Happy Memorial Day week-end everyone!
Connie and I received a wonderful email from our "fishing guru" in Ester, Alaska letting us know where his fishing camp is and where all they will be taking us to fish. He said he processes and freezes over 2,500 pounds of salmon every season to feed 10 families. Wow! His thinking is like ours: we don't fish for a trophy fish picture on our Christmas cards. We fish to fill the freezer. I thanked him profusely for the information and update ... like we need more anticipation. Connie already said she's about to have a heart attack because of all the excitement and anticipation. Lake fishing, he says; so I may have to re-load my float tube (if I can find room).
Yesterday was a little bittersweet as I took the two big dogs to their new temporary homes for the summer. I'd love to take everyone, but there just isn't room. My old lady, Katie, who is 14+ is staying with my good friends, the Reisz's in Fallon, where she has visited before and just loves them. It's close to her vet, also. Toby, the "Main Man" Welsh Corgi, is staying with my son, Justin and his family in Fernley in the country again. The one really going through withdrawals is Abby, the miniature schnauzer. First, " Mom dropped off Toby, then she dropped off Katie. Wonder where she's gonna drop me off". She is just lost without the rest of the "pack".
Sweet Katie and Toby
I will drive to Eldorado Hills on the 6th of June to fetch Connie and we will head out on June 10 more than likely.
I thought of something that might be helpful for folks planning a trip of this size or a smaller one, for that matter. I've been diagnosed with scarring on the lining of my lungs - probably from working in the woodshop and not taking enough care to not inhale the dust and wood mold. So now, I am on 2 liters of continuous oxygen at night because my oxygen saturation rate drops to scary levels when I sleep. I had an oxygen concentrator at home compliments of Medicare but the oxygen company said not to take it out of the country. Besides, its big and noisy. How am I going to be able to go to Canada and Alaska? So if you are on oxygen just at night, 24 hours a day, continuous flow or pulse delivery, here's an idea if you want to still travel and don't want to mess with oxygen tanks.
I researched and googled and decided on a "Simply Go Portable Oxygen Concentrator" by Respironics. I ordered it online, It is small, extremely efficient and oh, so quiet. Like it's name implies, it concentrates the oxygen out of the air and delivers it via a cannula. It only delivers up to 2 liters on continuous flow or it delivers at different rates on pulse flow. It wasn't what I call cheap, but you just can't put a price on a good time and I wanna go fishin'!
The unit was ordered through OxiMedical Respiratory in Phoenix and it comes with a 3-year warranty, all kinds of goodies, including A/C and D/C adapters, rechargeable battery and a wheeled cart. Not heavy though; it only weighs 10 pounds. I just thought this was good information to pass on.
We leave for Canada around June 10 so we are counting down the days.
Hard to believe that May is already half gone. Now, we are almost down to counting the days. Today, the toilet in the trailer is fixed - we might need that - and I now have an extra water pump just in case. I told the rv repairman that I don't want to know how to change the pump; having a spare will do just fine. I've packed quite alot of spare things like oil filter, fuel filter, air filter, oil for an oil change on the road so I don't have to worry about finding the right ones in Canada or Alaska. I also packed a serpentine belt, brake fluid, automatic transmission fluid, extra fire extinquisher, a small air compressor, grease gun, good ole' WD-40, spare fuses, super glue and spare heater and radiator hoses and more. Kinda looks like an auto parts store for sure. Go ahead and laugh. You won't be the first and I'm sure you won't be the last one either. There are still so many items that came to mind or were suggested, that I have either considered or they are already in the trailer.
Of course, we won't forget our cameras and the binoculars. And the Alaskan Bible -" The Alaska Milepost". One of the most amazing publications ever!
Took some photos of the flowers in my yard this morning. Hope the rest of them bloom before we leave so I can see them. Iris are among my favorites.
Today, May 13, means more than a month since the last posting on here. Time is short now, until we leave. We plan on being on the road by June 9 to reach Hazelton, B.C. on June 24 to start our guided, 34-day tour on June 26 to Alaska, ending on the Kenai Penninsula
Connie and I had a trial run in the 5th-wheel at Lake Pardee last week-end to see what things we were short of and which things will be better left at home. I decided before the weekend that I would take my cat, Hannah and see if she remembered rving. She certainly did and it all fell back in place for her. I just opened the rv door and out she went to scout around and sit at gopher and ground squirrel holes. When she got nervous with her surroundings, she either climbed on top of the spare tires under the rigs or asked at the door to be let in. She and her sister used to travel in the motorhome with my husband and me. We had such a good time at Lake Pardee. The weather was beautiful and boy, did we have the visitors and new members!! We got so many well wishes and good luck from everyone for our big trip and promised to blog much.
I was asked at one of the meals, where would a person start when planning a trip to Alaska or any large RV trip. Since this is my first big trip since my husband passed away, I really had to start making notes. Connie and I are spending 34 days with an Alaska tour group so that will help alot in getting our rv legs in Canada and Alaska. Connie and I have spent hours on the computers and asking folks questions. We've found quite a bit of information that might help people in planning a long trip and a trip across an international border, and the following is just for starts.
Probably, the first suggestion I would make would be to get ahold of "Guide To The Alaska Highway", a book by Ron Dalby. This book has been invaluable in getting information about vehicle prep, what to pack, where to camp, wildlife and fishing holes plus, 200+ destination highlights. If you don't already have a passport, start that process. Know your vehicle and/or rv and get reliable help in making it road ready. We are leaving with one spare for the pick-up and two for the 5th-wheel. We'll let you know when we get back if that was the right decision for us. I'm old fashioned in that I still like and use paper maps. I keep my bearings better that way.
I had to make sure I had health certificates/rabies vaccination for Abby and Hannah. Enough medication for myself so I didn't run out. Prescriptions cannot be refilled in Canada I found out. We both needed to take in account if our homes would be secure while gone, mail to be forwarded (do a temporary change of address to a friend) because the post office will only hold mail for one month. Cancel newspapers, garbage pick-up, arrange for direct deposits to your bank; yard, houseplant and pet care, make copies of medical information and your doctor's name and phone number, copies of credit cards (oh yes, call the credit card companies and let them know you will be out of state/country so they don't deny charges), leave an itinerary with family or friends, have law enforcement or neighbors check on the house periodically, pay bills ahead or sign up for on-line bill pay. I set up a second bank account with its separate debit card so my main account where direct deposits go, will be safer if someone gets ahold of the "traveling" account debit card. You could even let the bank know you will be traveling. Find out which way to go with your cell phone as roaming charges will eat you up in Canada. If someone would like it, we have a very extensive Pre-trip Packing List that we can copy and send you.
Mostly, as people who have made this adventure before us have said: "Go slow and enjoy" ,
and after fast and furious preparation, we are deffinitely ready to do just that. Just a few more weeks to go and we will be on our way, critters and all.
