Three days of driving…

 

It’s a long way to Alaska. We’ve spent the last three days on the road. It’s been brutal and amazing. Mostly amazing. You are really out there without many people around we seem to pass/leapfrog the same people over and over again. It’s almost like a class we’re all going the same way on the only road to anywhere around. We didn’t pick these people but they are the ones we’re experiencing this with. 

After Elk Island we got on the road early in the morning and I had hatched a plan that we’d swing by a RV store in Grand Prairie and throw a new stove into the camper. They go in really easy like 6 screws and connect the gas line. I had removed ours when we replaced the floor. So I made Becky call around and we stopped one we passed but no luck it’s not something they carry in stock. The parts guy didn’t like my joke that he’s got over two hundred sitting in campers on his lot, I’m sure one will fit, Only half joking really, figured they might get creative to make some money but no go.

We went past Dawson Creek and onto the Alaskan Highway. We missed getting a sign picture and it turned into a family debacle with everyone yelling. Some missed turns trying to find it and finally seeing the old mile 0 post (not what we were looking for) in the middle of an intersection. Then jumping the camper tires over its curve when I turned around it while everyone was telling me to go straight. The first few miles on the Alaskan highway were spent in fuming silence as we distanced ourselves from the situation. Maybe we’ll catch it on the way back. 

The rest of the day was good, the road was excellent on this first stretch and it was mostly trees and forest. The road was pretty good the whole way really. Hit a few construction areas with pace cars or one lane light controlled. We had planned to stay in Pink Mountain but when we pulled up it was 4 o’clock and everyone was feeling good so we gassed up and decided to just keep on trucking. The scenery was getting better and we drove a couple more hours for Fort Nelson. I was worried planning the trip about making sure we had reservations but they really weren’t needed we saw open campsites everywhere, so getting into the commercial campground was no problem. We pulled in leaving everything hooked up turtled it no slide it was raining so we just made supper and went to bed. Next day was a shorter day then planned since we cut a couple hours off the day before so we slept in and stayed in our scheduled stop at Baby Nugget (yes that’s its name) just past Watson lake the next night. Finally it was another short 6 hour drive to Skagway. The Klondike highway was a little rougher but still not bad.  All my fears of road quality we unfounded or we just have a high tolerance of road quality but it really wasn’t bad. Overall the scenery was amazing and just kept getting better as we went north. Didn’t see as much wildlife as I was hoping. We saw a couple young moose one and day a big female moose run across the road another day. One baby bear just for a moment running in the ditch. A couple deer, a coyote and a ton of ravens. We drove past a couple herd of Buffalo, one right in the road so finally got a good look at a Wood Buffalo.

The mountains are amazing but the road through them was pretty good no concerns of over heating or anything seemed overall more gradual than things we’ve driven in the states. Lack of other traffic and plenty of room for passing and turnoff probably helped as well. The road into Skagway was a little dicey there’s a really steep decline and it was rainy and in the clouds, we were behind a tour bus which I was thankful for so we could see the turns if we were alone it would have been really hard to see the road. Coming back up that thing will tax the vehicle but anywhere else it wasn’t bad. 

Here’s a few picture I snapped along the way. We’re getting ready to get on a ferry to Juneau. So we’re packing for a vacation while we’re on vacation. Whose idea was this, it’s a circus. 

Testa lodges famous cinnamon rolls. They really were that good!

Stopped and got a picture of Summit Lake.

The white knight at the pull over across from Sumit Lake

Getting gas, this was something I was pretty worried about  in planning. Especially after almost running out of gas coming home from Nebraska on a practice camp. But we really were never at risk there were plenty of places to fill up we didn’t go below 1/2 a tank except on one stretch where I knew we had gas at our campground. Only had one place that didn’t have premium (yes the white knight requires only the best). All took credit cards. Good views even pumping gas.

Stopped at the hot springs to take a dip.

About a 1/2 mile walk to the Laird Hot Springs. To get there you go into the campground, five dollars a person for the park entrance no charge for the springs. We were confused coming in where to go as it’s not obvious and there’s a parking lot across the road we stopped at first. But the campground is the place to go. 

Still walking, was pretty chilly on the walk up. I was concerned it’d be freezing in the way back but after the hot water it felt nice and wasn’t bad at all heading back.

Had Sam take a picture of Becky and I

Wide shots to see what we were dealing with was a nice mix of natural with man made conveniences

Other direction, the cooler pool farther away from the source. You could follow it way back until it ended by a cold water fall steam under some brush

Heading back to the camper to have sandwiches before hitting the road again

Watson Lake sign forest, knew about it but wasn’t planning on stopping but it was right off the road so we checked it out. Very cool, way bigger than I was imagining.

