Prince Rupert, British Columbia

Posted on July 9, 2011 by admin

There is more of a choice in Prince Rupert when it comes to parking your RV for the night.  We chose to stay closest to the ferry at Prince Rupert RV Campground (www.princerupertrv.com).  Reservations can be made online.  Make certain you ask for the WiFi information and bathroom codes upon check-in as this information surprisingly isn’t always readily offered to guests.  It is a clean and quiet park to spend the night while waiting for your ferry to sail.  As an added bonus you will most likely wake to see deer in your campsite.

Another choice for camping is Kinnikcamp Campground in Port Edwards 6 miles before you arrive in Prince Rupert on Highway 16.  From what I’ve see online it looks like a campground with a lot of ambiance tucked away in the woods.  See for yourself at www.kinnikcamp.com.

Stroll downtown to Cow Bay Historic District and check out the docks for the afternoon.  Breaker’s Pub is in this area, right on the waterfront, and is a nice place to hang out while you’re waiting to go elsewhere.  The lunch and bar menu offer the normal fare.  As it is with every pub in Canada, it won’t be cheap, but it is enjoyable.  You may wish to stop by the Museum of Northern British Columbia if you have some extra time.

Wait on buying groceries until you get to Ketchikan.  The prices at the A&P in Ketchikan are much better and offer a better selection than that of the Safeway in Prince Rupert, besides that you won’t have to search forever for that last Canadian quarter so you can use a shopping cart.  The Safeway and Walmart in Ketchikan are well stocked.   As an added bonus to this suggestion, when you give the Boarder Agent your refrigerator list it won’t have to be changed from the list you used for crossing into Canada.

Our ferry was scheduled to sail at 8:45pm.  Vehicles, including ours, started staging at 2pm.  You may as well get out of your vehicle and walk around a bit.  It’s nice to meet people and to hear about their Alaskan Plan.  Many people you meet will be from the very towns you’ll be traveling to.  The ferry employees will started measuring vehicles around 4 and if you haven’t done so go to the terminal to get your tickets and tags for your vehicle.  Take the time to check your tickets and make any further reservations such as additional trips or onboard cabins.  It takes quite a bit of time to go through this process since it’s the jumping on point to many destinations.  There is a lot of moving around from lane to lane in order to get everyone staged their correct destination.  This is also the point where you will go through Customs.  These Agents are very nice at this boarder crossing.

You will start the line up at the end of Highway 16.  At this point it doesn’t matter which line you are in.  Going to the shortest line is probably the best strategy.  Once you are measured and your propane tank is checked and tagged the agent will give you a piece of paper with your vehicle length.  You will drive down the hill and into your designated lane and take this to the ticket counter to get your tickets and vehicle tag.    From this lane you will go through the Customs procedure, afterwards stopping  at the ticket agent who will then put you yet in another lane closer to the ferry entrance. Once again you will wait… and talk with your neighbors. And take your dog for a walk.

One note on the ticketed times:  The sail time printed on your ticket is Prince Rupert time.  The arrival time in Ketchikan is Alaskan time. As soon as you board ship you are working on Alaskan time which is one hour earlier than PT.

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The Perfect Campground

Posted on March 5, 2011 by admin

After a summer of traveling, researching RV campgrounds, and writing reviews on camps I really started to question what my priorities were in looking for a good campground. I found several camps that I loved and returned to over the summer, such as Spruce Meadows in Juneau. I also found camps that were absolutely awful and overpriced, like the one just north of Denali or the one in Palmer. You know, the ones that truly try to go the distance to ruin your spirit.

Finding the perfect campground can be likened to house hunting. You can have your priority list but sometimes it’s just a matter of knowing it when you see it. “It” could be the inviting rustic bridge leading into the campground. “It” could be the ‘Welcome Home’ sign and beautiful trees. Driving into the campground you should feel like you’re home. The warm, comfortable feeling that overtakes you when you first feel the enthusiasm about staying for the night is the telltale sign that you’ve found the perfect campground, and thoughts of extending your stay has already become your current plan.

Driving into the campground and finding the office for check-in shouldn’t be an issue. There should be enough room to temporarily park the rig. There should be a camp host on duty, provided you aren’t making a late arrival. And you should get the genuine sense that your stay is absolutely appreciated. The best camp hosts are people persons, which is a great match for their traveling guests. The camp host who truly cares about you as a guest will tell you of all the special things to do in the area as if they are letting you in on a highly classified secret. They will give you a well marked map so you can spend your days touring like a local and make you want to extend your stay in the area. They will ask what your site preferences are and help you chose the best location for your party. They give you a map of the campground with important information, tell you about cable information and if needed give you a box for your coach, and make it known they will be available just in case you need help during your stay.

As you drive to your site you notice the spaciousness of the sites and how well groomed they are. They have enough trees and shrubbery to provide privacy, but are not so overwhelming that you can’t place the rig and slides properly in the space. The road is wide, the site is level, providing adequate space for backing in. Settling in is easy and quick because the water, sewer, and electric are all properly placed. Internet and cable are working as they should. Everything is just beautiful. You set your camp chairs out, let the dog settle in, and sit down to relax a bit before grilling dinner. You are now appreciating the fruits of the camp host’s labor. You have found your home, if only for the evening.

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Rules of Camping

Posted on February 20, 2011 by admin

RV park owners always have their own list of rules for using their property.  Your RV neighbors many times would like to write their own set of rules.  There are always campers in every park who just don’t seem to “get it,” to have common decency, or maybe it’s just good ole common sense.  Let’s briefly review some of the most common complaints among seasoned campers.

 1.        Don’t cut through your neighbor’s campsite unless it’s truly an emergency.  Rescuing the freshly baked banana bread cooling on the picnic table from your newly escaped 200 pound Saint Bernard might be about the only excuse one could make about invading your neighbor’s space. (Fine! It was corn bread, but you get the idea.)

