Another Time on the ALCAN

Well, here we go again. My wife, Mary, our dog, Moonshine, and I are heading down the Alaskan Highway one more time. We are going to be snowbirds searching for warm, sunny days. After more than forty years (winters) in Alaska, it will be nice to do something other than shovel snow for six months.

I find Alaska to be limiting in these, my vintage years - especially during long winters. Anchorage is a nice city - as cities go - with lots of activities for a town of its size. There is more big name entertainment coming up here than in most towns comparible (population: quarter-million), and there is a an unlimited choice of winter sports.

But most of Alaska freezes up during the winter. Towns like Seward, and Homer, places on the ocean, are bustling durng long summer days, but they sleep through the winter, along with hibernating bears. But I've done all the Alaskan adventures, and now I am ready for another type of experience - something warmer.

Its about a 2,400 mile drive before you reach the US border again, and if you wait to leave here til after the first of October you may run into snow - which stays into April. If you're driving a fifty-five foot long rig (truck and travel trailer), then its not prudent to wait any longer than that. So, we are heading out tomorrow (Monday September 21, 2009) ...or maybe Tuesday.

Ironically, you have to go 328 miles north before you can head south. Tok is at the Junction of the Glenn and Alaskan Highways. It is our distination on the first day. We hope to make Whitehorse on the second, and Laird Hit Springs on the third. After that its mostly speculation as to where we will stop for the nighjt. I will try to post our progress, but am uncertain how much time I will get to write and where we might find Internet access - its all tenative.

GO TO: Leaving for the "Outside"