views0likes0CommentsRe: Roll Call Alaska 2015
richarfg wrote: I don't know how many people do this, but I just had two new steering tires placed on my coach. Even though the DOT date is beyond the supposed life of the tires, I decided to put them on the roof of the coach, and intend to carry them in that position up to Alaska. My reason? If it were to take some time to get a replacement tire, should I encounter a road hazard or blow-out; I could much easier find someone who could mount the tire in a timely fashion than waiting on a new tire. Is this overkill? Since a 285/80/22.5 tire, according to the Michelin Man, weights 112.5 pounds, how did you get them up there, and how will you get them down? How did you mount a 22.5 inch tire to the top of your RV? How will you keep it from pouncing/pounding on your roof for 8k to 10k miles to Alaska and back? I have read Alaska RV blogs for years, can't remember reading a post about a 22.5 tire failing. I'm sure there has been some, but I think your chances of a flat tire on a properly inflated and serviceable (for the trip) tire is less than the chance of structural damage to your coaches roof. Richard156Views0likes0CommentsRe: North to Alaska
Another very good way to avoid Calgary and Edmonton is to go west to Highway 22, called the cowboy highway. Very nice paved 2 lane, little traffic, mountains on the west, wheat farms and ranches on the east. You can get info, from Google on what it is like and things to do. Richard352Views0likes0CommentsRe: North to Alaska
Depending on where you are starting, you may have crossed the Rockies to get on the Alaska Highway. What motor, what length RV, how much does it weight, how big of thing is your towed? How much power do you have? Pretty hard to answer your question based on your information. Been reading Alaska travel blogs for 10 years preparing to go. Never read where anyone turned back from lack of power. Richard352Views0likes0Comments
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