Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2012 21:59:30 -0400
Reply-To: Harold Teer <teer.vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Harold Teer <teer.vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Trip to Alaska
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Sorry, but this is not an question about correct tires, best weight of oil,
or the biggest battery that will fit under the driver's seat.
In fact, I don't really have a question but am instead just
warning/informing people about an upcoming trip.
My wife recently retired and since I was already retired we now have the
time to travel more in our Vanagon. We live in Virginia and love to travel
and hike and we have previously taken our van to the Tetons, Yellowstone,
Glacier NP, and various parks in British Columbia and the Yukon. On other
trips, the van took us to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
We thought our traveling this summer would be on hold because of some
family issues but they were resolved last week and we have frantically been
hustling to get everything prepared so we can take an extended van trip.
While our van has the original engine with about 140,000 miles, the van has
been well maintained and our local mechanic went though everything and
feels it is in great shape. Not to say we will not have mechanical issues,
but we have done all we can to be ready for a long trip. Just in case, we
also downloaded the rescue squad list and the one maintained by Larry Chase
so will have those if needed.
We normally take a leisurely pace in driving to our furthest point of a
trip and then return home a little quicker. However, since our furthest
planed part of our trip is Denali National Park in Alaska and we would like
to spend as much time in Alaska as possible during August before the
September rains/snow, we will drive further every day on the way out and
then take our time driving home. Of course, once in Alaska, our daily
travel plans will just evolve each day as we get advice from locals and
other travelers.
On Sunday or Monday we hope to leave Virginia and head toward North Dakota
and up to Edmonton and then across BC into Alaska. On the way back, we
will spend time in BC. While we have been to BC twice to hike and have
spent time driving to the northern tip of Vancouver Island where we took a
ferry to Skagway, we have never been to Vancouver so that is on the
agenda. We then hope to spend some time in Washington and Oregon before
heading home.
Along the way, we may accidentally see some of you. If you see a white, 91
Westy with Virginia plates and a Vanagon list sticker on the back window
with a canvas storage bag in the overhead luggage rack, that will be us.
Holler, wave, blink your lights, pull over for a cup of coffee, or whatever.
Hope to see some of you on the road,
Harold & Faye
__________
Harold Teer
1991 Westy
Harrisonburg, VA