(Tapo Canyon, CA): Just outside of Simi Valley in a county park. Due to prior years’ fires, there are few trees and intense heat!. A concrete slab surrounded by dirt. Only 3 other RV's there. By the time we backed in *^!@&#!, and set up, Boots totally lost it - an hour long crying jag. She calls it "Hell Canyon". It's so not our ideal spot!!!
Weak phone coverage and no WIFI access via the Air Card. Our refrigerator has not been able to keep our food cold in these temps so all mayo, milk products, etc are gone. The freezer is useless. Daily trips to buy bags of ice are necessary. We do everything necessary to minimize heat getting in but it's a losing battle. The one saving grace is that nights are cool. We don't even mind being awakened by the coyote kill/celebration routine around 2 every morning.
We do like the town of Simi Valley - 3 miles down a windy road. Easy to find what we needed – public transportation to LAX (getting Kassie), easy driving (oxymoron in LA traffic) into LA (to check out school and then drop Kassie off), food, movies, etc.
Gas costs spreadsheet for 14 days from Anchorage Alsaka to Los Angeles California available upon request.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Day 14 (Kettleman City, CA)
(Kettleman City, CA): Desolate, bleak, sad - we got in late, office closed so we spent too much time trying to figure out which space was moderately level and also had working hook-ups. We were able to miss any snakes but the gopher holes everywhere were a bit disconcerting.
From here to LA, straight down to the part of 5 that is called the Grape Vine. Very steep and curvy around Santa Clarita. Motorists advised to turn air conditioners off - Boots loved that part.
From here to LA, straight down to the part of 5 that is called the Grape Vine. Very steep and curvy around Santa Clarita. Motorists advised to turn air conditioners off - Boots loved that part.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Day 13 (Oroville, CA):
(Oroville, CA): We're at River Reflections RV Park. John and Bodhi have been to visit. Bodhi was full of questions about our 'house'.
He thought Karma would be smaller. He remembered her from the webcam calls.
We're going to make a stop between here and L.A. but there's not much to choose from along that section of I-5. It's also a very boring area!
Just driving and driving and driving.
He thought Karma would be smaller. He remembered her from the webcam calls.
We're going to make a stop between here and L.A. but there's not much to choose from along that section of I-5. It's also a very boring area!
Just driving and driving and driving.
Friday, June 27, 2008
DAY 12 (Red Bluff CA)
(Red Bluff CA): Another nice RV Park but it was in the upper 90's as we were getting set up, which was truly awful. Have I mentioned Boots hates temps over 78!! She's not happy that we'll have days and days of these temps ahead. The smoke was annoying but not a problem.
We'll be able to have a leisurely start to our day since the park is a short straight road down to Oroville to meet up with son/grandson for visit. Bodhi (3 yo) thought Karma would be smaller. He remembered her from the webcam calls.
Other observations – The fires are surrounding Oroville so the smoke is pretty thick here. Though I can’t smell the fires, Boots can.
Karma checked out the Feather River tonight.
We'll be able to have a leisurely start to our day since the park is a short straight road down to Oroville to meet up with son/grandson for visit. Bodhi (3 yo) thought Karma would be smaller. He remembered her from the webcam calls.
Other observations – The fires are surrounding Oroville so the smoke is pretty thick here. Though I can’t smell the fires, Boots can.
Karma checked out the Feather River tonight.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
DAY 11 (Springfield OR)
(Springfield OR): OK, more twist and turns through Southern Oregon and Northern California. Again, we are moving to somewhat flatter, straighter roads!!!
As we head south on I-5, the fires are just west of us. The smoke blocks the sun. Otherwise, the 99° would be even hotter. We will need to acclimate pretty soon or we’ll melt.
Karma is going to need to be groomed with a shorter cut to endure this heat.
As we head south on I-5, the fires are just west of us. The smoke blocks the sun. Otherwise, the 99° would be even hotter. We will need to acclimate pretty soon or we’ll melt.
Karma is going to need to be groomed with a shorter cut to endure this heat.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
DAY 10 (Rochester WA)
(Rochester WA): Now that we are stateside there is less new/exciting to report. Biggest excitement today - finding a gas station with diesel that was assessible to a 45' rig. We wound up driving around Seattle (near 405) for 20 minutes or so before finding one. A problem we had not encountered before.
