Tomorrow we head north on the Alaska Highway

[jrgwdenner]

We are in Dawson Creek and will start up the Alaska Highway in the morning. We had our picture taken under the sign and marker in the middle of town so we meet all the requirements. We've seen so much already but really feel that this is a milestone in our trip.

We posted new pictures http://bamatravelers.blogspot.com

[vickir]

Judy ... what "requirements?"

By the by ... you're pictures are FABULOUS!!!

[jrgwdenner]

Vicki, I should have said "traditions". Everyone has their picture taken under the arch. It's a tradition that Glen didn't want to miss.

[Native Tex]

Judy the wife and I are green with envy. Hope you and Glen have a wonderful and safe journey. The pictures are just wonderful. I look forward to you guys next report. Happy RVing.

[vickir]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH! That makes sense! I love that kind of thing. Thanks!

We drove the Going to the Sun Road today. It took us about five hours just to get to Logan's Pass and we were beat from jumping in and out of the truck and scrambling around to get pictures. So we headed for St. Mary to have dinner, skipping almost all of the stopping places after Logan's Pass. We'll just drive it again ... after all, today was just our first full day here. We did find the most perfect "lunchroom of the day" by Lake McDonald ... absolutely FABULOUS!!!

[Glenn and Lorraine]

Judy, We gotta agree with Native Tex on the green with envy thing. As our trip to Alaska is somewhere down a distant road we are going to live the adventure through your postings and pictures. Judging from some of the beautiful pics you have already taken I think this is going to be one beautiful voyage.

[tbhd]

jrgwdenner--Those are great pictures. I sure wish we could tag along. That is one of our dreams to go to Alaska someday.

Steve & Vickir--take lots of pictures also. We were suppose to go to Glacier last month and had reservations in Hungry House also but had to cancel. Going to give it try next year.

[Montana_4027]

What a great trip!! We are loving the blog and pictures!
How are you connection to the Internet? How much are you paying for diesel fuel? I know it is really high in Canada.
We will be looking forward to your blog posts! Let us know about any problems, also.
Have a safe trip.

[sreigle]

Tbhd, Vicki took 213 pictures yesterday alone! Only a handful will make it into the postcards, though. I do have to say Glacier National Park is absolutely incredible. There is no superlative adequate to express the magnificence of this place. I am already looking forward to taking some of the unpaved roads to the off-the-beaten-path locations in the park. Plus as many hikes as we can do.

This is one of my favorite pictures from our first day in the GNP. It's hard to choose just one. I cut this down in size both physically and in filesize (quality) to work in Vicki's postcards. But wanted to share this magnificent place with you all. This is Wild Goose Island on St. Mary Lake in Glacier National Park. This shot was taken from a pullout on Going to the Sun Road.

http://tinypic.com/8zk1ux.jpg

[FireTruckerWife]

Wait till you see Banff and the Canadian Rockies. You are going on up there aren't you?

[vickir]

Sharon ... although we'd love to do the Canadian Rockies, it's going to have to wait for another trip. We have reservations in Yellowstone following our time here in Hungry Horse and the Rally in Reno, so those commitments pretty much restrict us time-wise. In addition, we learned today that Steve's 80-yr. old mother has been hospitalized and although she's only being kept for observation, we don't want to be any farther from his parents' home than we already are (1500+ miles), at least for the immediate future.

We'll just have to add this to our ever-growing list of places we want to experience!

[jrgwdenner]

Sharon, you are right about Banff and Jasper. I thought we'd seen everything in Glacier but all I can say about the Canadian Rockies is WOW! Don't want to rain on Steve and Vicki's parada because Glacier is also awesome.

I am able to get online with my laptop now because some nice young man at this connection center in Watson Lake is bending the rules a little. In most places we can get our email but we can't get on the forum because of the cookies thingy, etc. Sure wish they could change that log on difficulty.

[sreigle]

Judy, no problem. We enjoy and look forward to your pictures! Besides, this is your thread and I stepped on it a little.

[melnjoy]

Vicki,
What a beautiful pic! Wish we could be there to see it in person! Steve, I hope your mother is doing well. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Joy

[sreigle]

Thanks, Joy. It is very much appreciated. She is home now and doing better. The immediate crisis, at least, is over for now.

[jrgwdenner]

Hey, Steve, my thread is your thread. I love a beautiful picture, too!