2.       When walking your dog on the all important 6′ leash, try to give bigger dogs space.  A bad habit of small dog owner’s is wanting to introduce Fido to a dog who clearly would need 15 Fido’s just to make a decent snack.  Of course, this leads the large dog to lunge toward the little one (who almost always is at the end of a retractable) and let out a bark that could set off the next tsunami.   I can’t begin to even count the number of times I’ve been reading at my campground with Max quietly sleeping at my feet when someone walks their little dog right through the site, or worse yet brings their small children over to meet Beethoven.  Best rule of thumb is, let sleeping dogs lie.

3.       Pick up after your dog no matter how small the waste.  Teach your children the importance of picking up after Fido.  Always carry disposal bags in your pocket.  No other camper appreciates the trinkets left behind.  And yes, we can see the prize left behind from your Chihuahua.

4.       If the posted speed limit in the park is 5mph, drive 5mph.  You’re on vacation, where is it that you have to hurry to?  Older people can’t dodge and jump as quickly as they used to.

5.       Sometimes early or late departures have to be made.  Engine noise can’t be avoided, nor can jack retraction or the inflation of air bags, however, voices can be kept to a minimum.  You and your spouse don’t have to talk to each other over the engine noise.

6.       Angle your RV in line with the other RVs in your row to allow maximum space for your neighbors as well as you.  Don’t put your rig so close to the line that your slides overhang their space. It doesn’t matter if you’ve driven a bus for years, if you have to come close to my rig in order to back into your space, get a bigger space. I’m here to relax, not to look out for your driving skills.

7.       Try to keep your voices as well as the radio and TV low enough so it can’t be heard in adjacent campsites.  Nothing ruins a peaceful afternoon more than thumping music coming from a neighbor’s site.  A few years ago I encountered a woman on the Colorado River who just bought a brand new, bright yellow jet boat.  She sat on the shore for hours blasting her music before security would ask her to turn it down.  She insisted that quiet hours didn’t start until 10pm and she could do anything she wished until then.  Again, she was told to turn the music down.  Upon this second request, she moved her boat 10 feet off the shoreline and turned the volume up.  “There’s more than one way to skin a cat,” she screamed over the music.  She was at least 75 years old.  Rudeness is a product of all generations.  And just for the record, I really only know of one way to skin a cat.

8.       Turn your exterior lighting off when you go to bed.  It’s fine to use the patio lighting but you don’t want it shining in your neighbor’s window throughout the evening. 

9.       Please leave the wind chimes at home.  Not everyone enjoys the constant noise while they’re trying to enjoy a quiet afternoon.  Also, if for whatever reason, you were to consider bringing along a bird feeder, don’t.  Again, consider your neighbors.

10.    You will most likely be using a dump station at some point during your travels.  There are many campgrounds in Alaska where you will need to dump your tanks when you enter or exit a campgound. Please make sure to know how to properly dump your tanks and do it quickly so as not to create traffic at the dump.   If you are so inclined, for whatever reason, to go through any personal sanitary rituals pull away from the dump site.  If you see anyone taking pictures while you are dumping please be advised, pictures of you will be posted on every RV group site and you will be mocked ad nauseum across the country.

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General Rules for Ferry Travel

Posted on February 20, 2011 by admin

1.        Get a room.  Yes, you can sleep in your tent on the deck provided you brought enough duct tape.  You can sleep in the lounge chairs in the heated solarium.  You can roll your sleeping bag out on the floor in any lounge, but why would you want to?  Berths are inexpensive, give yourself permission to splurge. If by chance you do try the tent on the deck scenario, in addition to duct tape, you may want to tie some part of the tent to something stable. The captain will not turn the ship around to retrieve your tent after it has blown over the side.

2.       Keep your kids under control.  Ferries are relatively small vessels and noise travels inside lounges.  There are, depending on the ferry, several activities your kids will enjoy;  movie lounge, play area, video game area, National Park Ranger talks.   There are also peaceful areas for them to work on projects you have so thoughtfully packed for them.  Other passengers should not be disturbed by the actions or loud voices of your children.  And no, running on board ship should not take place, inside nor outside on the slippery deck.  This isn’t a Carnival cruise. The Fun Ship can afford a berth much closer to the Red Dog.

3.       No the doors to the deck are not locked.  You just have to (a) push really hard or (b) trying pulling.

4.       No, you can’t take your own liquor into the bar, and you can’t take your drinks out of the bar.  You can drink in the bar, or, if you choose you can drink in your stateroom.  You can buy a bottle of wine at the bar and take it back to your stateroom.  We take a cooler on board with snacks, drinks, and a bottle of wine.  We take a coffee pot for the stateroom, with Danish for morning just because we don’t like having to get dressed to run to the dining room for coffee.  If this sounds like you, remember to pack an extension cord, sometimes it comes in handy.

5.  While were on the subject, please don’t ask the bartender to allow your children into the bar. On almost every ship there is a piano in this lounge and inevitably there is that one family who thinks it would be just grand for everyone to listen to their son who plays the best rendition of Jingle Bells. News flash: People wouldn’t be in this lounge if they had kids or if they really wanted to listen to the kids on the rest of the ship. For the adults this is a relaxing and quiet area. If you have an instrument with you, bring it in and get a jam session going. If there is a movie playing on board, ask the bartender if he can turn it on in this lounge. (The exception to this is the Columbia.)

6.       For the other lounge areas, if you’re going to have conversations, try to keep your voice low enough so as not to disturb other passengers.  You will meet many people on board who are anxious to share their stories.  There is also that one person on every ferry who I’m certain just likes to hear the sound of his own voice.  I know this because even if there’s no one around this man, he’s talking to himself.  There are many people in the lounges who are reading, working on computers, or maybe even trying to sleep.   Be considerate.

7.       When the ferry docks in a port you can disembark.  If by chance you do, please be back on board ship at least a half hour prior to departure.  You don’t want to miss the boat.  There will be very few times in your life when you’ll be able to  catch a boat from a strange town that will take you to a patiently waiting ferry captain. As a reminder, if you do disembark take your ticket and ID with you. Under no circumstances will you be allowed to board without it.

