Deb Dog: Alaska
Ready to get lost in the Alaskan Wilderness
2023 - Alaska…Finally
Alaska has been on my bucket list of travel adventures for a long time. Years ago my Aunt Pat was a traveler whose recounting of The Last Frontier put a bug in my bonnet, so to speak. Her stories of wildflowers, mountains and glaciers made me want to go…and that wish has finally come true.
So Jodie and I are on our way… 21 days in the “Last Frontier.”
Alaska Airline - Six hour flight from Boston to Seattle followed by an additional four hours from Seattle, Washington to Fairbanks, Alaska. Long trip and had fairb been our only destination I would have turned directly around and withstood another 10 hours in the air 😫.
Alaska is on Alaska Standard Time which is 4 hours earlier than the east. Also it really doesn’t get dark here in May! Sun sets around 11PM and rises about 5AM. Civil Twilight
Fairbanks —What a bust… skip it…
Boring & Unattractive
The only things worth visiting are the Museum of the North at University of Alaska and Santa’s Smokehouse (amazing smoked salmon).
From Fairbanks we drove a couple of hours south to Denali National Park. The park wasn’t quite open for the season, but we were able to drive 30 miles into this extraordinary pure and untouched land of majestic beauty.. No kidding…breathtaking.
We hopped the Alaskan Rail from Fairbanks to Anchorage - a 12 hour ride that was incredibly scenic and relaxing. The seats were comfy and we were able to wander through the train. Such a great experience.
I need to stress that it is NOT was cold as it looks ☀️
Daytime temperatures in the 40s and 50s. Perfect for hiking/biking and we’re layering
Also this time of year means fewer people and more wildlife 🫎
Denali / North
Knik Glacier
The Knik Glacier is an ice field located 50 miles east of Anchorage, Alaska on the northern end of the Chugach Mountains. The ice field averages over 25 miles long and over 5 miles across, making it one of the largest glaciers in southcentral Alaska.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knik_Glacier
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knik_Glacier
Helicopter to Knik Glacier
Anchorage/Seward/Homer
Anchorage/Seward/Homer
Now we’re talking Alaska! Beautiful city with many walking and biking trails. Jodie and I biked 28 miles around the coastal trail. Passed moose on the trail and got lost but were all the better for it in the end.
Rented bikes from Peter at “Downtown Bicycle Rental” where he has all kinds of bikes (250) and accessories. We biked for over 4 hours and it cost us $44 total! Sweet deal and great place.
Video is of large female moose
MOOSE ARE EVERYWHERE HERE IN ALASKA!
NO KIDDING
Photo of Eagle Amazing (Jodie is Fantastic Photographer)
Photos of Bear, Wolf & Porcupine from the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center where they house and assist injured and orphaned wildlife.
Trail photos from Seward https://www.alaska.org/detail/tonsina-creek-trail
Warning Signs:🥴
Avalanche
Tsunami 🌊
Alaska had a 9.2 magnitude earthquake in 1964 followed by tsunami.
Now we’re talking Alaska! Beautiful city with many walking and biking trails. Jodie and I biked 28 miles around the coastal trail. Passed moose on the trail and got lost but were all the better for it in the end.
Rented bikes from Peter at “Downtown Bicycle Rental” where he has all kinds of bikes (250) and accessories. We biked for over 4 hours and it cost us $44 total! Sweet deal and great place.
Video is of large female moose
MOOSE ARE EVERYWHERE HERE IN ALASKA!
NO KIDDING
Photo of Eagle Amazing (Jodie is Fantastic Photographer)
Photos of Bear, Wolf & Porcupine from the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center where they house and assist injured and orphaned wildlife.
Trail photos from Seward https://www.alaska.org/detail/tonsina-creek-trail
Warning Signs:🥴
Avalanche
Tsunami 🌊
Alaska had a 9.2 magnitude earthquake in 1964 followed by tsunami.
Lasting four minutes and thirty-eight seconds, the magnitude 9.2 megathrust earthquakeremains the most powerful earthquake recorded in North American history, and the second most powerful earthquake recorded in world history since the development of seismographic measurements.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1964_Alaska_earthquake
I KID YOU NOT…..WHILE WRITING THIS WE EXPERIENCED AN EARTHQUAKE!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1964_Alaska_earthquake
I KID YOU NOT…..WHILE WRITING THIS WE EXPERIENCED AN EARTHQUAKE!
I had just been looking at a book here in the bnb about the largest earthquake in US here in Alaska (1964) and telling Jodie about it and wowowowow the earth/house started shaking! WILD
Juneau
The city has an estimated population of 32,500 year round citizens. Juneau is unique among the 49 U.S. capitals on mainland North America in that there are no roads connecting the city to the rest of the state or North America. One must either fly or boat into Juneau. Jodie and I flew from Anchorage.
