Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2012 10:22:43 -0500
Reply-To: Harold Teer <teer.vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Harold Teer <teer.vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Virginia to Alaska and back--maps, Internet, places to camp,
and modifications to the van
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
Below are a few observations about those issues from our recently completed
Virginia to Alaska trip of almost 3 months and 14,500 miles The full trip
report is in another email.
For a long trip to areas you have never been, I highly recommend a road
atlas or paper maps of some kind to supplement a GPS. While we normally
carry a road atlas, on this trip I foolishly decided to do without that
extra baggage and rely only on my GPS but soon had to stop and purchase an
atlas. A road atlas allowed me to see the "big picture" and just makes
traveling and planning more fun for us. For navigating in BC, Yukon, and
Alaska we also carried "The Milepost"---heavy and very detailed, but really
helped in determining miles between gas stations, camping areas, points of
interest, etc.
We carried a Garmin GPS in addition to a Verizon 4G enabled iPad.
Advantage of Garmin is that it worked in areas where we did not have phone
service. However, once we left Edmonton headed toward BC, Yukon and Alaska
we put the Garmin away and the Milepost maps sufficed for our needs until
we neared Vancouver on our way home.
Since we only have a US plan with Verizon, the iPad was to be used in
conjunction with Skype for communicating with family when we found a WiFi
hotspot in Canada or one in Alaska where we did not have Verizon service
(most places). Since we also wanted the iPad to work with a cellular
network in Canada, I called Rogers in Canada before we left home. I
explained that I was from Virginia and exactly what I wanted to do and they
said "no problem" and explained what to do at a Rogers store in Canada to
purchase a short term plan. Being a little paranoid, I called them again
and spoke to another person who confirmed I could do that. Being super
paranoid, I then called a Rogers store in Canada where I thought we would
stop and again was told "no problem". Unfortunately, when we arrived in
Canada and I tried to activate a plan, I was told I needed a Canadian home
address before they could activate a plan for me. I even had the stores
(tried two stores) call Rogers supervisors and they would not activate a
plan for me since I live in Virginia. What a bummer---so we had a WiFi
only iPad in Canada. WiFi in parts of BC and Yukon were found only in
libraries (Whitehorse library limits you to 1 hour a day).
We try to stay at state parks, provincial parks, forest areas, and
unimproved sites where appropriate and only stay at commercial campgrounds
when absolutely necessary--like in Valdez when we had an early ferry to
catch.
We used many different methods to find camping areas. On the iPad, we used
an app "Camp & RV -- Tenting to RV Parks" and on the Garmin we had
downloaded some state park and free camping POI's from "POI Factory". Our
road atlas listed national parks, state parks with camping, and forest
service camping. The Milepost listed all improved camping areas, we picked
up provincial camping lists at welcome centers throughout Canada and picked
up a BLM campground directory in Eagle, Alaska which was most helpful.
Over the years, we have made a few changes to the van which make it more
livable for us on longer trips like this one.
We bought a commercial floor mat for the rear area. It is one like you
find inside or outside office/store doors. It reaches from the cabinet area
to the sliding door with only about 1/2 unprotected space and I cut a
little off of one end so it completely covers the area from the rear bench
to the back of the front seat area. It keeps mud, dirt, water from the
floor and makes for easy cleanup with a small whisk broom or a good shaking.
Years ago, I replaced the original over sink light with two Thinlights and
also put a Thinlight over the bed area for night time reading. Of course,
now I need to think about replacing those with LED lights.
Replaced the original faucet with a SHURflo faucet and my wife says this is
one of the best modifications we have done to the van.
Installed a fan (Caframo Bora 748) to the left of the stove by the light.
Multipurpose uses---exhaust fan, cooling fan, hair dryer, etc. Really a
nice thing to have.
Since we never hang clothes in the closet, I put a wire shelf about 12”
from the top and we keep our toiletries, and other items that we want to
find easily.
Removed the table stand bracket from behind the driver’s seat and use that
spot to put a 2.5 gallon water container for our drinking water. Our
faucet water is used for everything but drinking.
Porta-poti behind the passenger seat---can't imagine not having this or
something like it for a long trip.
Installed an inverter on the wall between the sink and the driver’s seat to
recharge stuff when the cigarette lighter is being used for other things.
Many years ago, I ordered and Installed a Propex heater from the original
list group purchase before there were distributors in the US. We used it
in the mornings when we wanted to take the chill off. It is under the rear
seat with a wire rack on top of it to separate it from our clothes.
A canvas bag made especially for the Vanagon luggage rack. What is stored
there is dictated by the trip but on this trip, we had oil filters, oil,
anti freeze, extra food, extra drinking water, folding chairs, etc. Some
items were also in a dry bag since the canvas is water resistant and not
entirely waterproof.
We used a bra to help protect the front of the van. We drove on many
gravel roads and I am certain the bra saved us from some pretty good rock
chip damage on the front. After having lost a headlight in 2005 on the
gravel road to Atlin, BC (drop dead gorgeous place) I purchased stick-on
XPEL headlight protectors from Steve at Eurocampers and could not be more
pleased.
Hope this helps
Harold
__________
Harold and Faye Teer
1991 Westy
Harrisonburg, VA