When we get to LA we’ll try to set up a blog that you can read at your leisure or not and save filling your email box. Then Boots can added her perspective.
Other observations – Portland rush hour is more bearable than Seattle’s. I think 205 does a better job missing the commuter in Portland than does 405 in Seattle.
Karma was able to play ball at the Rochester RV Park. That’s the first time since the beginning of April. Was she ever thrilled. She carried her ball back from the dog run by herself. This dog run was not as big but did allow her to run and run!
Even though we had washed tons of muck off the RV in Whitehorse, it was still pretty dirty. There was a truck wash near the RV park so we spent a couple of hours there, in line with the 18 wheelers and one other RVer, and got cleaned up.
When we get to LA we’ll try to set up a blog that you can read at your leisure or not and save filling your email box. Then Boots can added her perspective.
Other observations – Portland rush hour is more bearable than Seattle’s. I think 205 does a better job missing the commuter in Portland than does 405 in Seattle.
Karma was able to play ball at the Rochester RV Park. That’s the first time since the beginning of April. Was she ever thrilled. She carried her ball back from the dog run by herself. This dog run was not as big but did allow her to run and run!
Even though we had washed tons of muck off the RV in Whitehorse, it was still pretty dirty. There was a truck wash near the RV park so we spent a couple of hours there, in line with the 18 wheelers and one other RVer, and got cleaned up.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
DAY 9 (Hope BC):
(Hope BC): Goal was cross back into US. Interesting about the custom agents (CA) at both ends. Canadian CA asked: did we own guns-no, did we have guns-no, did we have Mace or pepper spray-no, did we have a Taser-no, did we have knives -yes, kitchen ones, did we have any self defense mechanism-no (we thought our personalities were enough). I guess he thought we needed protection from the people, vegetation or wildlife. American CA asked: did we buy any fruit while in Canada-yes, cherries, blue berries, and bananas. That was it.
Then we entered the US and began the real lesson in driving a 45 foot rig in super highway mode (50-60 mph). Tried to stay on the far right lane but with merging traffic there were a few panics. Boots thought this was bad but she was in the navigator seat. I thought it had its moments but over all was ok. I guess because I remember driving these types of roads and it seemed more usual than the mountain edges. Also, no height issues to deal with.
Other observations – no one gives an inch in rush hour traffic. Again trains, Karma doesn’t seem to mind. Karma is back to her usual self.
Then we entered the US and began the real lesson in driving a 45 foot rig in super highway mode (50-60 mph). Tried to stay on the far right lane but with merging traffic there were a few panics. Boots thought this was bad but she was in the navigator seat. I thought it had its moments but over all was ok. I guess because I remember driving these types of roads and it seemed more usual than the mountain edges. Also, no height issues to deal with.
Other observations – no one gives an inch in rush hour traffic. Again trains, Karma doesn’t seem to mind. Karma is back to her usual self.
Monday, June 23, 2008
DAY 8 (Quesnel BC):
(Quesnel BC): Goal was to get near US border. We thought we were past the narrow mountain ups and downs. Not so, it was the very worst today. Boots drove most of the way. I’m not sure which is worse, driving with fear or sitting there with terror. We are now searching for the flattest straightest road from LA to Alabama and beyond. We may never go “up” again because that means we need to come “down” at some point.
Nice RV park on a lake - Boots really liked it, I wasn't very impressed - inconsiderate pet owners and geese everywhere.
Other observations – No wild life to speak of today or we were too afraid to take our eyes off the road to check. Again train throughout the night.
Ginger seems to have done the trick. Karma is even putting her head out the window.
Nice RV park on a lake - Boots really liked it, I wasn't very impressed - inconsiderate pet owners and geese everywhere.
Other observations – No wild life to speak of today or we were too afraid to take our eyes off the road to check. Again train throughout the night.
