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.