8.       When you disembark the ferry, please don’t ask the folks in town “So… what’s the elevation here?”  If not immediately, the reason for this will appear obvious within a few minutes.

And just one more rule for ferry travel:

9) If your children have the propensity to shout profanities at each other, kindly close your windows while staging so as not to disturb other passengers.   Yes, just in case you’re curious, it rather surprises me too that this must be stated as a rule.

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Alaskan Marine Highway

Posted on February 20, 2011 by admin

I can’t say enough about the Alaska Marine Highway.  Every employee we meet is professional, kind, knowledgeable,  and has a great sense of humor.  The customer service with Alaska Marine is terrific; friendly, warm, and very helpful and patient.  The anticipation of driving the rig onto the ferry had me a bit nervous.  There is really nothing to be nervous about at all.  The men who work the car deck are the best at their jobs.  They help you every step of the way and they’ve seen every sort of situation imaginable.  Leave it to the experts and enjoy your trip.  Just do what you’re told and you’ll be fine.

Cabin berths come in different sizes depending on the ship; a two berth, a three berth, or a four berth.  You can have a private bath in your room or if you wish you can use the facilities down the hall.  You can choose an inside room or a room with a view.  For comfort we choose to have a either a 3-berth or 4-berth with private bath, only because neither of us enjoys climbing up to the top bunk. We have one favorite room in particular, but I’m not sharing that information with anyone for fear of never being able to secure that room ever again. If you think at any point you’ve made the wrong choice in room selection, go to the Purser’s Desk upon arrival on board the ship and request an upgrade. They will make every accommodation if possible. If you are in need of extra pillows, towels, an extention cord, etc, ask politely and they will do everything they can to grant your wishes. Heck, go ahead and rudely ask, they will still give it to you if it exists. They are just that great!

The ferry system makes very good meals at a fair price.  Every morning there are breakfast specials. Nightly there are 3 specials in addition to the cheeseburgers, sandwiches, and a la carte items such as chef salads and desserts.  The prices aren’t outrageous either.  The daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner specials are made fresh on ship everyday.  Omelets are made to order in the morning.  You can have a deli sandwich made for you or maybe a cheeseburger and fries.  Halibut, corned beef and cabbage, or beef roast with potatoes, carrots, and onions are all likely dinner options made fresh onboard.  Again, I will stress, the ingredients are fresh, not out of a box.

There are National Park Rangers giving interpretive talks on the areas you are seeing.  There are movies, a game room, lounges where you can read, do puzzles, or use your computer.  There are indoor lounges and outdoor lounges.  There is a bar for those over 21 years of age.  And there is a lot of sea life and sailing vessels to ponder.

Ferries that travel throughout the Inside Passage arrive and depart several times a week at each port.  Ferries that travel Cross Gulf, for instance the Kennicott that travels from Whittier to the Inside Passage, do so only once every two weeks.  The Columbia that travels to and from Bellingham does so only once a week.  When you are booking ferries you need to keep this in mind.  Changing your bookings for ports within the Inside Passage is relatively easy, when you decide you just have to spend a little more time exploring one of the towns.  But, you absolutely need reservations for Cross Gulf and Bellingham, and arrange this as quickly as you can. Most RVers who take advantage of travel by ferry travel the entire length of the Passage without stopping in any of the towns to camp along the way. They use it as a quick way to get into and out of Interior Alaska without exploring the Inside Passage. Lucky you, and me. This only means the best places are less traveled by those who are most likely to say “I’ve been there” when really they’ve only traveled through.

Last year, we booked our ferry late as far as I am concerned, three weeks before departure.  But, we departed out of Prince Rupert, where there are four sailings a week, not Bellingham where there is only one.  This makes a huge difference.  The other difference is the price.  The Columbia from Bellingham to Ketchikan has a bigger price tag associated with it than the Matanuska from Prince Rupert.  You have to weigh your options. This year we booked our ferry/cabin from Bellingham to Wrangell before the first of January.  Rooms were already limited. Our good friends who will be traveling with us this year booked at the beginning of February and were able to secure passage of the truck, but all rooms were booked. No worries, they’ll be staying with us. Cabins are priced by the size, not the number of people assigned to them.

Before booking the ferry you will need to measure your RV.  Record you measurement, in feet, bumper to bumper.  If your rig is 39’11”, you will reserve for 40 feet.  Measure side to side, not including mirrors.  It should be a normal width.  Ferry charges increase significantly over 108” in width.  You should also know the height of your vehicle, which should not measure over 13 ½ feet.  You will unhitch your toad and drive this on separately.  Measure this.  To receive a standard rate it should be no longer than 15’, no wider than 108”, and no taller than 6 ½ feet.  If you have a tow bar or bicycles that change these dimensions consider stowing them inside other areas to avoid extra charges.   The ferry can handle the big rigs.  Maximum height is 13’6”.  There is only one ship, the Tustumena, which has a maximum length of 40’. If you have a 40′ length and you leave your towbar attached to your rig your length will increase by a foot. It’s really important to reserve the correct amount of space. Your rig will be measured every time you stage. If the ship is full and you have not reserved the adequate space you will be waiting in stand by until they know there will be room for you.

 If you are towing, plan on disconnecting and driving on separately.  This will not only save you money on the 4 feet of tow bar, but it will also provide you with maneuverability while on the ferry.  You will have to back up and maybe even back out of the ferry.  Go ahead and read that last sentence again.  You need to digest this information calmly since in all likelihood it will happen.  Don’t sweat it.  It is all very easy with your helpful guides, but completely undoable when towing a vehicle.

 On your way to somewhere else, you may dock in other towns to let off passengers who are not going to your destination.  You can disembark at any of these locations.  You can take your dog for a walk.  Remember to take your ticket and ID with you.  The one thing you may not be able to do is see the town you are docked in, for two reasons (1)  you won’t be in port for very long and (2) the ferry dock is nowhere near the places you’ll want to see.  With the exception of Wrangell there aren’t many towns where you can disembark without taking a taxi to see the town.  For example, Ketchikan has businesses around the terminal but the shops in town would be a hike, in Petersburg expect to walk about a mile before getting to something of interest, the town of Sitka is 7 miles away from the terminal, Grandma’s you can comfortably walk to when stopping in Yakutat, however getting anywhere else will take some talent given the timeframe, the town of Juneau is several miles away and not even within sight of the ferry terminal.  Remember this is a highway not a tour boat or a cruise ship.