Ginger seems to have done the trick. Karma is even putting her head out the window.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
DAY 7 (Caron Creek BC):
(Caron Creek BC): Goal: slow, relaxing day – we met that. Hardly any traffic today until we hit the cities. Now we have a 4 lane highway most of the time. So, we are learning how to negotiate the city quirks. Less wildlife today – see below. From the time we left camp until 2 ½ hours of winding roads, we did not have the power cord connected to the 5th wheel. This means we had no lights but worse still we had no breaking control. Once we discovered our dilemma, we crawled for the next 6 miles looking for somewhere to safely pull off and solve the problem. Yikes!!!! When we left Anchorage, I hadn’t secured the plug tightly. What with all the bouncing up and down it had jiggled it self loose. So, we survived and learned another lesson. Cell service still on/off but no air card.
We pulled into RV park early. The first attractive, green, welcoming park since Tok. We put up the awning for the first time since leaving Alaska, did some laundry and used the parks showers - incredible. Roomy, lots of water pressure - it was heaven!
Other observations – Little to no traffic until we hit the “cities.” We saw a peregrine falcon, llamas, waterfalls, lots of iris, lupine, and dead black fir trees (someone told us why but we have forgotten) and lots of farm land. We were camped near the rail and trains seem to run very regularly but we were too tired to care.
We gave Karma ginger today which seems to have helped. We think besides the stress, she gets car sick – no throwing up but you see she was “green around the gills” so to speak. We are hoping this will work.
We pulled into RV park early. The first attractive, green, welcoming park since Tok. We put up the awning for the first time since leaving Alaska, did some laundry and used the parks showers - incredible. Roomy, lots of water pressure - it was heaven!
Other observations – Little to no traffic until we hit the “cities.” We saw a peregrine falcon, llamas, waterfalls, lots of iris, lupine, and dead black fir trees (someone told us why but we have forgotten) and lots of farm land. We were camped near the rail and trains seem to run very regularly but we were too tired to care.
We gave Karma ginger today which seems to have helped. We think besides the stress, she gets car sick – no throwing up but you see she was “green around the gills” so to speak. We are hoping this will work.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
DAY 6 (Sikanni BC)
(Sikanni BC): Goal: not hit any of the wildlife. Roads better and better closer to civilization. Today had a few scary sections but the sections only last a few miles (2 to 10). As has been our pattern, we set up camp, ate dinner, checked Milepost to set a destination for tomorrow and see where the potential fuel stops would be, then fell into bed.
Other observations – more traffic today because it’s Saturday or we’re closer to the few cities up this far north. No live wildlife today, except a dead moose on the side of the road. Couldn’t tell if it died of natural causes or was hit by a vehicle. Sad that it wasn’t harvested and just left to rot.
As noted before, we are using the Milepost as our guide on this trip. It is extremely helpful in so many ways, such as knowing when a rest stop or a 'pull-out' is coming up. You definitely have to be prepared when pulling the rig off the road. There is only 1 little quirk for traveling South. You have to read it backwards – bottom right to upper left. A little like Hebrew. I think they should do like manuals in multiple languages do – Front to Back North bound; turn it over and it’s Front to Back South Bound. (Boots tore the sections out and stapled them together backwards, which helped some. We'd finish a section and toss it.)
There also seem to be more campgrounds, services, etc. for the Northbound traffic side. Hmm. Cell service is on/off again today. Not able to use my “air card” at all and camps’ WIFI is not very effective.
Other observations – more traffic today because it’s Saturday or we’re closer to the few cities up this far north. No live wildlife today, except a dead moose on the side of the road. Couldn’t tell if it died of natural causes or was hit by a vehicle. Sad that it wasn’t harvested and just left to rot.
As noted before, we are using the Milepost as our guide on this trip. It is extremely helpful in so many ways, such as knowing when a rest stop or a 'pull-out' is coming up. You definitely have to be prepared when pulling the rig off the road. There is only 1 little quirk for traveling South. You have to read it backwards – bottom right to upper left. A little like Hebrew. I think they should do like manuals in multiple languages do – Front to Back North bound; turn it over and it’s Front to Back South Bound. (Boots tore the sections out and stapled them together backwards, which helped some. We'd finish a section and toss it.)
There also seem to be more campgrounds, services, etc. for the Northbound traffic side. Hmm. Cell service is on/off again today. Not able to use my “air card” at all and camps’ WIFI is not very effective.
