Traveling On the road to Alaska for 9-11 days w/3 pets
1 SUV. In it will be: 1 Daddy 1 seven and a half month pregnant mommy 1 56lb OES 1 Cat + her very long crate + litter box 1 maltese that sits on mommy's lap Every doggy item known to man, along with all bath items All of Daddy's military clothes and equipment + the new equipment he gets from airborne school The stuff the movers couldn't pack And clothes for 9 days. We'll be driving from TX to Anchorage Alaska. I think my husband is choosing the longer route so we don't have to cross the Rocky Mountains at the start of the snow season and because we hear it's a beautiful drive ....and more of the roads on the other route aren't roads ...but gravel. There are stretches of our drive that people are known to run out of gas because there's NOTHING for several hundred miles. Ahh, what we do to remain spoiled. Otherwise we would have to put 3 of our animals on a plane which we're not sure we're ready to do, and pay to have our car shipped since they only ship 1 for free. The only good thing is I can blame the dogs for stopping every hour when in fact ...it's the pregnant wife that has to tinkle once every hour. |
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| When are you going? |
| Around October 22nd. I think he graduates from airborne school Oct 21st.
Thankfully the trip we take over Labor day to AK will be by plane! |
| Joahaeyo, as you probably know, Joan and I drove to Alaska a couple of years ago. We meandered and it took us about 2 weeks from crossing the border at Washington/Vancouver to get to the border of Alaska.
I need to work on the format of the Happie Camper site with more and more descriptive titles, but start with the earliest dates in this section: http://forum.happiecamper.com/viewforum.php?f=9 You MUST have the book "The Milepost". It tells you more than everything you could possibly want to know about the road and all of the sights and all of the buildings are, right down to what a radio antenna tower is used for and owned by! I had to frequently remind Joan to put the book down and look out the window and enjoy the scenery and the ride, she was that fascinated by it! It is an amazing book, and it's republished or updated yearly. IT lists everything by the mile markers, which are very prominent on the Alaska Highway, as well as the other major northern routes (I think; I'll have to check on that last bit.) I think the book runs about $26 or $30. Even if it's available at the library, you just can't possible copy enough info from it, It's a very large book. Think large city Yellow Pages. Maybe you can get a year-old copy from ebay, but remember, shipping will be a factor unless you can run over to someone's house and pick it up. There is a fuel stop on the highway every 100 miles by design. They were all open when we went, and I don't recall that any of the were seasonal, but please don't trust my memory on THAT! |
| Wow, I look forward to showing my husband this since telling me directions is like trying to teach Yuki math.
The book would probably help since we want to take a few stops to see something so we're not killing ourselves. We're trying to figure out how many hours a day we can drive (taking into account me and the dogs rest stops), which places allow animals (we pretty much know but my husband refuses to stay at a couple -- bad experience), and will we make it in time (has 10 days of driving time, I THINKKKKKKK before being charge w/leave). |
| You will see an abundance of wildlife, big game, if you look for it. Slow down and enjoy the trip, even if it costs a couple of days of leave.
Central to Northern British Columbia and The Yukon Territories are just incredible. There's a wonderful lodge at Muncho Lake.... sigh.... |
| Jo, what's "the long route"? What states and provinces are you going through? I'm living vicariously through your trip, because I haven't been to much of Western North America. |
| I'm also envious and am going to be on the edge of my seat waiting for pics... but I have to ask, does your doc think it's safe for you to travel so much at that stage of your pregnancy since it is a high risk pregnancy? Perhaps hubby should make the trip and you and the pets fly and meet him there? I'd hate to miss the trip itself... but long drives are not good for any pregnant woman, let alone a high risk pregnancy..... do you have a plan to stop and exercise regularly? Perhaps stop at a medical clinic for a check up half way? |
| bAILEY'S mom (oops, Yuki's big head hit the CAPS key)
I'll have to ask my husband what states we will hit, but the route we're taking is known as the coastal one. I know we hit Washington. hahaha 
I'll update later.
Willowsprite, ughh... jeez, now my husband will read your post. lol He does NOT want me to go and wants to do what you suggested. However, my doctor just wanted me to do a check up right before we go and as long as we stop every hour so I can stretch, maybe wear pantyhose (helps the legs), and drink lots and lots of water ...I should be fine. The other couple that's going to be in Alaska with us (4 days ahead of me -pregnant wise) also got the Okay to do the drive, and she has a different doctor at our hospital and is also high risk (hers is for a different reason though). I know the smart thing would be for me to fly. It's REALLY stressing my husband out. BUT, it REALLY stresses me out to know he'll be driving alone for 9+ days. He likes to push it, and though he stops when he gets tired.... well.. he's a guy and I just want to make sure he stops. Plus, we decided if I take a plane, we'd only take Isis on the plane since she can sit in the plane with me. We don't feel comfortable with the cat or Yuki being in the back cabin for SOOOOOOO long. Actually it's just my husband worried about Yuki wanting to pee. He's never traveled with Chloe (w/o mommy). I think he'd be in for a surprise when he realizes how much she SCREAMS when there's no one to let her out every so often (to be on your lap). He can't do this because Chloe likes to step on the GAS if you're driving alone. hahahaha I know I'll be eating my words when late Oct. comes. I'm not as pregnant right now, so I'm all "let's do it," ....but ..........sigh... he's going to tell personnel today that they don't need to pay for my plane ticket, so I'll keep my mouth shut and tough it out (UNLESS the doctor says no the last few days). |
| I wish I had a wireless computer to post the daily pics and adventures. I just read through the first several pages of Ron's adventure. I look forward to it. I mean.. well, I'm VERY confused because I know how I am after 5 hours in a car when I'm NOT pregnant.
I think the longest I've traveled in one day was to Niagra Falls which was 10-13 hours (forgot how long) from Maryland. |
| Okay, my husband came home from lunch and he's going to talk to personnel about letting me fly from Salt Lake City to Anchorage.
This allows me to go with him part of the way and shortens the flight time for the animals to 5 1/2 - 7 hours. Of course it's probably safer for me as well. We don't know if they allow this (or how it will change) since he gets paid PER PERSON, per mile which includes gas, hotel, luggage, food, and the per mile business. He has an appt tomorrow to make the final outline of the trip. |
| Oh, for those just reading:
This means I will drive through: (start point) - Dallas, TX New Mexico Denver, Colorado then onto Salt Lake City. |
| Compromise is good
I'm sure everything will work out... and then the best part! Living in Alaska!!! Whoohoo!!! Lucky girl |
Aww.... are you kidding me?! You're heading cross country, and your not stopping in MN to visit me?!  We could have tea in my new house!!! WAAAHHHHH!!!!
Ok, I'm done whining now! Good luck with the cross country driving! Phew 9 days? Glad it is not me, I hate road trips.... I'm going up for a 9 HOUR trip, and not looking forward to it... Karen |
Quote: We could have tea in my new house!!! WAAAHHHHH!!!!
LMBO, that is hilarious  |
| Well ya know, if you have a lay over in Minneapolis... |
| I was hoping you'd come through AZ too (which is a little closer to your line of travel than MN, LOL!) Oh well, we'll just have to wave in your direction while you're in neighboring New Mexico |
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