Monday, May 30, 2011

Alaska Day 15 Chicken To Tok Ak

I woke up at 4 AM local time (5 AM Yukon time).  I just did some research on campsites in different future destination areas. I try to have a plan B and C for everybody traveling in the “Last Frontier Gang” as added option for them.

It’s very cloudy already and rain is being called for down in Tok. Yes, the sun is up. I will still wash the RV and car in Tok rain or shine.  I need to wash the radiator and Cummins engine real good along with everything else. I did have one compartment door that opened up a little yesterday and needleless to say it’s trashed with dust/dirt.  Just about all the other compartments have a light film of dust. Larry said I could use his shop vac.

So we pulled out about 7:30 Am with 78 miles to go with the first two more dirt.

DSC_0001 DSC_0002 DSC_0004DSC_0003  DSC_0005 DSC_0010

Downtown Tok.  I got fuel at $4.78 and a 103 gallons with a total of 650 miles.DSC_0012

We pulled into the Tundra RV Park. Got a pull thru, 50 AMP full hook up for $32. We washed the RV and car for $15 unlimited time.DSC_0026

Here’s what the car engine looked liked. It only has 10K miles on it.DSC_0014

Everyone else came a few hours later and we were all parked together. They all washed their vehicles too.DSC_0027

Then it was 4 0”clock time. We saluted the men & women of the Armed Services – present & past – THANK YOU..We all talked about our adventures driving the Top Of The World Highway. Everyone thought it was worth it all things considered.DSC_0020

I think Carol didn’t like the road kill I picked up for her.DSC_0021

With that in mind we all went to Fast Eddy’s for diner. Everyone agreed it was worth the drive and now we can all go home…NOT! Notice the shirts..Memorial Day. It didn’t rain on our party today.DSC_0022

Carol & I had fried mushrooms the Alaska way – BIG!DSC_0024 DSC_0025

At the end of the blog I will keep doing the mileage each day and total mileage from the lower 48 U.S. border. The cost of fuel per gallon I will put in the blog when purchased. The cost of a campsite I will put in the blog.  I won’t be posting the total running cost of all that “other” stuff.  It really can only be used for us because of all of our tastes are so different. What you might buy at a grocery store or how often you go out to eat is different.  Fuel mileage for your vehicle is different and then there is the “fun” costs and that is really different.

P.S. The ferry across the Yukon River from Dawson city is free.  And yes to Otis Redding.

Mileage today – 78 miles  Total miles 2295

Sunday, May 29, 2011

ALASKA DAY 14 TOP OF THE WORLD HIGHWAY

There is only one thing to say about The Top Of The World Highway - OH MY GOD! I can’t believe we did this again! 100 miles of dirt/gravel road and about 10 miles that should have been.

Well, pictures are worth a 1,000 words. Hold on here we go.  If you want a bigger picture – click on it.

DSC_0001 DSC_0004 DSC_0006  DSC_0008 DSC_0007DSC_0011 DSC_0013 DSC_0014 DSC_0018 DSC_0020 DSC_0026 DSC_0028 DSC_0031 DSC_0032 DSC_0033 DSC_0034 DSC_0037 DSC_0038 DSC_0046 DSC_0051 DSC_0057DSC_0056  DSC_0063 DSC_0065 DSC_0071 DSC_0072 DSC_0078 DSC_0079 DSC_0080 DSC_0081 DSC_0083 DSC_0085 DSC_0088 DSC_0092 DSC_0094 DSC_0099 DSC_0103 DSC_0105 DSC_0106 DSC_0107 DSC_0110 DSC_0114 DSC_0118 DSC_0120 DSC_0121 DSC_0122 DSC_0128 DSC_0129 DSC_0132

It took us 4 hours of driving time.  Speeds were usually between 20-30 MPH. Some parts got very small like in one vehicle (med-Lg) at a time. Fuel mileage terrible, scenery beautiful in it’s own way but nothing like the Blue Ridge Parkway on the East Coast. Saw two porcupines, one marmot & one snow bunny. Took about 130 good pictures.  That one gray looking picture is our side mirror looking at the car – what car – couldn't see it in the back up camera either – dusty. Roads are a hell of a lot better than 2009. A lot of completed construction on them. Larry & Marilyn rolled in a cloud of dust about 4 o’clock local. We then went to town (Chicken)for diner and a drink. Not to bad. I spelt some of my chili but one of two local dogs cleaned it up quite well. Hey, it’s a smile of a stop. We are staying in a Passport America park at Chicken at $7 no hook ups and are happy, nice sites for now. It did poor down rain after getting here but no it really didn’t wash off much dust, just made it messy dust. Tomorrow we got 80 miles to Tok. Just another two miles of dirt then hard pavement with a lot of frost heaves if my memory serves me.

Top Of The World Highway – been there done that – twice – thus – no plans to return no matter how many chickens they got up here.

See ya……..