Marcus and I

Samus trying to figure this place out

Campsite at the Baby Nugget

11:30 still light out

Highway view, I finally got one I’d been bugging Becky to take a picture of the road for days now.

I got the shot because Marcus was driving. He joked he could drive so I pulled over at a spot and we switched. Marcus driving in the Yukon! First time driving with the camper.

Lucas is not impressed he didn’t think it was a good idea being 2500 miles from home and having Marcus take the wheel. It was a little nerve wracking not knowing the road. I had to have him downshift once which was a little crazy but he did it, so we switched back at the next rest stop.

I liked riding for a bit can get a much better look at the scenery.

Testin Lake

We stopped and had sandwiches for lunch. It was chilly. Feels amazing like fall for days now 

Big Mountain. We’re stopped at a one lane traffic light for what feels like forever.

Camper in Skagway, Garden City Rv. Pretty rainy here. We had to setup the camper twice because the water lines don’t work. I was thinking it was only the sewer but it was both.

So we’re not doing good on Alaska time it’s like 8:00 but we are exhausted. Becky and the kids have the tired giggles but we don’t want to go to bed too early and it’s super bright out yet. We start talking about when it gets dark and how the sun goes down at 10:00 but then it’s light for quite a while. Marcus asks so how long is it dark. Good question I look it up and can’t stop laughing, and have a hard time letting everyone know what I’m laughing at. Those that really know me know this laugh. What has me is… July 10th. Night… “Not for this day”. Nope no night, never gets dark. Once I got it out everyone was dying. I have a feeling  “not for this day” will be quoted quite often over the next few days.  

I wrote this post and Marcus says “I took pictures of you”. So here it is me trying to get out what’s so funny.

Elk Island

 

Our second day on the road was another long day, but a little better only 8 hours in the car. It rained most of the drive off and on, at times heavily. But for the most part was uneventful. This stop is Elk Island National Park which is just east of Edmonton. We pulled in via the north entrance which was unmanned so I jumped out and grabbed a guide quick and handed it to Becky, she preceded to tell us about the park in her miserable version of French. I didn't read the sign and had grabbed the French version. It provided some good entertainment as we did our best to interpret the differences between the plains and the wood buffalo.We got an English version when we registered to camp… and we were way off… it was a smaller beard. We pulled into our campsite which was like street parking style and had to setup in the rain. 

I made some chili and almost burned down the camper again trying to make some cinnamon rolls. The oven is broke again at the oven gas line, so pilot light is good but it leaks when turning the oven on. Since I had chili on the stove top its burner started the leaking propane and the whole oven top went up in a giant flame. Marcus was impressed with how calmly I dealt with it as it was pretty scary. It had happened before a couple years ago (where I did freak out), there really is no greater teacher than experience. I’m pretty bummed as I love, LOVE the camper oven. Muffins, cinnamon rolls, and don’t forget pizza. So much pizza has been made in that oven. But no longer, not this trip. I don’t know how I’ll be able to get it fixed. I didn’t bring the flange kit I used to fix it last time and it actually looks pretty good not sure why it won’t seal. 

This stop we took a down day from driving for Lucas’ birthday. We let him pick what we did. I was thinking, hiking, swimming, and catch a movie. He picked go have lunch, book store, mini golf, and a movie. At least I got one right. And we couldn’t swim anyway the beach was closed down due to a blue-green algae bloom. So we spent the day at the Edmonton mall. What a mad house that thing was. Got everything in, it was a fun day but exhausting we were completely malled out and just wanted to be back home in the camper. That night we burned up the rest of the wood and got to bed we were dead horse style tired. Another long drive day ahead tomorrow. 

Here’s a few pictures from this stop. Didn’t see any buffalo except way out in a field.

Marc reading his book. Every one but me is tearing through books.

Rained most of the day. Got soaked setting up in the rain. Then hung out in the camper until it finally stopped in the evening and then sat out having a fire. I’m the last one in as usual and I’m getting ready for bed. Becky yells stop banging around it’s 11:00. “What?!?” I had completely lost track of time felt like maybe 9:30 as it was still mostly light out. Guess we’re getting up north.

So the oven debacle left two pans of rolls open with no way to cook them. So our attempt at make shift individual ovens over the fire. Took forever but came out good enough. Bottom crisp, top raw, middle just right. Something for everyone. 

Astotin Lake

Luke and Marc are thrilled to take a selfie with me.

