After 42 years as a radiology administrator, retirement on June 3, 2005 was a chance to go to Alaska with a retirement gift to myself -- A T@B RV.
The inaugural trip will take two months and go from Etna, New Hampshire to Alaska. Going to Alaska will be through Canada heading west to the Alaskan Highway and returning through the northern US.
The T@B RV is a small, light weight, pull behind RV that's perfect for me on this solo trip - my wife, Pat, is not a camper or a long distance traveler. Distance to Fairbanks is 4,311 miles (according to AAA).
This first time webpage journal will be updated several times a week with information on the trip and photos, provided the computer, Internet connection and camera are working. Follow the journal, check out the photos!
June 8, 2005
Take off date from Etna, NH is Wednesday, June 8. First stop is Syracuse, NY to visit our daughter, Dana. Then it's off toward Watertown, NY and Canada on June 9..
June 8
The 300 mile trip to Syracuse was uneventful - I had dinner with Dana and a newly married couple who wanted info on China. They are adopting a girl from China this fall. China, with their one child policy, has alot of unwanted girls. Their feeling is that if you can only have one, it has to be a boy. About 20 years from now, all these boys are going to be looking for girls who have all gone to the US and Europe.
I saw hundreds of motorcycles on the way through NY State -- all headed to New Hampshire. All men dressed in black, driving their black Harley bikes --they looked like black salmon going upstream to spawn at the Laconia, NH Motorcycle Week.
June 9
Getting through Canadian Cusotms was a breeze -- only asked if I had any guns. Unlike many places in the world, Americans are welcome in Canada. The Ontario Tourist Board loaded me down with maps and good directions, which included the Ontario camping parks. The first night was great -- everything on the T@B worked perfect. I generally go about 65 miles per hour and it tracks perfectly.
June 10
After the first morning - the first major problem -- I lost the car keys. Thankfully, Pat and Sara asked me to take an extra set. Ontario is beautiful -- not many people but trees as far as the eye can see. The night of June 10 was spend in Pancake Bay Provincial Park. Very nice but huge camping area, which was only about 1/2 full -- on the shore of Lake Huron.
June 11
Unlike China, Vietnam and Cambodia, the Internet bug has not arrived in Canada yet. I am 1,300 miles into the trip and managed to find only one connection at the local library. Headed to Thunder Bay today - about 300 km to go.
click on "week 2" in the left column to continue...