[Parrothead]

Judy and Steve, Both of you are posting such beautiful pictures, I am green with envy. Here we sit in Hemet @ 110 yesterday, 106 today and we can't go any place yet.
Steve, glad to hear your Mother is doing better.
Happy trails................keep the beautiful pictures coming.

[Montana_4027]

Judy~~
I just looked at your Blog with the Fresh Water Tank pictures!! That is incredable!! What are you going to do..... you don't have water now??! Has anyone else had that problem?!

[jrgwdenner]

It was pretty shocking, Danny & Steph. We don't have water in the fresh water tank (cause we don't have a fresh water tank) but we can still connect to the water spigot at the campground. We brought along two collapsible water jugs that hold about 10 gallons of water total so we could probably use that supply if we want to boondock. So far everything is working well with the water hookup. The dealer in Anchorage has ordered a new tank. Glen cut off the end of old water tank with all the connections per the dealer's request so that they would know where the hoses and electrical wires go. It's our understanding that they start with a generic tank and the old section will be their map of where to put the connections. Sure hope they can get it done in one day so we don't have to get a hotel. Greta likes her own bed.

I haven't heard of this happening to anyone else. We had a problem soon after we bought this fiver with many, many loose water connections. We think that someone went to lunch and didn't finish their job. Maybe securing the water tank was one of those jobs. When we started dry camping up here we carried a little more water in it and it just dropped out. Any tank that is properly secured should never drop out.

[OntMont]

Sorry to hear about your "disaster" with the water tank. Congraulations on the excellent way you are handling the situation. Are you still under warranty? You rig looks like a newer one from the grapics. Even if you have passed the warranty period, I would put in a claim anyway, Keystone have been pretty good at making good on things that fail that should not have failed, even after the warranty period has passed.

Putting the tanks in the trailer is about the second or third operation on the production line. I hope your dealer in Anchorage can do the job quickly for you so that you do not lose too much time.

We continue to follow your adventures and really appreciate you posting your story. It will be very helpful to us when we make that trip, maybe next year?

[jrgwdenner]

Thanks for your kind comments, OntMont. I enjoy posting as I was hungry for information before we got ready to leave on this trip. So I am happy to be able to share and possibly help someone plan for their trip. Helps me reminxxxxx (remember!), too.

I guess they will have access the connections for the water tank from below. Believe me, our area is very accessible! We are just four months past our warranty. This is certainly an unusual occurence and we hope that Keystone will recognize that. We've emailed them but no response yet.

[OntMont]

E-mail does not seem too effective with Keystone Customer Service. Get on the blower!

[jrgwdenner]

Well, OntMont, Keystone may just prove you wrong this time. Probably because of the unusual circumstances of our failure (way far from home!) we have received two very encouraging emails from the folks at Keystone. They are calling the dealer in Anchorage and getting things set up so our repair can be done. Thank you, Keystone.

[OntMont]

quote:Originally posted by jrgwdenner

Well, OntMont, Keystone may just prove you wrong this time. Probably because of the unusual circumstances of our failure (way far from home!) we have received two very encouraging emails from the folks at Keystone. They are calling the dealer in Anchorage and getting things set up so our repair can be done. Thank you, Keystone.

That is great news!

[Montana_4027]

So... How far away from Anchorage are you? How much is diesel fuel up there?? We loved that area from the cruise ship..... so can't wait to see it from the land side!
Keep us informed on the repairs and other "adventures"...! This will be one to remember!!!

[jrgwdenner]

Danny, we're in Fairbanks right now and the diesel is now more expensive than regular, at about $2.52 gallon. But the weather is beautiful and the mosquitoes aren't bad at all, so we're glad they neither of them is living up to its reputation.

[Montana_4027]

We were wondering about Internet access in that area...? I guess it's not too much of a problem.... but, tell us how you are handling it?
It will be interesting to see if your water tank is in Anchorage when you arrive!! I would imagine... that they get many travelers in for major repairs. We'll see...

[jrgwdenner]

Right now I am sitting in the parking lot of the Officers Club on Eielson AFB. Someone has a wireless system that we're on, I think it's an open line in the club. Other times we have stopped for gas and been on line. Most of the visitors centers, which are numerous, have computers. Sometimes you have to waitas others are there and there is also a time limit (30 minutes). One time I was allowed to connect with my laptop but that is not usually the case. Some places ask for a small donation ($2.00), others don't. I would definitely travel with wireless but also use the libraries and visitors centers to check email.