 Along your route you may just wish to pick up the ferry.  This is normal taxi service along the Inside Passage.  Call or stop by to see if there is space for you.  Most days the ship isn’t full and even if you have to wait a day it will be worth the effort.  We booked extra passage from Valdez to Whittier simply because we found the system so easy to use.   By changing our route midstream we didn’t have to double back along the same roads.

Just a word about pets.  Pets must stay with your vehicle on the car deck.  There are pet calls on the ferry when you can enter the car deck to feed, water, and walk your pet.  You cannot enter the car deck when the ferry is underway.  On long journeys, like traveling Cross Gulf, the ferry will tread water for 15 minutes while you go down to check on your pet.   When the ship docks in any town you are free to disembark and walk your pet.

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Boarder Crossing

Posted on February 20, 2011 by admin

Boarder crossing isn’t difficult, but depending on where you cross you may have a wait time. If you are traveling with Internet capability you can check online for wait times. US Customs wait times:  http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/.  Canadian Customs wait times:  http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/times/menu-e.html.  Be prepared when crossing the Boarder by having all of your documentation in order.  Clip all required information together in groups so it can be easily  handed to the agent when requested. Looking as if you are prepared and know the rules, goes a long way to a smooth encounter.

 For the RV – Registration, insurance card, Canadian insurance card, insurance policy

 For the toad – Registration, insurance card, Canadian insurance card, insurance policy

If traveling with animals – health certificate dated within 30 days of boarder crossing, rabies certificate for each

Passports for everyone in your traveling party

A list outlining food items – Organize the list into 3 columns – Refrigerator/Freezer/Pantry – Provide a quick listing in each of these these areas – For example, list canned fruit not every type you’re carrying, list condiments not each single item, if you have beer and wine in the refrigerator it isn’t necessary to provide a count on the list. If questioned, simply say “We have enough for the two of us. If you’d like to come in and check I’d be happy to give it to you if you think it’s over the limit.” By being prepared with the other information, it’s unlikely they will question you on this issue.

 Be prepared with concise answers to questions, such as:

  •  How long will you be in Canada?  Answer: We have reservations for the ferry in Prince Rupert on Friday.
  • Where are you planning on staying while you are here?  Answer: We will be staying tonight in Kamloops and then in two other campgrounds on our way to Rupert.
  • How many people are you traveling with?  Answer: It’s just the two of us.
  • Do you have any pets? Answer: Yes, a dog and a cat. Be prepared to hand the documents to the agent.
  • Are you carrying any firearms?  Handgun? Mace?  Bear Spray?  Best possible answer: No, No, No, No.
  • Do you have any firearms at home? I have no idea why they would ask this or why it’s any of their business.
  • Are you transporting any (insert current banned food item here)? Answer: No.  And you won’t be because you’ve already read the list of banned items.
  • Do you have any alcohol on board?  Cigarettes?  How much? Possible Answer: Yes, I have beer and wine. It’s listed with my food items. And if you have cigarettes tell them how many packs.

It is during this questioning session that I normally hand them the food list I’ve prepared. Just as an aside, if you are a smoker, you may want to take note that Marlboro’s are not sold in Canada. And liquor is extremely expensive. Last summer a case of Budweiser was $62 plus 2 Canadian taxes.

People always ask about crossing through Customs.  I have personally never had a problem with crossing, either the Canadian Boarder or the US Boarder, however there are some agents in our US office I would rather not meet again.  It is my hope they don’t treat visitors to this country as rudely and arrogantly as they treat citizens.  Crossing from the Yukon into Alaska we had an agent actually yelling at us for not coming through a lane as requested.  We knew our ride height was higher than the posted height so we drove through the truck lane.  He “eyeballed” the coach and decided it would fit under the awning.  It didn’t matter to him that we have a KingDome that rides higher than the front of the coach.  Coming home through Montana in Sweetgrass we encountered an extremely arrogant agent who seemed to be bent on expressing his authority to “the common people.”  Maybe they think if they are obnoxious to US citizens we will think they have to be worse to foreigners coming in, so therefore they are doing their jobs.  In a backward sort of way, this might be a positive thing. 

Of course, not everyone is awful.   The agents in Prince Rupert were terrific. I’ve heard some horror stories.  I must believe they are mostly stories, because no matter how arrogant the agent I have never had any problem crossing; our rig was never entered and not even the smallest bay was inspected. The closest an agent ever came to entering our rig was to step up to the first stair when I opened the door, but it was more to continue our conversation and for him to pet the Saint Bernard than for an inspection.

Speaking of Saints, it turns out letting this sleepy pooch lay here on the grass in Washington wasn’t the brightest of ideas. We live in the mountains at 7500 feet were ticks and fleas can’t thrive, unfortunately we hadn’t thought of the likelihood of Max coming up against this problem and didn’t prepare properly. He ended up having a couple of ticks that we took care of on the road. You won’t have to worry about ticks in Alaska, but it might be a good preventative measure to give outdoor animals a dose of flea and tick medication prior to traveling.

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Prepare The Exterior Of Your Vehicles

Posted on February 20, 2011 by admin

There were a couple of things we did to the exterior of the coach to prepare for the long trip.  It was the first trip with the coach into the great north. Traveling Alaska is different than traveling anywhere in the lower 48. We’ve traveled extensively throughout the Continental United States, we know the roads, the customs, the cuisine, and can handle any emergency while on the road in ”the south,” which to an Alaskan is the lower 48.  Alaska is different. In emergencies, it isn’t necessarily which road service you have, many times it’s more important which friendly local you met at the Friday night Elk’s dinner who just happens to know the only mechanic in town is currently at NAPA and makes the phone call to tell him about your plight. Within 10 minutes Mr. Mechanic is meeting you at your coach to take care of your problem.

