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RE: Alaskan trip
My opinion was not based on weather or tourism. After spending an entire summer at Mile 33 of Chena Hot Springs Road (and being evacuated 2x due to forest fires) - I seriously doubt the Chena Road area has a tenth of the tourists Valdez sees. And you may be surprised just how empty that resort can be. Indeed, I regularly meet people visiting Alaska that have no clue where Chena Hot Springs Road is (and even less interest in going when I tell them - LOL:)).
It was beautiful the day we visited Valdez so I can't blame that - in fact the campsite at Blueberry Lake was beautiful. But there is natural beauty all over Alaska so I wouldn't be drawn to Valdez just for that. People who love "the setting" of Valdez - watery, mountainous, snowy peaks - halibut fishing - pipelines - are unlikely to be drawn to the scraggly - swampy - interior - isolation of Chena Hot Springs Road even if there are more moose, beavers and lynx. We just tend to go back to places we had fun. We've had fun in many parts of Alaska and in all kinds of weather - just can't think of any fond memories in Valdez.
Most people either like Seward or Homer - but not both - for some reason. Who can make sense of it? I always look forward to visiting Seward and have a zillion great memories - but after several trips to Homer (in all weather)- I think it is a real nice place to catch a float plane.
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jlawless
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09/07/10 06:41pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Dogs and Motorhome Rentals
Renting any vehicle can be risky and you should take your time when accepting the vehicle - do not just sign papers at the counter saying everything is in great shape. Look it over and go back in to the counter to make comments on the papers about every little defect you see. And why not take pictures? that way things like windshield dings won't get charged if they were already there.
You can be sure the rental company will take their time to look it over when you bring it back - you should look it over at least as well before accepting it. of course it is natural to be all excited to get on the road - but 5 extra minutes can save tons of money and lots of future headaches.
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jlawless
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09/07/10 04:01pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Alaskan trip
I agree with the OP - we have never returned to Valdez after that first year - that is after 6 summers now and a winter. Chena Hot Springs road will always be one of our favorites since we volunteered at the State Rec Area our first year in Alaska. The moose would stick their head in our cabin window and we watched Lynx hunt beavers at the pond right outside our porch. Lots of boondock spots out there for those who like to rough it.
As for the Hot Springs - that water is even nicer in February!
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jlawless
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09/06/10 07:07pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Dogs and Motorhome Rentals
CruiseAmerica allows dogs. I'm not recommending them - just letting you know.
Same with B & B Rentals
For people renting without pets - I would recommend Great Alaskan Holidays
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jlawless
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09/05/10 07:50pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Outrageous Verizon Air Card Bills
Does it sound like this?
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jlawless
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09/05/10 11:09am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Safeguarding in Bear Country
I didn't see the most basic advice yet - DON'T RUN!
other than that - you've gotten good advice here -
Carry Bear spray.
Make noise (talk/sing) in the bush - Leave the bells at home they only annoy your fellow hikers and bears do not associate bells with humans.
Keep a clean camp - I've seen Grizzlies come into camp and lick where my buddy just spit after brushing his teeth - in other words they'll go for anything - anything at all.
Leash your dog - I especially like the Alpha Dog explanation from Guest - it is disappointing that offical agency publications don't warn dog owners more - everyone (especially here in Alaska) thinks Fido is going to save them and it just isn't so. I've heard this story too many times where a dog smells a bear - the dog barks at the bear - dog runs up to bear - dog freaks out and runs from bear - Bear chases dog - dog hides behind owner - owner gets mauled.
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jlawless
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09/04/10 06:44pm |
Public Lands, Boondocking and Dry Camping
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RE: alaska
IMO, leave the lower 48 at the end of May, and return to the lower 48 early in September. Also, don't rush through Canada, there is a lot to see along the way.
Yep, we've done it 3 times this way and will do it again next year
Yep - we've done it from May 15th to September 15th (or thereabouts) 6 times now. But if you MUST narrow it down - then avoid July 1-15th. Come before or after that time as it is the worst for crowds and bugs.
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jlawless
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09/04/10 03:53pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Watch your overhead clearance
Wow! Hadn't seen that one. Hard to believe they are OK. Seems they were going a bit fast also.
As for those that think I should have seen it before - I'll tell DW I should stop wasting my time and spend more time on here!:)
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jlawless
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09/04/10 02:24pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: How about a few good stories?