Lady and a lake

Same lake in the morning, different island

Since we weren’t hiking Marc and I got a run in. Not together mind you he’s way too fast even at his slowest setting. Camp ground was well developed so didn’t take the bear spray along I didn’t want to look silly. Running along there was a big gate through a high fenced in area that seemed to run along most of the developed area, felt like Jurassic Park (which we saw the new one later in the day). Was wishing I had taken bear spray as the gate got your mind thinking about what they are keeping out. It was a narrower trail and heavy forest further away from the lake, about a mile in I caught the musky scent of a large an animal. Never saw anything but had my hackles up for sure. I didn’t care so much about looking silly at that point.

Into the belly of the beast. The Edmonton West Mall. It was a Monday morning and the place was hopping. A lot like the mega mall but being older some of the hallways were narrow making it feel a little more like a regular mall.

Lucas chose Boston Pizza for lunch.

Walking along and there’s a seal show going on below. Went further and there was a girls hockey game going on. It was super loud by the ice rink. 

Next stop mini-golf. We got turned down by the first coarse we went to too many players try again later. So we walked across the mall to the other one. Glow in the dark mini golf who knew. It was fun the other coast didnt look this good.

Group picture with the wizard. Luke’s half fake tooth is always fun with a black light.

Above our campsite. Seagulls were circling. Must have known it was supper time. 

 

Alaska or Bust

 

The Munsch’s are on the road again. A bit later than usual but off and on a quest to camp in Alaska. Which will be our 49th state we’ll have camped in together with our 20 year old camper. That is if we make it… there’s still a lot of road between us and our goal. 

When we started these adventures back in 2015 I never would have guessed we’d be doing it this long and had as many adventures as we’ve had. I wouldn’t trade these trips and time with my family for anything. 

This year we made sure to shake down the camper well with some long trips practice camping. One to the hills and then to Iowa and Nebraska. 

After we got back from our trip last year we determined a lot of our issues were likely due to the axles on the camper being shot. We put on two new axles in the fall and pulling it around this spring it has made a ton of difference in ride quality and impact to the interior. We likely were due a few years ago. Amazing it made it through the trip last year. Guess the torsion axles the camper has are rated to 15 years so it was due especially with the miles we put on it.   

So after many months of planning, worrying, and preparation it was finally time to shove off. First stop was a walk in the park as we headed north to spend the fourth holiday in Aberdeen. We stayed at the Van Dover campground. While in Aberdeen we went to a pool party at my sister’s and had dinner and shot fireworks with Becky’s family. We started lighting fireworks a little early at like 9 (or noon as Becky’s brother called it) because we wanted to get on the road by 6am. 

First day was a lot of driving we drove five hours to the International peace gardens. Where we walked around and had lunch. Then we had to cross the border into Canada,  that went fairly well. We had to wait about 20-30 minutes while they searched the car and camper. They really went for it. No issues and we got back on the road now tracked in kilometers instead of miles. Which proved some entertainment for us as we switched the car over to metric and were completely lost. I really just wanted the speedometer switched over but it was all or nothing.  Oil pressure, engine temp, tire pressure. Clueless americans, is 18 a good temperature for the air conditioner??Anyway after two days I still get a kick out of my brain seizing up when I look at something and it’s in metric units. The remainder of the drive was five hours to Whitesands Regional Park in Saskatchewan (Which did you know they don’t observe daylight savings time so we gained an hour a day earlier than I expected). Whitesands was just a stop on the way, a little lake and has a sand green 9 hole golf course. Looked like a lot of full time camping spots. It was a nice quick stop we stayed hooked up for a quick getaway the next day. Another long drive day.

So we’re on our way it’ll be a lot of driving so not sure how this is going to work this year for posts. Next stop is for two nights so Luke doesn’t have to ride on his birthday. But after that it will be 3 more drive days to get to Alaska. Wish us luck!

Hanging out in the pool with cousin Alec

This is real early, lighting bottle rockets and lady fingers. Things that are meant for the day time.

Had to stop in Rugby at the Geographical Center of North America to get a picture.

Peace gardens, Becky and I made them get into the birds nest against their will. 

This is also in the kids play area. It was really nice lots of things to climb around on. Mostly for younger kids but we climbed around a bit. This is interesting because under the web is mint so it smelled real good when you stepped on it. 

Cactus house. It was really warm in there.

So we now have a year’s membership to the peace gardens. The annual car pass was the same price as 5 day passes. Doubt we’ll be back but nice to know we can if we want to. 

Dove hand peace shot. Lucas is leaving Becky hanging. 

Outside the Chapel. Sam gets the general vibe.

Campsite at Whitesands Regional Park 

Whitesands Lake

Calm waters

Sunset over the golf course