No matter where you are in Alaska, the relationships you create with the locals will serve you better than any road side assistance you can pay for. Alaskans are extremely helpful, go out of their way to make you feel comfortable, and are understanding when visitors are out of their element. However, if you have completely lost your head, have gone out of your way to show a total lack of common sense, and carry your arrogance with pride as if it were the latest Eagle Scout badge, expect Alaskans to walk away shaking their head and laughing as you stand stranded, if you’re lucky in a Wally World parking lot. On the brighter side of this situation, you can feel good about contributing to the happiness of the Locals, as you have just given the whole town a good story to talk about for the next week, or maybe even the season.

There are precautions you can take prior to hitting the road.

 1) We installed a rock guard on the coach.  We never thought we needed one up until this point.  Even if you don’t drive the Alcan Highway you will encounter gravel roadwork areas.  Depending on where your radiator is installed on the coach this rock guard will possibly save it, and it will go a long way in saving the paint on your toad.

2) We made a windshield cover for the Jeep.  Even with the rock guard, the coach will spit gravel back at the toad. Oncoming traffic and passing vehicles will shoot stones. Using a rubber material we had hanging around the garage, we cut it to a size a bit bigger than the windshield of the Jeep so it would fit under the wipers, 2 inches over the top of the windshield, and long enough to secure inside the doors.  We then punched in 3 grommets down each side so the cover could be secured with bungee cords inside the Jeep while it was being towed.

3) We double covered the headlights on the coach and the Jeep with clear packing tape. It turns out we didn’t need this extra precaution, but I suppose that might be the working definition of “precaution.”

4) Ok, technically this isn’t an exterior item.  We made sure to return the insulated window coverings we use when camping in the desert heat to the bedroom windows and skylights of the coach. It darkens the bedroom nicely and it’s a material you probably already have on hand.  This will be your best defense against those Alaskan daylight nights and early morning sun.

5)  In case you haven’t already done so, you will need a tow bar and breaking system for your toad. And don’t bother to consider traveling without a toad. If you’re interested in saving money, consider purchasing your equipment on the Internet and having it shipped to you. Many times you can purchase from online sources with free shipping and no tax. I’ve had success with  RV Warehouse Supply for both the tow bar and the breaking system. Here are the links where you can check them out for yourself.  If you have any questions they are very helpful. We have the Roadmaster tow bar and breaking system. http://www.rvsupplywarehouse.com/product/catalog.cfm/nid/219 and http://www.rvsupplywarehouse.com/product/catalog.cfm/nid/218

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Inside storage cabinets

Posted on February 15, 2011 by admin

For years, I’ve tried to think of a solution to keeping wine and juice glasses upright and quiet while on the road, with the added benefit of not tumbling out of the cabinet upon arrival at the campground and smashing on the counter top.  I posed this question on one of my travel  group sites.  They asked me why I would travel with glasses at all.  Well, I suppose my immediate response would be, I can’t seem to enjoy a glass of wine out of plastic cup.   Problem solved! This past year at Wally World I found stainless steel mesh baskets with lip locks.  These trays fit nicely inside the cabinet, lock onto each other, don’t move while on the road, and hold all the glassware.  To keep them quiet, I cut the foam shelf liner and placed it not only on the shelf below the baskets but a small piece is placed between each glass.

 I’m not a fan of paper plates or plastic forks, either.  If I want to rough it I’ll throw my tent and air mattress in the back of the Suburban, that of course includes a DVD TV and Bose surround sound.  I bought a motorhome to have my home on wheels with me.  I like my creature comforts and I’m not apologizing for it.  To keep my dishes quiet, I cut the foam shelf liner into circles to fit the inside of each size plate and bowl.  Silverware in the drawer will stay quieter if a piece of foam liner is cut for the bottom of each silver section in the drawer.

 I emptied every cabinet and organized each for this trip.  I wanted to make sure things were conveniently located for ease of use and quick access.  I enjoy cooking on trips and use the kitchen a lot.  Very rarely do we eat out when on the road.  I made sure my pantry held all the spices I needed.  I stocked up on canned items.  I put pastas, beans, and rice in Rubbermaid containers and large canning jars due to the fact we were traveling to a humid climate.

 Before leaving we stocked up on Costco items.  You will find plenty of shopping areas in Alaska but I figured wasting time in Alaska shopping for the mundane items would take time away from catching my barn door.  Stock up on toilet paper, paper towels, personal care items, Ziploc bags,  tissues, and trash bags.  Stock laundry and dish detergent.  I fill two large Folger’s cans with laundry detergent and Oxyclean. Two items I always carry in the RV are large restaurant rolls of aluminum foil and plastic wrap.  These are, in my opinion, the most convenient items in my pantry, and with the amount of fish I planned on catching I needed to make certain to have enough.

We all have a lot of personal effects inside our coaches to make it our home.  After having put some of these things away, I decided there were certain things I couldn’t live without.  That is, I can’t live without them but I also didn’t want to put them away every time we broke camp.  For these items, I used Museum Wax.  I purchased a small container at my local hardware store and placed a glob on the bottom of each item.  Everything stayed in place, nothing ever moved.  This trick can’t be used in the Arizona desert, but remember you’re traveling to a rain forest. Some of the items I held in place included small desk lamps, soap dishes, printers, and my chef knife block.

 The bath cabinets need to be cleaned out and organized.  Every time we move the coach every item in the cabinet falls over.  Again, the mesh baskets worked like a charm to help keep these items upright and organized.

 Think about having a drawer or a reachable cabinet for camera equipment, photo printer, photo paper supplies, binoculars, and video camera.  Think about having a comfortable computer area.  We have a dining table and 4 chairs that we rearranged.  The table we turned to face the wall, we took out all 4 chairs, and we brought in a rolling desk chair.  It not only opened the living room area but it gave me a good work area with a lamp, laptop, and a printer.  We attached a 2-file tray and a small two drawer filing cabinet under the table which gave us a good work and storage space.