Well, I've been reluctant to post because somebody may want to tax the perks we've received. :R However, the biggest ("non-taxable") plus has been the people we've worked with - that includes other volunteers and Alaska State Parks employees. We've kept in touch (via email and such) with many people over the years and have gone out of our way to visit whenever our paths cross again. We worked with one "kid" outside Fairbanks and 3 years later met him again in Oklahoma City where he was going to school and we took him to dinner. When we got ready to part ways - he said - "where are you going." We said to "such and such" campground - and he says - "can I come?" Well sure - so we spent the weekend camping and hiking and forging an even stronger bond around the campfire. Last year we saw him again as he took a break from working in the Aleutian Islands. We have "re"-met others in Nevada, Wisconsin, Illinois, Texas, Arizona, Iowa and probably many other places. As DW likes to quote
". . . the pattern of life isn't a straight line; it crosses and recrosses, drawing in and tying together other lives . . ." Mrs. Mike, Benedict & Nancy Freedman, 1947, p. 282.
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jlawless
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09/02/10 02:41pm |
Workamping Forum
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RE: Cell Phones Illegal while Driving in Louisiana
We stopped at a stop sign and a commercial van driver rammed us from behind pushing our car out into the intersection. He admitted he was talking on his cellphone with his boss. Texting is illegal in Anchorage but not talking - BUT this guy still got a fat ticket for reckless driving and his boss was handed a few other headaches.
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jlawless
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09/02/10 02:01pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Does Anyone Read The Sub-Titles Under The Forum Name?
I see current posts in this section about the best routes to take, the best campground to use, cooking things on a grill, changing fridge doors and other subjects
General RVing Issues
This forum addresses all things RV -- news and notes, comments and concerns are all welcome here.
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jlawless
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08/31/10 06:54pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Alaska and back
A 2009 5th wheel? You may want to be more specific about your concerns since people on here make the trip every year. There are legitimate precautions to take - but the Alaska highway is well-travelled in the summer.
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jlawless
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08/31/10 05:32pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Dump Station
Agree with Troubleshooter 100% - we love those Canadian Tire dump stations - including the one in Whitehorse.
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jlawless
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08/31/10 05:25pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: GPS vs Atlas
I'll put in my Luddite vote for the Atlas. My Atlas cost $4.98 many years ago and is duct taped together to maintain accuracy - LOL. Of course, I am a highly trained expert infantryman and capable of finding my way through urban and rural environments with ease. I'm sure the GPS is a neat gadget but doesn't seem to be worth the time or money to me. But then, I don't understand why people need a beeping gadget to unlock their car door either.
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jlawless
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08/30/10 09:09pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: RV ‘Characters’ Sought for New Reality Show
“If you feel that your company has an exciting, colorful group of technicians, designers and experts who make RV magic every day and deserve to be seen on TV,
Yeah - they're looking for an existing "company" - not individual RVers - if they wanted quirky individuals with homeade RVs all they would have to do is take a drive through Alaska and they'll find plenty.
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jlawless
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08/26/10 01:51pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Camping Alaska without special equipment
that a trip of Alaska is like Afghanistan, but with grizzly bears!
I can't help myself with this trivia - but this website says, in part -
The brown bear currently occurs in Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra (recently reoccupied), Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan (possibly extinct), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic (possibly only vagrants), Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, India, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States, and Uzbekistan.
www.iucnredlist.org
2inAlabama - get a generator so you can boondock.
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jlawless
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08/26/10 01:08pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Market for used RV's
Try to park it somewhere visible with the "for sale" sign.
3 weeks is not long to sell a trailer. Sometimes there just isn't a market - that doesn't mean you have to lower the price unless you are desperate to get rid of it at any price.
Once we had a garage sale and tried to sell this stupid picture of a clown coming out of a jack-in-the-box - very colorful - great for a child's room or something. I put $2 on it. DW wanted to get rid of it and kept badgering me to lower the price to a quarter. I said - the price doesn't matter if nobody wants it. If someone wants it - they'll pay for it. Late in the afternoon a little old man walked up the drive and stared at it for a few minutes - he picked it up and smiled - handed me 2 bucks - turned around and walked away without saying a word.
I'm just saying you gotta be patient for the right buyer to come along. They'll pay a fair price.
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jlawless
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08/25/10 07:53pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: California governor vetoes bill restricting chemicals in RVs
I think every product I have ever seen says "No Formaldehyde." I am confused if this is really much of an issue? I guess it is - I just don't understand - if that is all California is banning - I have no problem.
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jlawless
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08/25/10 07:44pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: CB radios for Alaska trip
FWIW - the truckers use the CB on the Dalton highway quite a bit. Comes in handy - you can let them know when your RV is blocking up the "Southbound Rollercoaster." LOL. Or maybe they will tell you where the black wolf is up ahead.
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jlawless
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08/25/10 06:18pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: I-675 in Ohio - Crash Caught on Police Cruiser Camera
Yeah, it could be the cam was by an officer trying to block the guy in (police car was in the passing lane). I'm thankful innocents bystanders or police weren't injured in this case.
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jlawless
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08/24/10 06:10pm |
Around the Campfire
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