On Sat, 21 Dec 1996 11:49:39 -0500 Larryhoy@aol.com writes:
>Barney,
>
>Are you still serious about the trip to Alaska?
>Is it still the summer of 97?
>How long do you imagine it may take?
>Do you think that the cars would be ferried part of the trip?
>Don't you need reservations soon if you plan to ferry?
>Are the roads paved?
Yes! I'm pretty sure I'm going, caravan or no.
I've been planning on some body work and a repaint for the MGA soon, but
will now put that off until after the Alaska trip. I would much prefer
to take the trip in '97, not wanting to leave the new paint job until the
winter of '98-'99. My fresh engine will be ready by spring.
Two bits says that June 10 to July 16 is enough time for me to make it
from Naperville to Seattle to Prudhoe Bay and all the way back to
Grapevine, Texas for NAMGAR's GT-22. If anyone was so inclined, I
wouldn't mind starting a little earlier.
I've heard that the ferries may be booked WAAAAY in advance for cars.
You may already be too late to book a ferry for the summer of '96 (just
guessing). At the moment you're on your own here. Anyone else know
about the ferry boats?
I understand that the roads are now mostly paved, at least as far as
Fairbanks. In June you do need to watch out for some huge potholes. The
road to Prudhoe Bay inside the arctic circle is not paved.
I would prefer to travel with a small group (or groups) of 4-10 cars with
like-minded drivers. If you get a large group of dissimilar cars and
attitudes, the caravan will travel the shortest distance possible each
day at the pace of the slowest cars. If some people want a high degree
of advanced planning with known distances, fixed stops, and room
reservations every night, then there will need to be more people involved
with the planning.
Personally I'm not real big on organized tours for long distances. I
have this tendency to wander around some as the mood strikes and hang my
hat wherever I end up at the end of the day. If the weather is tolerable
I like to build a fire and pitch a tent. When the weather is miserable I
run for cover. In either case, I seldom make any reservations in
advance. This allows me to make as many miles as I'm comfortable with
each day without getting stressed out about having to make a certain
distance to the next B&B. Also if I'm delayed for a day it doesn't screw
up all those reservations.
I like to put benchmark destinations on the map at about one week
intervals. If I'm running ahead of schedule I can take an extra side
trip and enjoy the sights. If I'm running a bit behind, I just wave at
the locals on the way by and still get to the final destination on time.
Anyone with even a remotely similar attitude is welcome to sign on with
caravan #1.
Barney Gaylord
1958 MGA
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