Big Katuna
Deland, FL
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Joined: 12/27/2003
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I don't mean to sound cold or elitest. It is 2000 miles from Seattle to Fairbanks. A trip to Alaska is an adventure and holds a fair amount of risk . Everything is imported and everything is expensive. Anyone planning a trip like this should have lots of backup plans and extra money in place. My cousin went in a one year old DP, developed major engine trouble and spent four unplanned weeks in Alaska. It could happen to anyone. My point was, if you were seriously planning to go to Alaska a year ago and an extra thousand or two for fuel is stopping you, you probably didn't have enough reserve planned. If you want to go in a Toyota Corolla and a tent, have at it. People have done it.
My Kharma ran over my Dogma.
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eltejano1
Woodville, Texas
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Joined: 08/05/2006
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Ain't THAT the truth, Mike! I can't win - if I hadn't been frugal at fifty, I wouldn't even be able to think about it now. And my rusty old transmission is jammed in low and just won't shift gears.
Jack
PS - If I lived on the Wind River - used to flyfish for trout upstream from Riverton years and years ago - I wouldn't even need an rv, let alone be tempted by Alaska. Unless it's changed since the seventies, it's one of the lovliest places on the planet. I've been to Alaska, at a fishing lodge on the Nuyakuk River(a gift from a wealthy customer in 1976), and didn't see anything as pretty as the Rockies. Better fishin' though!
* This post was
edited 05/17/08 06:25am by eltejano1 *
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Deb and Ed M
SW MI, USA
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Joined: 06/07/2004
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I'm glad we went in '06 - gas wasn't exactly cheap then...but certainly cheaper than now. But our "criteria" for the trip were:
A) Enough time off from work to make the trip
B) A newer Class C still under drive train warranty
C) Healthy enough to enjoy the hikes/tours/walks around towns
Beyond that, it was a lifetime dream and we would have scraped up more gas money in order to go. And in hindsight - it would have been worth every penny!! There is no place in the lower 48 that can rival the mind-boggling beauty of Alaska and NW Canada, IMO.
Deb
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Chief Neon
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Joined: 12/03/2001
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Howdy!
We're on our way to Alaska now. We began fulltiming January last year and Alaska was our plan for this year. Last year we went to Nova Scotia.
We've met folks that have backed out due to the cost of fuel. Well I don't believe fuel is going to get any cheaper so we're going now.
"Happy Trails"
chiefneon
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lanerd
Ridgecrest, CA
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Joined: 03/03/2003
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Wind River wrote:We leave for Alaska June 10 providing nothing goes wrong. We both retired this year and are in good health.
Who knows if we can afford the trip in the future or if our health will allow such a trip later.
We have planned this trip for a couple of years and WE ARE GOING!
We are packed and ready to head out first thing Tuesday morning (20th). The Marine Hwy and rv parks along the Marine Hwy are paid for. Along the Alaska Hwy we'll stay at anyplace we can boondock and we'll eat in the mh and only eat out once in a while to save $$ for the extra price of diesel. Yes, fuel will cost us a whole bunch, but we figure this is probably a once in a lifetime trip if the fuel prices don't level off or reduce in the future. If we have to, we'll dip into the savings to make up the difference.
Kid's inheritance?? Ha... they're on their own, just as we were.
Here we come!
Ron
Ron & Sandie
'08 Safari Simba SBD35
86 Toy 4x4 P/U for Toad.
Tow Bar: Sterling
Brakes: Unified
Toys:
Yamaha 660R Raptor (mine)
Honda 350ES Rancher (hers)
64 Fairlane w/351c - 4sp
Both Fed CS Retirees
Hobbies:
DW's: Quilting
Mine: DW
RETIRED!! How sweet it is....
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Cool Mike
Mendocino. Calif.
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Joined: 06/24/2006
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The DW and I are retired now and every thing is in place to make that big Alaska trip, except our health. Sometimes it doesnt pay to wait until your retired to take the trip, you may be forced into retirement due to poor health, then its to late.
We did most of our long rang traveling back 15 to 20 years ago, and that was a good thing, because if one of you looses there good health, you wont be going no matter what.
And its vary hard to predict the further, except the price of fuel will not drop much.
2001 27' Four Winds Class-C E-450 V-10.
Buick Park Ave Ultra, Ford Ranger PU, JD 500 backhoe.
1941 Farm All "A"
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ak_traveler
Fairbanks, Alaska
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Joined: 04/23/2005
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alaska511 wrote:It will be interesting to see how much this slows the tourism and campers from out of state.
Well alaska511, it doesn't seem to have slowed the tide too much up here in Fairbanks, yet! Santa Claus RV park is filling up and Riverview RV Park has several units in it. River's Edge here in town is opening up this week and I expect it too will have it's share.
As it has been said, fuel won't ever be any cheaper and all you're doing is getting older. So strike out while you can folks because you don't know what tomorrow holds. You can make up the difference in other areas. We are planning several in-state trips (can't go Outside for job reasons) but our in-state trips are equivalent to your multi-state ones down there!
"There's no such thing as too much tow vehicle!"
Wes, Linda, & kids
"Tow Twuck" - 2008 Ford F350 DRW CC LB 6.4 Powerstroke
"Cougar" - 2006 Keystone Cougar 289EFS Fifth Wheel
Our Website
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keith and sharon
Van Nuys, CA.
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Joined: 01/25/2007
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Big Katuna wrote:If you want to go in a Toyota Corolla and a tent, have at it. People have done it.
The last time my parents and I drove to Alaska (1979) the alcan was still gravel, the was on gentle man that we passed(he would catch up to us if we stayed in one place for a couple of days) that was doing the trip by bicycle and tent.
2008 Tiffin Allegro
32BA 2006 F-250 6.0 Harley Davidson Edition
FMCA #F402618
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diceshooter60
Bay Area of California
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Joined: 03/13/2004
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I've got 6 more seasons of gas hikes to wait before I can retire with the DW and head to Alaska. That's the first place we're going, no matter the price of fuel. Proceeds from the house sale will help out. I can't wait.
My in laws are going back this year as well, they're not letting the price of gas shut them out of such a wonderful trip.
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pnichols
Santa Cruz Mountains
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Joined: 04/26/2005
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"Is any body still going to Alaska from the lower 48 states this summer?"
Supposedly there are almost 9 million millionairs in the US. So, relatively speaking, probably a lot of folks will be going to Alaska this summer and every summer thereafter.
Phil, 2005 E450 Itasca 324V Spirit
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