Friday, June 20, 2008
DAY 5 (Coal River YT)
(Coal River YT): Goal survive the roads and not hit any of the wildlife. This section of road (between Watson Lake and Ft Nelson) was the worst!! Palmer to Glenallen paled by comparison. The road surface was frost heaved and rutted no white line, no shoulder, no guard rail and only air off the edge. Then Stone Sheep (smaller than Dall) are all over the place eating on the roadway.
Other observations – still few others going our way and passing us easily. Boots drove most of the bad parts and I appreciated that. Two other Alpenlite today, 2 Buffalo, 1 black bear, 2 grizzlies, 2 moose, 1 caribou (either a scout or very lost as they almost always travel in herds), 10+ horses, about 30 Stone sheep in various groupings, SNOW on the side of the roadway, strawberry patches on side of road and the last remaining suspension bridge (as you can imagine I was thrilled).
Karma is not travelling very well. She can’t figure out what’s that huge thing following us is and how come we just ride and ride and ride. She has been very used to doing duty in the same place/with only her smells now she is in a different place every time and there are millions of smells.
Other observations – still few others going our way and passing us easily. Boots drove most of the bad parts and I appreciated that. Two other Alpenlite today, 2 Buffalo, 1 black bear, 2 grizzlies, 2 moose, 1 caribou (either a scout or very lost as they almost always travel in herds), 10+ horses, about 30 Stone sheep in various groupings, SNOW on the side of the roadway, strawberry patches on side of road and the last remaining suspension bridge (as you can imagine I was thrilled).
Karma is not travelling very well. She can’t figure out what’s that huge thing following us is and how come we just ride and ride and ride. She has been very used to doing duty in the same place/with only her smells now she is in a different place every time and there are millions of smells.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
DAY 4 (Whitehorse YT)
Goal : leave Whitehorse YT; get beyond Watson Lake for Buffalo Burgers and real ice cream ($40.00 and not very tasty and certainly not worth the long day of driving - 11 hours.) We have met our goals for today by minutes – restaurant closes at 6-6:30pm! Rained all day. Roads were very good today. We have permanently hauled the bike up the back ladder and tied it with 'miles' of nylon rope so is not usable until we get a bike rack - too bad I ate that ice cream.
Other observations – still few others going our way and passing us easily. At this point, the only thing we’d be able to speed up and pass would be someone on a riding mower. Again lots more coming towards us today, probably 100 or so motorcycles, cloudy rainy day, saw 1 other Alpenlite again coming to Alaska, 2 Bison, Sitka Rose and strawberry patches on side of road. We left Anchorage with 10.5 miles per gallon average today we are at 10.3. We paid 5.80 per gallon again today.
Other observations – still few others going our way and passing us easily. At this point, the only thing we’d be able to speed up and pass would be someone on a riding mower. Again lots more coming towards us today, probably 100 or so motorcycles, cloudy rainy day, saw 1 other Alpenlite again coming to Alaska, 2 Bison, Sitka Rose and strawberry patches on side of road. We left Anchorage with 10.5 miles per gallon average today we are at 10.3. We paid 5.80 per gallon again today.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
DAY 3 (Beaver Creek YT)
Goal: leave Beaver Creek YT, get to Whitehorse – where I spent 10 days waiting for auto parts from Detroit in 1971. We have met our goals for today! Boots is now driving half of the time. Roads were mixed today but steadily improved as we move further on down the road. We need to find some solutions to the bike (no bikes rack for RV in Anchorage so it goes inside while we're driving; has a tendency to move around) and desk (bounces around and slips off the slide ledge; drawers come out). You never know what you'll find when entering the RV but usually you have to climb over various and sundry stuff!! They seem to be the most impacted by the bouncing around. We seem to do pretty well with securing everything else.
Other observations – still few others going our way, those that are, pass us and leave us in their dust. Again more are coming towards us today. A big rain last night and a cool cloudy rainy day for traveling. Saw: another Alpenlite coming to Alaska, grizzly, wolf, and no flowers on side of road. We left Anchorage with 10.5 miles per gallon today we are at 10.3. We paid 5.80 per gallon today.