Upon arrival we picked up a small skoolie through air bnb (school bus converted to RV) and headed off to a national campground called Mendenhall Glacier Campground.
We’ve had a glorious week of sunny ( for the most part) springtime weather. We’ve hiked many amazing trails and seen views that will forever be emblazoned in my memory.
Icebergs & Icefields at Tracy Arm Fiord
Eagles galore
Black bears
Sea Lions
Glaciers
Humpback whales
Killer Orca whales
Did I say Icebergs and glaciers?????
Gold…still see people digging for gold around riverbeds. Many old gold mines in the woods around Juneau.
Nature at its very best. The glaciers are melting…according to locals at an astounding rate. Grateful to have seen them.
2022 - NO ALASKA THIS YEAR - But NEXT & Differently . . .More to Come
I will NOT be going to Alaska this year.
Difficult decision but It's mid August and we haven't even gotten to Canada. I figured it was another 1400+ miles from Montana to the Alaskan border and then another long haul through Alaska.
It's heading into the rainy season in Alaska, it's getting colder there AND there are wildfires raging throughout the State. Yes, wildfires LIKE THEY'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. (See Blog post for links on Alaskan Wildfires).
That said, Ginger (Ginger (AKA Ginge) ) Sister Extraordinaire and I decided to stay in the USA and travel through places here that we've always wanted to visit so that's just what we've been doing.
I'm delighted that Ginger has opted to stay on with me beyond the original month she had planned. She says that she "doesn't want me traveling alone" but I know that it's so much more than that. I'm fine traveling solo. . . Originally, I'd planned to make the entire trip alone - She's just really enjoying herself. So onward we'll go - making short-term plans for where to go and what to see. This is working for us and honestly, it feels right.
Ginge and I are spending quality time and, for the most part, getting along well. We have our differences, of course. The biggest challenge thus far is that she has never camped before and I have a definitive preference for camping over "glamping." Even though we're traveling in RV style, I'd rather overnight in a spot that offers nothing but a view. She prefers a site that offers electricity and good internet service. We are learning to compromise and this is an overall good thing.
I will continue to blog as I have internet service. Thank you for following!
Difficult decision but It's mid August and we haven't even gotten to Canada. I figured it was another 1400+ miles from Montana to the Alaskan border and then another long haul through Alaska.
It's heading into the rainy season in Alaska, it's getting colder there AND there are wildfires raging throughout the State. Yes, wildfires LIKE THEY'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. (See Blog post for links on Alaskan Wildfires).
That said, Ginger (Ginger (AKA Ginge) ) Sister Extraordinaire and I decided to stay in the USA and travel through places here that we've always wanted to visit so that's just what we've been doing.
I'm delighted that Ginger has opted to stay on with me beyond the original month she had planned. She says that she "doesn't want me traveling alone" but I know that it's so much more than that. I'm fine traveling solo. . . Originally, I'd planned to make the entire trip alone - She's just really enjoying herself. So onward we'll go - making short-term plans for where to go and what to see. This is working for us and honestly, it feels right.
Ginge and I are spending quality time and, for the most part, getting along well. We have our differences, of course. The biggest challenge thus far is that she has never camped before and I have a definitive preference for camping over "glamping." Even though we're traveling in RV style, I'd rather overnight in a spot that offers nothing but a view. She prefers a site that offers electricity and good internet service. We are learning to compromise and this is an overall good thing.
I will continue to blog as I have internet service. Thank you for following!
Photo Galleries
Miscellaneous Photos Along the Way
Yellowstone
Glacier National Park
Grand Tetons
Utah Canyons (Amphitheaters):
Capital Reef
Escalante
Bryce
Zion
The Arches
Peacock Family Farm (This was a Harvest Host-Farmer Ed) - Ed and his wife, Diana allowed us to stay at their educational farm where they host year round events. At the time that we visited (allowed to stay at no cost - provided with electricity for 2 days - Harvest Host!) they hosted two weddings. The farm is closed for the summer but all of the animals were available for me, Ginge and Holly to visit each day. What fun we had. Thanks to Ed and Diana.
Lewis & Clark Caverns - Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park is a 3,000-acre public recreation and nature preservation area located twelve miles east of Whitehall in Jefferson County, Montana. The state park includes two visitor centers, ten miles of hiking trails, a campground, and its namesake limestone cavern
Yellowstone
Glacier National Park
Grand Tetons
Utah Canyons (Amphitheaters):
Capital Reef
Escalante
Bryce
Zion
The Arches
Peacock Family Farm (This was a Harvest Host-Farmer Ed) - Ed and his wife, Diana allowed us to stay at their educational farm where they host year round events. At the time that we visited (allowed to stay at no cost - provided with electricity for 2 days - Harvest Host!) they hosted two weddings. The farm is closed for the summer but all of the animals were available for me, Ginge and Holly to visit each day. What fun we had. Thanks to Ed and Diana.
