Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 16:36:33 -0600
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Anchorage Trip
In-Reply-To: <BAY106-DAV189397501100466EF1DEADA51A0@phx.gbl>
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Bob,
A couple of more things -
You can't sleep down in the hold of the ferry vessel during transit. It
is not permitted. But who would want to. There is to much to see and do
and experience topside.
And .....
If your schedule permits - once you have gotten to Anchorage and visited
a bit .... catch the ferry once again and go to "The Island Terrific in
the North Pacific!" -- Kodiak Island. Usually it's the Matanuska that
goes from Seward (where you would board) to the port in the town of
Kodiak on Kodiak Island. The town and the island will blow you away. And
be sure you take some fishing gear. You can catch salmon and sea run
dolly varden all over the place.
Good luck on your journey. Enjoy!
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Bob Stevens wrote:
>Thought I'd post this response from my niece's husband, about a pending trip
>I'm planning on to Anchorage from Salt Lake. He did this trip about 2 months
>ago.
>Bob Stevens
>'87 Westy Syncro
>"Passion Fruit"
>
>First off, let me say that it is a positively
>wonderful way to travel. You will be following almost
>the exact route that the cruise ships follow. Granted
>the amenities aren't quite as nice, but... The
>people are always wonderful. You will meet several
>like-minded people who are equally excited about the
>adventure that they are on and who are equally
>awe-struck by the experience. There are 3 passages
>that go through open water, but other than that the
>'inside passage' is just that - a protected waterway
>that is frequently so smooth that you can see your
>reflection on it.
>
>843 dollars sounds like a winter rate that would
>include one car and one passenger. In the summer
>expect to spend another 150 - 250 dollars for the
>passenger (you). That is not including a room. The
>temperature - even in the winter are not normally
>below 30 degrees. Where I am going with this is that
>I normally camp on the back of the ferry, in my tent
>or stake out one of the patio chairs and set up my
>sleeping bag on it. Caution - secure tent very very
>well - it gets windy. Get on the ferry at the
>absolute soonest possible time, or all of the tent
>spots and patio chairs will be gone. You can also
>sleep inside the cabin on the floor, on one of the
>smallish couches, or in a recliner. again, first come
>first serve. Or, book a room, but they are a little
>expensive.
>
>I recommend getting an open ended ticket or creating
>one. Make stops of one or two days each in the
>following towns: Ketchikan (1 day), Sitka (a must -
>great fishing whale watching etc) 2 days, Juneau 2
>days, Skagway 1 or 2 days, then drive North from
>Skagway. i know that you can drive North from Haines
>and save about 60 miles but Skagway is a town not to
>miss, and that portion of the drive is absolutely
>beautiful. Do yourself a favor and make those stops
>as a minimum. If you like Sea kayaking, camping, etc
>then spend longer at Sitka and consider adding
>Wrangell and Petersberg to your list. Make sure you
>take a flight on a float plane (beaver or otter) at
>least once on your trip up - I would recommend
>Ketchikan for that. From Skagway plan on a 2 day trip
>to Anchorage, unless you drive in to Valdez and spend
>a couple of days. If you take the Valdez option you
>can then take a short ferry ride to Whittier and drive
>1 hour to anchorage.
>
>Oh yeah - the short of it is that the ferry ride is a
>'must.' Ferry up, then drive back. It is well worth
>it.
>
>
>
>
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