Monday, August 13, 2012

Follow our progress on Facebook!

We haven't been able to get connected to the internet much to post photos, but some other folks in the convoy have been uploading photos and comments to our convoy's Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AlaskaConvoy

Check it out! We'll be in Alaska soon, and we might be able to post more regularly then.

Friday, August 10, 2012

For all you fans of the Alcan blog we are alive and well, and well on our way to an Alaskan adventure. It’s our 7th day august 10th and we are bivouacked at the Klondike River Lodge at the start of the Dempster (Dumpster) Highway. It’s the start of or our trek to the Arctic Circle, the sigh at the start of the hwy states “one lane 30 kms (30 miles)” all gravel for 240 miles to the Arctic Circle, we will post photos. The trip has evolved into the longest parade in history. People have come out in droves to greet us and open up their facilities to us and witness us reenact the ALCAN convoys of 1942. They are a testament to this achievement. Mac the driver and owner of the 1942 Willys Jeep we are traveling in, is relishing in this adventure. As a young man of 13 in early 1941 he and his dad sold everything they had and travel via the tramp steamer (SS Baranoff) to Alaska to follow their dream in the final frontier in the territory of Alaska.
The scenery is spectacular, we and members of our convoy have seen animals native to the Yukon including Bison, Bears, wolfs and Wolverines.
Traveling at between 25 and 40 mph in an open jeep offers an experience you can’t explain you just enjoy it.
We have had mostly great weather. However in and open jeep and a tent the rain make you appreciate sunny skies even more.
Mosquitos, YES!!!! They are getting bigger and hungrier but leave Mac alone, as we move north. We in the Yukon now and we hear stories of a legion of monster vampire crossbreed mosquitos that awaits us in Alaska.
We will be in Dawson City in a few days, we will try to update again when we arrive the WiFi here is low tesh. We apologize for the lack of entries the last couple of days but this resembles a military event, up at 5am, First Gear at 7am, hurry up and wait then get in late, setup camp then a drivers meeting, dinner dishes, breakdowns. Tomorrow we head to Eagle Plains on 200 miles of dirt roads. Its 7:30pm and the sun is still high in the sky and will not set until 10:00 tonight and 10:45 tomorrow night as we camp within 30 miles of the Arctic Circle.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012


Aug 1st started off sweet considering we all started the day freshly showered after four days of not having showering facilities. We went through vehicle safety check early and then on to the front of a long slow line for the registration process. Registration included a bag full of cool junk and "PRECIOUS" meal tickets!! We look forward to a real breakfast tomorrow and then a drivers meeting where we will learn the "correct" way to convoy. Remember, we've already convoyed 1200 miles. But nine rigs is far less complicated than eighty plus rigs. Today our convoy of 60 plus rigs went to an event, we were strung out over a mile. The scenery through rural farmland was beautiful.We convoyed to the town of Rollla, population 100, where we helped them celebrate their 100 year anniversary. The city fathers organized a celebration and we seemed to be the "Main" attraction.People lined the streets waving. They put on a first class barbecue for us. Even the church choir entertained us.Stay tuned!!

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

July 31, 2012   All went well on the nine vehicle convoy from Crescent City to Dawson Cr. B.C.. First night stay at the Wiesner farm was an incredible first night omen to a fantastic trip.! Home raised beef barbecue, home cooked pies, refreshments, beautiful setting and a "FULL" on restaurant quality breakfast. The next night we were treated like royalty at an overnight stay at the Canadian Military Education Center, a 10+ vehicle museum, Canada's largest military museum. A must see!! Another overnight stay at what looked like an "OCCUPY" Wal Mart rally was fun and very interesting (We left the site CLEAN and the cops didn't need to run us out). Now we are camped out in Dawson Creek, B.C. assembling and getting organised for the 4,100 mile trip on the Alaskan Highway!!