Have a special location for the rain jackets, boots, and hats.  I kept this gear in a Rubbermaid container in the jeep.   A small shakable, machine washable carpet inside the coach by the entry door is a requirement to shed wet boots.    If you could keep the awning out it would be easy to take this gear on and off outside.  In wet seasons it really isn’t possible to leave your awning out. Not only will the rain fill the awning during a night drenching, but you might not be able to dry the awning adequately from day to day. If you are planning on staying in one area for an extended period of time you may wish to take an “easy up” where you can hang wet jackets and have a small area to sit and relax after a day of fishing.

Pack clothes within one color scheme, things you can mix and match.  Pack only your favorites.  Pack to dress in layers, t-shirt, long sleeve shirt, fleece or sweatshirt, rain jacket/wind jacket.   You don’t need a lot of clothes.  You need comfortable clothes.  The nice thing about Alaska is they’ve taken the idea of “casual” to new heights.   Dress so you’re comfortable in the weather you’re faced with.  You will do laundry every week to 10 days and you will find yourself wearing the same comfortable clothes week after week.  It’s okay.  You’re going to Alaska, not attending the Grammy’s.  The only one who cares about your $150 pair of Blood and Gluts convertible pants is you.  Alaskans are pretty unimpressed with anything related to the south.  They are a pretty straight forward lot, caring more about you than how you dress.  Be a visitor, not a tourist.  Leave the dressy pantsuit, cocktail dress, and heels to the cruise ship tourist. 

 Other Items Of Worthy Mention:

            Cooler with wheels for ferry trips

            Favorite pillows from home

            Wine glasses

            DVDs, books, and magazines - lots!!!

            Extra glasses and sun glasses

            Water bottles to fill from gallon jugs

            Winter hats for boating expeditions

            Clothespins

            Bottle of ammonia – to rub on mosquito bites to take the itch away

            Vitamin B12 – some people swear that it repels mosquitoes and bees, it worked for me

            Rain gear – jackets and knee high rain boots, hiking boots, also sneakers and sandals

            Gloves – with finger holes so you can still take photos on those cold boat rides

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Books, DVDs, and Websites

Posted on February 15, 2011 by admin

Once I’ve come up with a travel idea, researching for the trip is great fun for me.  You start to ask yourself questions? What do you find enjoyable?  Where is it you want to go?  How do you want to get there?  To answer these questions you will need to acquire information from all possible sources.  If you are doing it right, your dining room will start to resemble your local library. I would suggest a large map of British Columbia, the Yukon, and Alaska that you can tack on a wall, a good supply of post-its, and the best item was the whiteboard in my office for jotting down ideas and organizing information as it came to mind.

Start with the local Chamber of Commerce for each town you plan to visit.  The following sites will link you with the State Of Alaska and a listing of all Chambers within the state.  Once you get into the site go to each individual town website and request individual information from the areas of interest.  Do remember these Chambers will not give a complete listing of businesses within each area, just the business information for those who pay to be associated with the chamber.

Check out Seward  http://sewardresort.com/

www.alaskachamber.com            Alaska State Chamber           

http://www.2chambers.com/alaska2.htm           Website listings for individual Chambers

 Early on you will need an updated schedule for the Alaska Marine Highway System.  Go to  http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/index.shtmland request a copy.  Although all of the information is online you will need a hardcopy to keep handy. Once in Alaska you will be able to pick up a copy just about everywhere. I’ll talk more about the ferry system at a later time. It really is a wonderful way to travel.

 Milepost– The Bible of Alaska – You have to have a new edition.  Many businesses close and open every year.  New editions are available in March.  Just a note about this publication, there are many businesses who do not advertise in The Milepost, just as there are many businesses who chose not to belong to the Chamber of Commerce in any particular town.  There are many businesses that are not represented.  For instance, if only two campsites are listed, don’t count on those being the only two available. Your best source for information are the locals. Don’t hesitate to ask your camp host for information about the next town. You next best source is the Internet.

 Netflix  - You can readily order information about locations in Alaska, documentaries, history of the area and the people.

amazon.com  will be your friend – There are many books on Amazon written about travel to and around Alaska for just about any purpose.  Many of the travel guides seem to list the same well traveled “must see” locations.  While I put many of these must see’s on my list of “things to do” I was sorely disappointed with quite a few as I traveled around the state.  I started to question who the guidebooks are written for and how long each author spent in any given location.  The following sources I found offered the best format for planning your trip and were useful on the road.  These sources are not as important as the milepost and a used copy will serve you well.  If you want to buy the latest edition remember the ISBN will be different.

                                    Eyewitness Travel: Alaska  ISBN 978-1-4053-2086-3

                                    Best Places: Alaska  ISBN 978-157061-531-3

                                    Off the Beaten Path: Alaska  ISBN 978-0-7627-4534-0

                                    Alaska’s Inside Passage 2nd Ed.  ISBN 978-1-4000-0902-2

 Alaska by James Michener – This book is a must.  Try to read this before you go.  As you’re traveling around Alaska you will enjoy experiencing Alaska having had a quick education about the geography, people, and customs.

 Some other useful information

 Age Of Your Tires

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

Canadian Boarder Information-Pets

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/petanie.shtml

CDC – Pet Information – US

http://www.cdc.gov/animalimportation/dogs.html

Canadian Boarder Information – Food

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/fssae.shtml

US Boarder Information – Food and Restricted Items

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/82

and this…

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/prohibited_restricted.xml

Road construction/DOT

Dial  5-1-1 or 866-282-7577   or on the web  http://511.alaska.gov

Know where to dump your tanks

http://www.sanidumps.com/sanidumps_usa.php?id=15

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Preparing the Motorhome

Posted on January 22, 2011 by admin

In no sense of the word would we consider ourselves “fulltimers,” however we use our RV every week during the year.  After three years of playing around and traveling to rallies, resorts and other social events we desperately needed to organize, purge, and clean.  There were many things I wanted and needed to do to make our trip more relaxing and less stressful.  There are so many of us who stow away items in our home on wheels that would just cause extra unneeded weight on a long trip.  This part of the organizing would prove to take a good amount of time.

