Friday, August 10, 2012    copied from friends Eric and Mac

For all you fans of the Alcan blog we are alive and well, and well on our way to an Alaskan adventure. It’s our 7^th day august 10^th and we are bivouacked at the Klondike River Lodge at the start of the Dempster (Dumpster) Highway. It’s the start of or our trek to the Arctic Circle, the sigh at the start of the hwy states “one lane 30 kms (30 miles)” all gravel for 240 miles to the Arctic Circle, we will post photos. The trip has evolved into the longest parade in history. People have come out in droves to greet us and open up their facilities to us and witness us reenact the ALCAN convoys of 1942. They are a testament to this achievement. Mac the driver and owner of the 1942 Willys Jeep we are traveling in, is relishing in this adventure. As a young man of 13 in early 1941 he and his dad sold everything they had and travel via the tramp steamer (SS Baranoff) to Alaska to follow their dream in the final frontier in the territory of Alaska.

The scenery is spectacular, we and members of our convoy have seen animals native to the Yukon including Bison, Bears, wolfs and Wolverines.

Traveling at between 25 and 40 mph in an open jeep offers an experience you can’t explain you just enjoy it.

We have had mostly great weather. However in and open jeep and a tent the rain make you appreciate sunny skies even more.

Mosquitos, YES!!!! They are getting bigger and hungrier but leave Mac alone, as we move north. We in the Yukon now and we hear stories of a legion of monster vampire crossbreed mosquitos that awaits us in Alaska.

We will be in Dawson City in a few days, we will try to update again when we arrive the WiFi here is low tesh. We apologize for the lack of entries the last couple of days but this resembles a military event, up at 5am, First Gear at 7am, hurry up and wait then get in late, setup camp then a drivers meeting, dinner dishes, breakdowns. Tomorrow we head to Eagle Plains on 200 miles of dirt roads. Its 7:30pm and the sun is still high in the sky and will not set until 10:00 tonight and 10:45 tomorrow night as we camp within 30 miles of the Arctic Circle.

Today the convoy heads north (no, not to Alaska! Alaska is west at this point). They are traveling on the Dempster Highway. This road was constructed from 1959 to 1978 to connect to towns in the *Northwest Territories*. It ends at *Inuvik*. The Dempster is a year-round highway, with northerly portions being ice roads.The convoy will not get up into the Northwest Territories, but will make it to the Arctic Circle tomorrow. Today's destination is *Eagle Plains, Yukon Territory* (population 8).AC'12 Day 8 travel route.  Some of the support vehicles have chosen not to travel on the Dempster and went another route with less gravel and grades.   Thanks Ellen

Watson Lake

Long day on the road.  We saw two bears, one ran out in front of a
Motorhome and almost got hit.   We are in Watson Lake at the Downtown RV park.

Laundry Day

today is layover day at Watson Lake.  Its also laundry day, then a static car show for our vehicles and a trip out of town about 4 miles to a 1942 wooden airplane hangar built when the planes were shuttled to Russia!!  Kind of hard to get on the internet here and no pictures or very few anyway.

Saw two bears today and two moose yesterday.  Beautiful weather and all pavement

1st Gear Meeting today

We meet today for another drivers meeting at 10am.  Then at 6pm everyone goe downtown to Mile 0 cairn for pictures and a ceremony.  Went ot Walmart yesterday to pick up some needed items (food) and coffee filters, sleeping mask!!!!  sure is bright here and for a long time!!

Dawson Creek

Chilly this morning, up at 0500.  I thought, gee, I should try the internet now and guess what I got on!!!!  checked my email and try to say something here.   I've had problems getting online with my computer and need to be plugged in also as the battery only last 5 min or so.  A good blog to check is   ericandmac.blogspot.com   Eric is writing it and posting some great pics.  He is a lot more informative than I am   We leave Sat morning!!!!  We have a drivers meeting today.

Yesterday we went to Rolla in a convoy, its abot 10 miles from Dawson Creek.  They are celebrating their sesquentenial with 100 people.  We had a great reception and bbq of hamburgers and hotdogs, chips soda and water.  Then they seranaded us with the ladies choir.

finally got online and now sprinkline

ericandmac on this blog have a great summary of out trip and I bellieve some pics.  I'm having problems with getting online lastnight and this morning.  Now I get online and starting to sprinkle so this will be short. 

We got in yesterday afternoon to Dawson Creek, BC.  I met M38 Mike and his group.  His all electric M38 is beautiful and dead quiet driving around thru camp.  He is camped right across from me and since I don't have power in my tent he graciously shares his camp site power with me. 

We have had beautiful weather and scenery so far.  I saw an eagle Tues, and 2 mountain goats standing alongs side the road the oter day.  I have a picture but am having troubles loading them onto computer so maybe later.  Dawson City is bigger than I expected.  We are staying at the appropriately named Mile 0 campground

On the road to Alaska!!

Met my co driver this morning in Vacaville, loaded all my gear into his truck and we headed up I-5 north to Mt Shasta KOA. Day 1 done no problems.

Packing

Been busy packing this morning. Can't believe how much I think I need! I meet up with Leroy tomorrow morning and then were off

packing and getting ready

not sure what will happen here on the blog, this is post #2.  Went to lunch today with MOPAR club and mowed lawn, and watered.   Talked to me co-driver for ALCAN and finalized meeting place and time!!!  :)

It took about 4 hrs to get this far

This is my first blog, and it took some time just to get here and two computers.  The first one the cookies weren't being cooperative.

It was suggested that a blog would be nice to have as a record for out 70th Anniversary of the creation of the ALCAN Hwy in Alaska.  The MVPA, Military Vehicle Preservation Assoc is sponsoring the trip.  There are roughly 90 military vehicles of all sizes and descriptions and about 300 people involved.

I have clothes and supplies everywhere waiting to be put in the vehicle.  Sleeping bags, clothes some rain gear in the living room, a box of utensils and kitchen things in a my civil war box out in the garage next to the cot, and new tent.  Paperwork and other small items on the kitchen table.  No wonder the table never gets cleared!! 

A picture of my jeep is or should be if I did right on here, its not going on trip!! 

I guess you may be wondering about why I call this My Retirement Again?  well I just got laid off for the second time, thankyou Governor Jerry Brown.  After 34 years of state service I retired in June 07.  I got a retired annuitant job at Child Support a few months later after a vacation in the midwest.  I worked at Child Support as a courier, mailman and other duties for about 9 months before getting laid off by Gov Arnold Schwarznegger.  A couple of months later I got rehired as a courier for the State Controllers Office, this is a Contitutional Officer for the state and he/she has more control and say over thier employees.  (looks like I have a thing for driving)  My last day working was yesterday because I am officially off on vacation till Sept 3rd.  However, all or most retired annuitants and student aids, etc are being laid off effective Aug 31st so when I come back there will be no job.