Other observations – still few others going our way, those that are, pass us and leave us in their dust. Again more are coming towards us today. A big rain last night and a cool cloudy rainy day for traveling. Saw: another Alpenlite coming to Alaska, grizzly, wolf, and no flowers on side of road. We left Anchorage with 10.5 miles per gallon today we are at 10.3. We paid 5.80 per gallon today.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
DAY 2 (Tok AK)
Goal leave Tok AK in the morning, get somewhere in Canada to sleep . We have met our goals for today! It’s all in how you set them. We left before noon and took the first campground (Beaver Creek) in Canada to sleep. Yukon Territory is on Pacific Time. So if was later then we wanted to drive. The roads were rough but not as bad as from Palmer to Glenallen. Boots finally drove. She is a much better navigator than I am and it’s hard to type this but I think she might be a better driver than me, too!
Other observations – still no one going our way, more coming towards us today, a little rain last night but clear summer skies all day (cooler though), saw 1 other Alpenlite coming to Alaska, raspberries, forget-me-nots and fireweed on side of road, and still poor gas mileage - calculation being worked. We paid 5.35 per gallon today.
Other observations – still no one going our way, more coming towards us today, a little rain last night but clear summer skies all day (cooler though), saw 1 other Alpenlite coming to Alaska, raspberries, forget-me-nots and fireweed on side of road, and still poor gas mileage - calculation being worked. We paid 5.35 per gallon today.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Alaska to LA in 14 days
DAY 1 (Anchorage AK):
We are on to semi-retirement adventure. Full-time RVing will be our life.
We are being challenged for space and having to make hard decision about some items – so really there is no extra space. We have a 5th wheel AlpenLite 31 foot. We have replaced the heavy mattress with an air mattress and memory foam. The heavy couch has been replaced with a very light desk for sewing OR working. Now we are working to fit all of our necessities into the RV. I think we will most certainly re-think our “necessities”.
Goal: leave Anchorage at 7am, get to Tok in 6 hours
Ok, we left at 7:40am with an escort for a half a block. I guess Jim and Joe couldn’t stand going so slow! We got into Tok at 4:30pm very tired. The road from Palmer to Glenallen was the worst. Lots of frost heaves (for those non-Alaskans, those are acute depressions in the roadway that surprise you and bump the hell out of everything.) and worst of all sheer cliffs and no guard rails. Well, my fear of heights was in full swing. This being our 'maiden voyage', the noises, down-shifting, revved-up rpms etc of towing 14,000 pounds through steep acsents and descents with sharp curves thrown in - well it was not the best way to begin this journey of ours. Add to that a dog pacing back and forth non-stop - - - - let's just say, it was exhausting.
Other observations – no one was going our way, few coming towards us, Alaskans will pass anytime they want-no matter what the center line looks like, clear summer skies after Glenallen (81°), saw 2 other Alpenlites coming to Alaska, forget-me-nots and fireweed on side of road, and very poor gas mileage - calculation still being worked.
We are on to semi-retirement adventure. Full-time RVing will be our life.
We are being challenged for space and having to make hard decision about some items – so really there is no extra space. We have a 5th wheel AlpenLite 31 foot. We have replaced the heavy mattress with an air mattress and memory foam. The heavy couch has been replaced with a very light desk for sewing OR working. Now we are working to fit all of our necessities into the RV. I think we will most certainly re-think our “necessities”.
Goal: leave Anchorage at 7am, get to Tok in 6 hours
Ok, we left at 7:40am with an escort for a half a block. I guess Jim and Joe couldn’t stand going so slow! We got into Tok at 4:30pm very tired. The road from Palmer to Glenallen was the worst. Lots of frost heaves (for those non-Alaskans, those are acute depressions in the roadway that surprise you and bump the hell out of everything.) and worst of all sheer cliffs and no guard rails. Well, my fear of heights was in full swing. This being our 'maiden voyage', the noises, down-shifting, revved-up rpms etc of towing 14,000 pounds through steep acsents and descents with sharp curves thrown in - well it was not the best way to begin this journey of ours. Add to that a dog pacing back and forth non-stop - - - - let's just say, it was exhausting.
Other observations – no one was going our way, few coming towards us, Alaskans will pass anytime they want-no matter what the center line looks like, clear summer skies after Glenallen (81°), saw 2 other Alpenlites coming to Alaska, forget-me-nots and fireweed on side of road, and very poor gas mileage - calculation still being worked.
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