Basement Bays

Let’s first look at the basement bays.  Do you really need those comfortable folding lounge chairs or will the camp chairs serve you fine for this trip?   How much golf will you really do on this trip?  Can we leave the awning lights at home for the summer?  Do you really need the extra weight of the outdoor patio mats?  The auxiliary satellite dish won’t do much on this trip either.

We repacked the basement bays with the following:

  • Fishing equipment – hip waiters, Ugly Sticks with open bale reels, large net, 5 gallon bucket
  • 2 Camp chairs and a small folding table – many campgrounds do not offer picnic tables
  • Barbeque Grill and stainless mesh baskets for grilling
  • Ladders – one 3 step and one extendable
  • Tools – every tool you would normally have with you, already secured in its own space
  • Empty Rubbermaid boxes to fill with souvenirs/unused clothes
  • Aluminum step/door mat – an exterior mat is a must
  • Distilled water, normal fluid items, filters and belts for engine, generator and hydrohot so they can be taken care of by roadside assistance.  If the tires on your rig are small enough you may consider a spare.  Most likely nothing will happen to your tires if you’ve taken the proper precautions and don’t drive like a madman over the frosties.  If something does happen your worst case is having to spend a couple of days while you wait for a tire to be shipped.
  • Large container for dog food
  • The normal extra length of water hose, extension cords, sewer hoses, 50/30/20 amp adapters.             

 

I’m almost embarrassed to admit this, but I insisted on taking (and I am very happy I did!) my Dyson vacuum and my Hoover steam cleaner from home.  Now, before you start laughing consider we were traveling with our Saint Bernard and our cat, into a very wet and muddy rain forest.  There was no problem with space.  They fit nicely in the bay and came in handy when it was time to clean the coach, which you will have to do from time to time.  Our central vac really wouldn’t have been able to handle the tough jobs, like cleaning up after I closed the slide on the cat box.  Can you imagine the mess?  After buying the second cat box of the summer, you might have thought I wouldn’t have done this a third time.

Fishing in Alaska is a must and having a DC freezer in the basement is as well.  You can ship your fish home, but then comes the extra task of finding someone to receive the shipment and get it to your home freezer.  Your freshly caught halibut tastes incredible after a long day of fishing and if you have this extra freezer you’ll be able to enjoy your catch throughout the summer.

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Pre-Trip Preparations

Posted on January 22, 2011 by admin

I have to admit it.  I’m the planner of events in my family.  I’m the researcher.  I’m the list maker.  Given a huge project I’m in my glory to spend hours pouring over information and making sure all the details have been examined.  Our Alaskan adventure was no different.  “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  I’d rather do the work upfront and relax later.  To this end, I created checklists:  checklists of things to do, checklists of concerns and remedies, which included the finer points of being away from home for three months.  I’m certain you will have to change each list for your situation, but at least it will give you a starting point to get you thinking of the little things.

  • Who will watch the house? Give them keys, remotes, and alarm code.
  • Will you take the animals with you?
  • How will you handle mail forwarding?
  • Pay some bills forward – electric, gas, water/sewer -and let them know you will be away
  • Order prescriptions for summer months
  • Service RV – oil change, check tires (condition and date), check fluids, check roof seals
  • Check your tool supply onboard and your supply of belts, hoses, etc.
  • Cancel or place on hold unneeded monthly subscriptions – XM Radio, DirecTV, Netflix, magazine, newspapers
  • Haircuts for all prior to leaving
  • Extra sets of all keys – RV, toad, bay doors, gas lock
  • Call medical insurers to say you will be out of the area
  • Need all membership cards – Elk, Moose, Legion, VFW, Eagles, Good Sams, FMCA, National Park Pass
  • Call credit card companies and your bank – give them your basic itinerary and length of stay- you don’t want a hold placed on any account because of suspected activity
  • Install a rock guard on your coach if it doesn’t already have one
  • Make a window shield for the toad – More on this later
  • Emergency Road Service – AAA, Coach Net, Good Sams, or personal insurance
  • Consider buying an air card for Internet service while on the road if you don’t already have one. Yes campgrounds say they have WiFi, but many times it’s not good.
  • Make sure your insurance cards or vehicle registration won’t expire while on the road. If needed, call to request new cards be emailed to you and request a Canadian card.
  • Get health certificates for all pets prior to leaving and make certain each pet is up to date with rabies vaccine. Don’t do this until the week before you leave.
  • Buy food for your animals – dry and canned.
  • Prepare the RV for this trip. Purge! (More on this later)
  • How will you get your fresh caught fish home? Freezer in basement bay? Ship home to a friend?
  • Call the security company. Give them your planned time frame and the name of a local contact in case of emergency.
  • Clean out the refrigerator of everything you think will be unrecognizable upon your return.
  • Unplug all computers, TVs, DVDs, etc that rob you of the phantom electric.

There are many other things to put on the list I’m sure. Much depends on your typical routine when leaving your home. There are many people who turn off the water main or gas. We don’t tend to go that far. We will shut down the water to the outdoor kitchen and the gas to the barbecue. We turn off the electric to the hot tub. We make certain all exterior gates and shed doors are locked. We put timers on certain lights, which I don’t think fools anyone but it somehow satisfies my husband about the security of the house the alarm company just can’t provide.

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But What About Chicken!?!

Posted on January 17, 2011 by admin

Our locations are far different than many who travel to Alaska, primarily because we chose to limited our time in Canada and in driving the Alcan Highway.  “Make sure you go to Chicken and Eagle,” we heard time and time again.  Drive the Top of the World Highway!  You have to go to Deadhorse!  Stop in Dawson City!  Many of the recommendations about travel in Alaska revolved around the Yukon and Interior Alaska, two areas we didn’t want to spend the majority of time in simply because of the driving.  Our idea of seeing Alaska is to spend time exploring not driving, and certainly not stopping in at tourist destinations. Look closely at caravan trips and the number of days spent at different locations. A lot of time is spent in Canada. Listen to stories of people traveling to Alaska. A lot of time is spent doing just that, traveling TO Alaska. There is so much to see and do in Alaska I didn’t want to spend more time than I needed in getting there. It takes a good three months to explore and have a great time. Even then you won’t see everything.

