Jim,
I'll be turning 66 next month - hence our planned visit to the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum on the way back to Houston. Gotta be a good photo opportunity in that.
Great timing! Plenty of cool photo ops for sure.
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Great timing! Plenty of cool photo ops for sure.
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AccraBob
Well-Known Member
Tom, we've got my grandson up to 49 already, and he's 16 years old. The Alaska trip is to get him to 50. It took me all the way to age 61 to get all 50 - I was stuck at 48 for a long time, then in 2014 we took our Expedition up to Ft McMurray Alberta for aurora watching, hitting North Dakota on the way up and Montana on the way back. I already had Alaska from a business trip in 1983. For some reason, I was able to rack up 54 countries faster than all the states.
Aurora pic below - it wasn't very strong, but still worth doing.
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Catching a glimpse of an aurora is on my bucket list. Throw in a snow capped mountain and I'm all set. I was wondering Bob, if I chip in for gas and promise not to get car sick, could I possibly....ah never mind.
Rjarr
New Member
Been there done that. Get a copy of Milepost for Alaska Highway. Good roads all the way to Whitehorse. YT. After that could be mud or dust. Get your oil changed in Anchorage. I would install mud flaps and floor liners( Weathertech). Wash your car frequently underneath and front of radiator. Be sure to drive to Seward. Beautiful drive
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AccraBob
Well-Known Member
Got Milepost and already have Weathertech floor liners. Mud flaps a great idea - just ordered. Thanks.
That man was one tough hombre.....
FYI, you can do 48 states in 6600 miles (1way), 8800 mi roundtrip (mostly interstates), or ~10k (scenic roundtrip)
World record is 96 hours 6 minutes, albeit with multiple drivers... quite doable in 2 weeks without getting too crazy
RhinoQuartz
Full Access Members
Just a little FYI about maps. Google maps allows you to download maps for free for a month or 2, and that should include POIs, businesses, etc.
There's also another maps app I would HIGHLY recommend, called what3words - https://what3words.com
One of the cleverest things I've ever seen, it makes communicating location insanely easy. I was introduced to it by a ex gfs uncle - smartest guy I ever met, and he loved finding new clever things.
There's also another maps app I would HIGHLY recommend, called what3words - https://what3words.com
One of the cleverest things I've ever seen, it makes communicating location insanely easy. I was introduced to it by a ex gfs uncle - smartest guy I ever met, and he loved finding new clever things.
Ahh, the official 'address' system of the Mongolian Post Office?
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AccraBob
Well-Known Member
Yes, I have used Google map download often and I'll do so on this trip too. For example, will download in Edmonton the bits up to Dawson City YT, and so on. It's very easy to use.
what3words is ...interesting. I guess it requires that whoever you're sharing a location with also have the app, to decode those 3 words into a location. Also easy to share a location with Google maps, though.
Its just a mnemonic device for coordinates
Drawbacks discovered immediately: it doesn't catch similar words or misprints or plural misuse
For example, joke.wink.surely is a crappy but free secret parking spot by the airport in Los Angeles.... but jokeS.wink.surely and joke.winkS.surely are in Jersey and Michigan, with no search suggestions that maybe its a typo and hey there's something 1 letter off from what you typed in California
RhinoQuartz
Full Access Members
Actually it specifically states that homophones have been excluded.
But I get your point.
Yes it does require both parties to have the app to decode, however it's far more accurate than Google maps, especially in non English speaking countries (I discovered this in Cyprus a few years back).
MrSticker, many thanks for posting these, and the great video on Dick Proenneke you posted earlier! The local PBS station showed these several years back, and I never got around to making copies.
The latter (the video on Dick Proenneke) is a great testament to some nice-to-have survival skills.
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AccraBob
Well-Known Member
I was reviewing some of my early paperwork on my truck and found I already had installed the skid plates (engine and transmission) just after purchasing the truck. So I guess I'm more ready than I thought I was.
GAINMOB
Full Access Members
I lived in Alaska for 4 yrs... unless u plan on really going off road factory skid plate will be fine
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GAINMOB
Full Access Members
When u see the signs that say get gas now... GET GAS NOW!!! Too many ppl think they can make it the next 100+ miles to next station and run out
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AccraBob
Well-Known Member
Good points. Not planning on going off road, and we do plan to keep the 26 gallon tank above half as much as possible - I generally get 10 mpg in the city, 16-17 on the road, but know it can be worse than that with full load, cargo box, up and down mountains, and variable road conditions. Working in our favor is that it will be summer...but always filling up in the bigger towns will help keep us on credit card rather than cash, though we will use cash when needed.
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AccraBob
Well-Known Member
Well, been to Alaska and back, should arrive Houston area tonight. No serious truck issues or driving challenges. I'll catch up with some pics but meanwhile here's the truck in NJ ready to go and another high view from hotel room. And a shot of our excellent insect DNA sample collection.
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