Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 10:13:11 -0500
Reply-To: "John H. Rodgers" <inua@QUICKLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: "John H. Rodgers" <inua@QUICKLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: EMERGENCY...HELP HELP formerly: Alaska Trek stuff....
-- [ From: John H. Rodgers * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --
Scott, I don't mean to throw more water on your party ....but!!!! You
really are going off into the wilderness. And while you are relatively safe
along the highway route as long as you stay where people are, the minute you
step into the bush, you are in the land of the beasts. And while you are
having a grand adventure, you must always have that in the forefront of your
mind.
Around Dawson Creek it's not much of a problem, but once you move a little
further north it will be. You never know where you may encounter a bear or
moose. They are not to be toyed with. Enjoy them from a distance. The bear
may surprise you by just stepping out from behind the bushes. The moose will
be more obvious. The moose can kill as easily as a bear. And if the bear has
cubs or the moose has a calf, bad news. Get out of there. Don't hang about.
Stay in your vehicle unless there is considerable distance. And keep in
mind these animals are where you find them, and sometimes you find them in
strange places. That is why you need to be wary. Not scared all the time,
just cognizant of the fact that you are in their territory. In Anchorage a
passerby witnessed and caught on video tape a cow moose trampling a a man to
death, in the city, on the University of Alaskaa Campus, not ten feet from
the front door of the building. She had a calf and he got to close. She knew
exactly what to do to dispatch the perceived threat to her calf. She knocked
him down, then jumped up and down on him with very sharp hoofs.
Don't be afraid. Just be educated, aware, and exercise good judgement.
Most citified folk (and thats most of us these days) lose their awareness
of wilderness. The things our forefathers had to deal with in settling the
North American wilderness were more a direct threat to life than they are
today. But in places those things still exist, and when you go out amongst
them you had better be aware.
About your pets(I'm a cat person myself), there is nothing more
disconcerting than to have a pet turn up missing only to discover a day or
so later, cat claws in the local owl dung. As you proceed further north,
Owls will become a threat to your pets if they are out anywhere. There are a
lot of owls in the north country. There are also eagles. And there are tales
told.
I have a friend whose small cat was snatched one evening late when she
happened to be in the yard with the cat. My friend grabbed a rock and threw
it. Amazingly she managed to hit the owl. The owl released the cat and it
fell from 15 feet in the air, and amazingly landed on its feet. It was
stunned, with the attack and the fall. But in a second it recovered itself
and made a beeline for the house. She was never able to get the cat to go
out again.
And there was the case of tourons (Alaska lingo for the plural of tourist)
from the Lower 48 states visiting the famous Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska,
and enjoying the eagles flying about due to the presences of fish. They had
released their white toy poodle for a potty run when right before their
horrified eyes an eagle made a swoop and snatched their pet and flew away
towards the mountains. They could only watch. Ruined their trip.
So.....forewarned is forearmed. Be aware and be safe........your family and
your pets!
Enjoy your journey....its fabulous country.
And may the wind be always at your back.
(That way the animals you approach unseen will be downwind of you, smell you
before you get there, and get out of the way......they don't want any
unexpected encounters anymore than you do)
John Rodgers.
'85 GL Driver
-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------
Date: Friday, 24-Jul-98 02:07 AM
From: Scooter061 \ America On-Line: (Scooter061)
To: John H. Rodgers \ Internet: (inua@quicklink.net)
Subject: Re: EMERGENCY...HELP HELP formerly: Alaska Trek stuff....
Well, Hi again Volks,
On the advice of Kyle Wade, I have successfully isolated/bypassed the
tranny fluid cooler. Leak check is good and I have an appointment to have
the coolant system flushed in the morning to remove the DEXRON.
Unfortunately, my remote location in Dawson Creek, BC makes it impossible to
obtain the phosphate/silicate free antifreeze. NAPA had one gallon for $17
Canadian...just one. With only 2000 miles (jeez) to go.... I hope the
ordinary stuff will suffice. Inputs anyone? The wife has just about had it
.... too many crises. Last night, one of our cats squeezed out of our van
window and escaped into the local populous. Needless to say we are all
devestated. Our cats are members of our family.... and we are mourning his
departure. We will call the local animal welfare centers in the AM. Thanks
to all for your advice and encouragement..... ONWARD!......at a somewhat
more cautious pace.
Scott De Santi
86 Vanagon (Faith) aka Money Pit
-------- REPLY, End of original message --------