 Our ideal trip is to explore areas and meet the locals.  But first we needed to be able to get into these areas.   Much of Alaska can only be seen by boat or by plane.  The Alaska Marine Highway System was perfectly suited for our trip.  In our initial planning stages we had no idea how or if this could be done and after an extensive search we couldn’t find significant sources of information to tell us.  This really was going to be a challenging trip.  We really weren’t all that certain we could do what we wanted to do with our rig.  I’m very happy to report we had a hugely successful trip and in this book I’ve included my thoughts and checklists and itineraries.  In fact, I’ve tried to include just about everything that you may find useful to prepare for your own successful trip.  This should be a good place to start to plan for a family summer vacation whether you have children or are retiring and ready for adventure.  At the very least it will answer some of the unexplained questions and relieve some of the trip anxiety some of us tend to experience before setting out on a big adventure.  And, when all is said and done, it’s nice to know you don’t have to be an expert to have an experience of a lifetime.

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Traveling by Caravan

Posted on January 17, 2011 by admin

Many people consider RVing to Alaska by caravan, but don’t know if it’s for them.  Let’s explore some questions about traveling and maybe you can come to a conclusion about what is right for you.

  • Is there a company itinerary that captures the towns you wish to visit?
  • Does the caravan cover the timeframe you have available?
  • Is having a tail gunner and wagon master important to you?
  • Does your ideal trip include traveling with the same 20-40 people?
  • Do you enjoy having an organized day?
  • Does having reservations planned for your entire stay appeal to you?
  • Will you enjoy spending only 1-2 days in any given area?
  • Do you enjoy getting together for potluck dinners and moving along with a group?
  • Is letting go of control going to be a problem for you?
  • Do you have trouble reading a map?

You can find itineraries for caravans to Alaska for just about any interest.  Caravans are offered both large (20+ rigs) and small (fewer than 10).  Every aspect of the trip is planned and reservations secured, from campgrounds to dinner reservations to shows and museums.  You and your rig will be accounted for everyday.   The tail gunner will save you if by chance something happens along your route.  Your wagon master will have a written daily agenda.  Never will you worry there may not be a campground for you. Your camp hosts know you are coming weeks in advance and have it duly noted on their calendars.  All excursions will be planned for your arrival.  Everything is paid for in advance except for diesel, some meals, and souvenirs.  You won’t have to worry about a thing.

 Cruises and caravans serve their purpose and fulfill a need.  They are very well organized and the wagon master and tail gunner are experienced in their travels.  However, I find it rather ironic how many people travel to “the last frontier” by way of caravan.  Where is that spirit of adventure to explore the great north?   We enjoy being visitors, not tourists.  Your first time in Alaska is a once in a lifetime adventure.  Do it right and enjoy all that Alaska has to offer.  We enjoy staying in an area to meet the people and get a feel for the area, not simply dropping in for an hour or a night just to say “We’ve been there.”   We have not seen an itinerary that offers the length of stay needed to enjoy your surroundings in Alaska.  On another note, we wanted to spend our time enjoying Alaska, not traveling through Canada.  Not that we have anything against Canada, mind you, but we’ve been there, done that and it didn’t fit the purpose of this trip. For those of you who might not like the feeling that you will be “alone” in a place so foreign to you, you will never be alone. There will always be terrific people around to help you, to talk with you, to share stories with, and you will love everyday of your adventure.

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Let’s Spend Our Summer In Alaska

Posted on January 17, 2011 by admin

Over the years I have camped throughout the United States and Canada.  In fact, I have camped and wandered around every state in the Continental US and every Province in Canada.  I should point out that most of this camping was done by car through National and State Parks.  We would leave for weeks at a time with little more knowledge than the date we needed to return and a general direction of travel.  I have taught high school advanced math for years and have always been privileged to have a good chunk of the summer at my disposal. 

 Our dome tent morphed into a Class C Minnie Winnie, which 3 years ago gave way to a 40’ Class A with all the bells and whistles.  With two Saint Bernard’s, we reasoned, we just needed more space.  We are not fulltimers.  We were not experts on RV adventures.  We have never provided a seminar at an FMCA or Good Sam’s Rally.  We don’t write for motorhome journals.  We are the ones who are still a bit intimidated by the size of the rig.  We’re the ones still trying to figure out how to use all of the nifty gadgets after 3 years.  We’re the ones just silly enough to venture thousands of miles away from home into the unknown for three months, not really knowing what we will encounter. 

 Many couples take turns driving.  We don’t.  I’m far too scared of driving the thing to switch drivers.  I feel I’m doing Alaskans a favor by staying in the co-pilot’s seat.  Besides, my husband really can’t read a roadmap.  What a great combination that would be!?!  Needless to say, a compromise has been reached.  I navigate and he holds the wheel.

 Venturing into the unknown with a 40 foot RV can be a bit unnerving.  I grew up during a time when Murphy was always just around the corner.  You remember, “Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong… at the worst possible moment.”  After years of talking with my husband about traveling to Alaska he was finally convinced to make the trip.   We attended a series of presentations at an FMCA rally.  Most of the presenters told us about their caravan trips and what to expect.  During the next few weeks we examined several itineraries and asked several questions, talked a bit more to people who had made such trips, and finally decided caravanning wasn’t for us. 

 We are more “fly by the seat of your pants” type of people.  Give us a departure date and a return date and we can pretty much figure out what we do from there.  We don’t enjoy being locked into anything.  If we aren’t enjoying ourselves we want to be able to change plans, or by chance if we are enjoying ourselves too much we want to be able to extend our stay.   We don’t always know where we want to go until we get there.  I think a lot of us are like that.  We’re not followers.  We want to explore areas and find out for ourselves.  We need to have the space and time to do our own thing exactly at the moment we want to do it.  This kind of personality obviously doesn’t fit well with cruising and caravanning.

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