Keystone has continued to be in touch with us and supportive. We will be at Simmons RV on the 29th, I think, to get the repair done. We've talked to a man who has had work done there and they have a very good reputation. We're very relieved. Hope our expectations are met. The tank has been ordered and Keystone knows our time schedule.

[bob n pam]

Judy and Glenn - the pictures and the blog are wonderful. Thanks for including us.

[Montana_4027]

We are watching the Blog and enjoying the pictures!! So.... don't thing we have all abandon you. We're waiting to see how the repairs go and hear about all of your adventures.
Be safe, take care.

[Montana_4027]

Judy,
We are really enjoying your Blog and all the great pictures!! It is wild country up there, that's what we loved about it. Be sure to tell us the details of your 'repair adventure' at Simmons RV in Anchorage.

[jrgwdenner]

At this point I don't know when we're going to get to Anchorage to try out Simmons repair services. Our truck is in Fairbanks at the Dodge dealer and we won't know until tomorrow what is needed to get it repaired. Then we can only pray that they have the part. We could be stuck here at Denali for a week or it could be repaired tomorrow. Time will tell.

[Montana_4027]

Judy~
We are glad to hear that you are safe in a park. Sounds like you may have gotten some bad fuel. It will be interesting to hear what it is. How are you going to pick up the truck?
Well.... I guess you are good right there.... until the snow blows!! Take care.

[jrgwdenner]

We think it is probably something in the fuel system, the pump or filter. The tow truck driver said that he buys his fuel where we did and has never had any problem with it.

Glen could either take the scenic train for $90 and have to stay overnite because it arrives late. Or he'll could ride in a van which leaves here around noon and arrives about 4:00 pm, so he can drive back the same day. He'll do the latter.

We are thankful, too, that we are safe in a park. We felt that we couldn't go out safely and just see if the truck would work. These mountains are no place for road testing. Especially with a big fifth wheel depending on you to get it over the mountain.

[Montana_4027]

We just read your Blog and we're very happy to hear that you are repaired and back on the road again! Even with a new truck,,,the fuel has to be good! Did it damage the fuel pump? Did something get past the filer? Are you headed to the RV dealer to see about the water tank?
We are in Seattle, visiting family.
Take care and travel save.

[jrgwdenner]

Check out our new thread. We're in Seward.

[Montana_4027]

We didn't find a 'new thread', but did see your updates on your Blog...... YES we wish we were there!! It is a beautiful place!!
Glad to see that you plenty of fish to eat...!

[jrgwdenner]

Cadanny, I hope by now you have found the new thread. I tried to post it soon after writing my previous note but the wireless connection was down. Monday morning the entire city of Seward was offline because their server isn't big enough to handle the Monday morning rush. There are more pictures on the blog since we came to Seward. Hope you saw those. Now we have plenty of fish to eat as we almost caught our limit today, 5 silver salmon and 4 halibut. Nothing huge but fun to catch and good to eat.

[Bowie]

Have been following your travels though we have not been able to let you know til now how much we are enjoying all the good times you have been having--and how much we have been sympathizing with all the trials. Keep us posted--we are certainly anxious to hear the next adventure. Thanks so much for sharing!!!

[jrgwdenner]

I really appreciate everyone's encouraging words, Bowie, and enjoy sharing our adventures. Just don't want to have anything more than beautiful places and campgrounds to report on. We've had enough excitement for this trip.

[tbhd]

WOW just checked out the new picture on your blog. That's one big fish that didn't get away. Any idea how much it weighted?

Sharon

[jrgwdenner]

That's a funny picture. It's sort of like a fish story, bigger than it looks. I suppose it was 25 or 30 pounds. It made a lot of beautiful halibut fillets and we had some for lunch. It was delicious. Halibut is $12.00 per pound downtown in Seward so it doesn't take long for you to make up the price of fishing charter.

[Montana_4027]

Judy~~ That looked like good eatin to us....... really good if it's worth $300 at the store!! Are you shipping some of the fish home?

[jrgwdenner]

The halibut was DELICIOUS! We shipped fish home, about 35 pounds for the cost of $138.00 via Federal Express Next Day delivery. We had to have it frozen for 48 hours before it could be shipped. Pretty expensive fish but one of life's big moments. The fishing charter cost $185.00 per person plus a generous trip to the deckhands. Just for your info. It a lot cheaper to fish from the bank (coastline)