One Week Before Heading North

Panic is in the streets or at least our street.  We are trying to make all of the final arrangements before taking off.  We finally got our car and trailer out of the repair shops so that we can start packing.   John noticed the tires were lacking in tread, so we now have 4 brand spanking new golden tires, or at least we are guessing they must be mad of gold from the price tags.   Tuesday the car gets its 60,000 mile checkup.  We wonder if the car is like every dog that we knew who could sense the he/she/it was about to  go to the Vet...it seems to be shaking a lot lately.  

Our first week's goal is to drive to Canada.   We plan to spend three days in Fort Collins seeing John's relatives and then on to our first Canadian Outpost, The Prince of Wales Hotel in Glacier.  As you can see from the pictures, we will really be roughing it!  I can't wait to see how thrilled they will be when the Clampet's arrive

17 Days and Counting

Time is marching on and we are getting excited about leaving.  There is so much to do and so little time....sound familiar?

I know that for many of you, this sounds like a roughing it experience, so I thought that I would throw in a couple of pictures so that you could see what a a hard life we will be having!   Just add bears, moose, and mosquitos and we'll be there!

Map overview of trip

This gives a visual of our trip starting and ending in Dallas...we hope.

We had hoped to not drive over the same roads more than once, but it seems unavoidable for a large portion of the northern Canadian sections.   We have several options for our return to Dallas once we are in the US.

Our departure is about 3 weeks away and we are getting both excited and aprehensive at the same time.  

Minor Setbacks

We spent the week of June 8 through June 12 trying to have a final shakedown trip before heading out to the Great White North.   We were on the fourth park (fourth night) when John had a little accident while driving through the trees.  It crinkled the corner of the trailer  and would have to be fixed because it opened up the trailer for rain damage.   Duck tape covered it for the immediate down pours we were having.

It also did a little damage to the back driver side rear panels...which will have to be fixed.   The greatest damage was to John's pride...years of backing up boat trailers, car trailers , etc with not one accident.   Oh well, this too will pass.

To help put things into perspective, as we were dropping off our trailer for its boo boo to be fixed, people were talking about a big accident in Sherman that had just happened.   As we were checking out, this trailer pulled in which had tangled with a railroad bridge.  Everyone ran out to see this one!

Glad it wasn't me this time.!!!

Acquisition is the name of the game.

As I mentioned in the first blog, our friends Don & Barb decided to join us on our Alaska or bust journey.   They have purchased  this fine vehicle in which they will live like the King and Queen of the road that they are.  Like us, they are trying to get in as many shakedown trips as possible before heading off in July.  They have owned many sailboats and are finding the quirks of the camper are not much different those of the boat.   Potties and their workings seem to be a common talking point.

Ken and Debbie are also joining us.   They are renting a camper similar to Don and Barb's in Calgary and will join up with us in Banff.  As you can see in the picture, there is some gear that seems more important than others.

Prior to setting out on this adventure, Ken and Debbie had never met Don and Barb.   D&B have been our friends since graduate school days back in the mid 60's.   K&D  joined us at St. Mark's beginning in 1975.   We have enjoyed many camping experiences separately with both couples and are now looking forward to our Canadian and Alaskan Adventure together.