North to Alaska, 8

Cleo gave me the go ahead to write this today as this isn't anything she particularly enjoyed.


We left Haines around 8:30 am on Monday the 14th, as planed. The motor home started having some sort of electrical problems shortly after crossing into BC. When we reached the Yukon border (just about 85 miles from Haines) we stopped by the Welcome to The Yukon sign.  Elwyn felt he could make it to the top of the hill, me I was just happy to be off the road.  We didn't make it to the top of the hill!!!  Had to disconnect the car and I backed it down to the pull out in front of the Yukon Welcome Sign, while Elwyn backed the motor home down, WITHOUT ANY POWER!  Almost backed it right off the edge...he says he didn't.  We didn't grab the walkies-talkie's, so all I could do was honk the horn while yelling, “STOP”, which of course only I could hear.  That was about 9:30 am, Pacific Time.  Around 10:30, a road maintenance truck stopped and told us he would send a mechanic back.

Well they finally arrived, about 1:30 pm., but of course couldn't do anything.  However, their camp was just down the hill, so Elwyn followed them back in the Honda to use their satellite phone.  By the time FMCA/Coach-Net arranged for a tow and repair in Whitehorse, 160+ miles away, it was 3:30 pm. Elwyn said we could expect the tow truck to arrive between 6:30 and 7:00pm.  It arrived at 7:30 and two hours later we were ready to go.  I never thought it would take two hours to set up the tow. The driver bothered me right off the bat, when he began having trouble working the towing controls. “E-gads” I thought, “did they have to send the least sharpest pencil in the box!”

It was 60+ miles to Haines Junction and we needed to fuel the Honda if we were to make it to Whitehorse. So we took off, once everything was ready, and drove on ahead to Haines Junction.  The gas station closed at 11:00 pm and we arrived about 10:45!  After fueling, we drove back to meet up with the tow truck and found that he wasn't too far behind us.  Okay, this more than likely means he wasn't taking it easy.  We followed him the short distance back to Haines Junction.  There he pulled over to add air to our motor home air bags and to have a cup of coffee. Yep...a cup of coffee. We left HJ around mid-night. -

The Coffee Break!

The next 100 miles back to Whitehorse was a nightmare for me.  I could hardly bear following the motor home, and kept asking Elwyn to stay back. I didn't want to see it and I didn't want to hear it.  At every frost heave or bump, I'd hear something scrape, which was most likely the rock guard dragging. So, I looked out the window most the time.  Saw a few brown bears, elk with calves and a moose...after all it wasn't totally dark.

(Cleo would like you to know that the 160 miles back to Whitehorse, was by far the worst ever! And she isn't too happy we left her in the motor home, thinking she was safe under the couch, which she says she was. The rocking, rolling, and bouncing, all at an odd angle was more than she felt was fair and requested that we not do it again. But she told us that the next worse drive was yesterday over the frost heaves and road repairs from Burwash Landing to the Alaska border. Someone described this section of highway as 'good road gone bad' and that is accurate.)

We arrived Whitehorse around 2:30 am, Tuesday the 15th.  Interestingly, our tow driver couldn't replace the drive shaft that he removed in order to tow.  Exhausted, we went to bed around 3:00 am and E set the alarm, as we needed to be up by 7 am, when Inland Kenworth opened for business. I rarely if ever take a nap, but Tuesday found us both nodding off around 9 am and I actually slept until almost 1:00 pm. We spent Tuesday night there as the rig wasn't going anywhere. On Wednesday, the electrical problem was tracked to some sort of breaker, which obviously is extremely important! The engine is under the bed and this is where that breaker is located. Once the new breaker and our drive shaft were installed, we were good to go. And while we were there, we also had the engine serviced. Left around 5:30 pm and drove a little over a mile to Hi Country RV Park for the night, where we had been a little over a week before. The total bill was $2500 not including the 160+ mile tow. The tow is covered by our road service insurance...thankfully.

So, you think it is over?  No, it isn't!  We left Whitehorse on Thursday morning. After driving about a 130 miles, heading toward Alaska, the battery light came on just north of Haines Junction. At this point, the decision was made to continue, running the generator (as George did), which brought the battery back to good. Decided to do this until we got to Tok, knowing we wouldn't arrive there until Friday. Found a campground on Kluane Lake that we had stayed at in 1986. A really nice place with only 15amp service...but that was all we needed. Beautiful place, well maintained and the same owners. They purchased it for their 'cabin in the woods' in late 70's and turned into one of the nicest RV Parks on this lake or the Alaska Hwy.

Arrived in Tok yesterday and stopped at the same repair shop we used in 2006 for a minor issue. Ordered an alternator, which was picked up in Fairbanks today, and they will install it tomorrow, Sunday, at 8 am. Hope this is the last of it.

Just thought you might like to see where the engin is located...yep...under the bed...and it is dirty!

Sourdough Campground, in Tok, is a great place to stay. We stayed here in 1986 on our first trip to Alaska and so enjoyed it. It was fun and still is. Sadly, Ken (owner) died in March 2008 as a result of a snowmobile accident which also severely injured his son. But his wife continues the business and they still have entertainment most nights as well as the 'pancake toss', for which they are famous. We have yet to win a 'free breakfast' by tossing a pancake.

Yesterday evening we each had their Mammoth Burger that is actually mammoth. Sourdough bun, of a size we have never seen, two burgers that filled the bun, cheese, etc. and so large that it's impossible to put your mouth around without having juices running down to your elbows. Very good! Really need to get a picture of one. Her son is attending culinary school in AZ and is also Head Chef at a restaurant.  He helped to perfect the menu and meals served here, including the “Mammoth Burger”. 

                                                   

                                     Picture of guest enjoying one of the Mammoth Burgers!

Valdez by Tuesday...hopefully and yes, we are in ALASKA now for sure!

Take care...

...and see you on the road,