Lewis & Clark Caverns - Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park is a 3,000-acre public recreation and nature preservation area located twelve miles east of Whitehall in Jefferson County, Montana. The state park includes two visitor centers, ten miles of hiking trails, a campground, and its namesake limestone cavern
Weekly Updates
Testimonials
Deb Dog?
I'm amazed at how time flies. I've spent my life working - mostly in service to others whether it was literally serving them food and beverages OR more recently (25+ years) and more rewarding as an assistive technology consultant serving people who have disabilities and those who support them. I met amazing people and was constantly learning. That work provided opportunities to travel a bit; mostly in New England but elsewhere in the country for conferences.
After retiring from that work I decided to drive a school bus here in my home town. Wow, did I love that job. I didn't exactly enjoy driving in circles day after day, but the kids brought me an incredible amount of joy. I'd be lying if I said that it was always joyful, but honestly 99% it was and the 1% when it was not, it was because I was having a bad day. The kids were just that...kids. I expected nothing more than respect for me, each other, and the bus and they met that expectation. I'll miss them and might very well return someday.
That said, having dreamed about traveling in a RV for quite some time ...I'm finally ready. I am retired as of June 2022; I have the experience of driving a large vehicle (school bus) which transfers nicely to the RV and I decided that there is no time like the present...So I'm OFF!
I could not feel any more grateful for my life. You will probably note (or will note) that gratitude is a theme for me these days. Age, wisdom, sobriety, family and friends have provided me
I hope that you will check in from time to time to read about where I've been, who has joined me along the way, and what lies ahead.
Prepping the RV
I am blessed. Several years ago Pam and I invested in a beach house which really paid off with the real estate market as it has been this past year. We sold the beach house and I promptly purchased a slightly used 2020 class C RV. It's approximately 25' long and comfortably sleeps 4.
There is a definite learning curve to owning a rig like this for someone who has never traveled in an RV of any size or shape. The good news is that I've been driving a full sized school bus for the past several years so driving is a breeze. It's all of the other STUFF that has kept me busy learning.
For instance:
No spare tire - they just don't come with the RV these days.
It's solar ready but that does not mean that it has solar! I'm working on that.
The pop/slide outs are on tracks that can easily go off track. This is BAD!
The chassis of the vehicle is very separate from the box on the back (where I'll live in the RV).
The box on my RV was manufactured cheaply and poorly so there's a lot to fix including:
Removal of old and installation of new sink faucet and water lines (leaked);
Rear LED tail light was full of water and blew many of the LEDs;
Broken keys and cheap locks;
Drawer slides were not screwed in properly or at all. (Thank goodness I have skills and tools to do a lot of work myself. I'm currently figuring out which tools will come along on the trip.)
Interior construction is fiberboard for the most part so it crumbles easily.
All of this said, I am NOT complaining...
This is a learning experience with, I'm sure, plenty more to come -- AND I am ready for the challenge!
There is a definite learning curve to owning a rig like this for someone who has never traveled in an RV of any size or shape. The good news is that I've been driving a full sized school bus for the past several years so driving is a breeze. It's all of the other STUFF that has kept me busy learning.
For instance:
No spare tire - they just don't come with the RV these days.
It's solar ready but that does not mean that it has solar! I'm working on that.
The pop/slide outs are on tracks that can easily go off track. This is BAD!
The chassis of the vehicle is very separate from the box on the back (where I'll live in the RV).
The box on my RV was manufactured cheaply and poorly so there's a lot to fix including:
Removal of old and installation of new sink faucet and water lines (leaked);
Rear LED tail light was full of water and blew many of the LEDs;
Broken keys and cheap locks;
Drawer slides were not screwed in properly or at all. (Thank goodness I have skills and tools to do a lot of work myself. I'm currently figuring out which tools will come along on the trip.)
Interior construction is fiberboard for the most part so it crumbles easily.
All of this said, I am NOT complaining...
This is a learning experience with, I'm sure, plenty more to come -- AND I am ready for the challenge!
Team
Deb
Full time RV traveler
You've already read about me...
Ginger (AKA Ginge) Sister Extraordinaire
Co:Pilot Part time (maybe full!) RV Traveler
Ginge is about to brave a brand new world; one in which she will not be working and will be spending time with herself and me exploring the US.
Holly
Peace keeper
Holly will be monitoring all RV activities and keeping everything in line.
Wilson
Coconut Navigator
Wilson was Jodie's inspiration for this trip. Inspired after watching Tom Hanks movie Castaway...Wilson will be our RV's dashboard navigator always watchful for the next beautiful vista!
RV Tour
