Trip To Alaska Page 1

Day 1 Depart San Francisco CA for Reno, NV Wednesday 29 March 2006

Miles Traveled 290

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Note: If you are seriously contemplating doing this trip to Alaska yourself you need the usual array of AAA maps, or whatever you consider to be the best printed maps, a good mapping GPS (Garmin StreetPilot series or newer recommended) and at least the following two publications. Both available everywhere.

1.    Travelers Guide To Alaskan Camping. Mike & Terri Church. (www.rollinghomes.com) ISBN 0-9749471-1-3

2.    The Milepost (Since 1949 the bible of North Country travel) (www.themilepost.com) ISBN 1-892154-17-X

And just incase you are curious, No, I am not being paid by either publication. Just get them and you will understand how useful they are.

Both have unique and different approaches to the trip. The Milepost is full of excellent paid for ads but also a mile by mile record of the route to Alaska.

Mike and Terri's book is a no nonsense, been there, done that, got the t-shirt and here is what you need to know. What to see, where to camp overnight, super little maps by various stages and other useful stuff that you really want to know. Many thanks to both publications. (Ok, so go ahead send me a new free copy... :-)  )

Trip to Alaska Story Starts Here

Raining hard at the 0800 departure time. Not a good sign, that probably means snow in the Sierra's. The original plan called for I-5 North to Weed, CA and then start winding Northeast. Due to rain and snow on I-5 a last minute decision was made to go via I-80. Oh well... Should have stayed with Plan A.

Interstate I-80 East direct to Reno NV 297 Miles

Drove a total of 297 miles from San Francisco, CA to Reno, Nevada in some of the worst weather California could throw at me. Donner Summit did its best to stop me but the truck pulled me through OK. Left home at 0800, made the trip to Valley Springs to get the trailer and immediately headed for Reno, NV. Pulled into the KOA just after 1500. Now, many of you that live out here would be asking why the trip took so long? Snow, and although not bad by any stretch of the imagination it was enough to slow traffic. Also a bad accident on I-80 around Nyack. All I saw was a couple of huge tow trucks, team pulling a vehicle up the hill that had broken through the safety barrier and had plunged down a steep embankment.

Views from the KOA Reno Hilton RV Park

Day 2 Reno Wednesday/Thursday 30 March

Its blooming cold here as you can tell by the pictures and I know I should have bought that electric heater from Costco a few months back.

Stopped for the night at the KOA RV Park at the Reno Hilton Hotel and lucked out. The Travel Channel was filming The World Poker Tour. Plenty of action and interesting to watch but the actual show on TV is far more exciting than the real thing. Too much waiting around for some players to play mind games against their opposition.

Set up the car XM Radio for the trailer. Nice! Bobby Ocean moved to XM channel 7 a while ago. Missed the music when I was in Death Valley. But really now, we all know why I installed it? Baseball starts in a couple of days. Go Giants. :-)

Climbed into the sleeping bag and the zipper stuck three quarters up. Too lazy to make the bed. Net result, a freezing night. Hit Wal-Mart the next day for a heater. Sold out. Hmmm. Next stop, Home Depot, they have been sold out since February 01 or so. This is getting desperate.

Ace Hardware, but of course, they had a good Honeywell unit. Twice the price of Costco but if you need it...

Filled the fridge, pantry and booze locker with goodies from Raley's. Then wow, the sun came out so decided to stay again for the night. Paid for another nights stay so I can rub elbows with the Texas Holdem group. No Margaritas tonight either!

Did trailer maintenance and stuff like that. Southwest Airlines must own RNO these days. Every second aircraft is one of their Guppies with its new winglets.

The Reno Hilton South parking lot had an RV sales show going on. You all know the drill. No Beaver Patriot Diesel Pushers though, so no business from me. Besides the lot seemed filled with Toy Haulers, they seem to be all the rage these days but afraid I have passed that stage. Wind picking up again, time to head back to the trailer.

Day 3 Depart Reno Friday 31 March

I-80 East, Reno NV to Wells NV

Happy to report that the electric heater is a very warming success. :-) Time to hitch up and get out of here. Two restful days in Reno preparing the trailer and fixing a few minor problems.

Today's Trip

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