8/10/2024

 8/10/2024: Today was a long day: 248 miles from our campsite on route 5 (27 miles of a dirt/gravel road in fairly good condition) to the Canadian (Yukon)Border. Then we went onto the Top of the World Road, again hard packed dirt/gravel (148km). It was slow- going. We had a 1.25 hour delay waiting for the ferry at Dawson City. The actual ferry ride only took 4 minutes. We had lunch in Dawson City. There was a 10 mile stretch of road construction where we had to wait 15 minutes for the pilot car and then drove 20 minutes on some wet, muddy, rough roads. At Stewart Crossing there was a fire alert sign, but after talking with some people who had come through the area, we proceeded to Pelly Crossing where we are spending the night in the city campground. (We did see some burned out areas and smelled smoke). Forgot to mention that when we got to the bridge in Pelly Crossing that an ATV's trailer had broken loose and there were supplies all over the the bridge blocking traffic. Whew, we are glad to be in the campground after 10 hours on the road.

Leaving Alaska

Back in Yukon

Top of the World Road

More Top of the World

We saw very few vehicles.  This seemed like a traffic jam.

The Dawson City Ferry

Very Small.  We had to wait for 4 rounds to get a ride.

On the ferry.

Dawson City.  A touristy town in the middle of nowhere.

Follow me!

A muddy, slippery mess for 10 miles.

8/9/2024

 8/9/2024:8/9/2024:

Today we traveled 294 miles in order to get to Tok and then Chicken. We were plagued with rain most of the day. The road from Tok to Chicken and then to Walker Fork Campground was rough, but doable. We stopped at a rest area and asked a group if they were with Fantasy Tours and if they knew Betsy Johnson. They did, and we passed our card along to her. She is also a Looper, like us. They mentioned that one of the class A's on their caravan tour had rolled over into a ditch and the cost of towing was $20,000, but they weren't able to get it out so an additional tow truck was needed. No one was injured, thankfully.

Alaska Pipeline

Another glacier seen through the rain

We had to wait for this driver while she walked her Rottweiler

Our Road to Chicken, AK

The Aspens are turning

Dirt road for MANY miles

Chicken, Alaska:  home to 4 to 12 people depending on the season.  Two gas pumps, a general store, a post office and a small campground.  The road to Chicken closes in October and everyone but the postmaster leaves during the winter.  A friend told us that bears are a real problem here (there are lots of claw marks on the buildings.

This great guy pumps the diesel/gas for everyone who visits

Walker Fork Campground-  really nice

8/8/2024

 8/8/2024:

We decided yesterday that it was too late to leave Anchorage, so we spent the night at Cabela's.  Both last night and today had steady rain.  About an hour out of Anchorage, the rain stopped.  Tonight we are camped near Paxson at Paxson Lake Campground and the rain has caught up with us.  Tomorrow, we head for Delta Junction and then south on Route 2 toward Tok.  The most important part of the day: two phone calls.  One was from Leah and the other from high school friend, Dianne.  Life is good!

still raining

Matanuska Glacier

Another view of the glacier

Scenic

The campground map

8/7/2024

 8/7/2024:

We are repaired!!  We can't say enough nice things about the Mercedes staff, from Jamarr who took us to manager AJ on our first day so that we could be moved up on the schedule.  Trey was our moral support and go between with parts and service, and lastly Chris our mechanic!  We are currently doing laundry then groceries and lunch before leaving Anchorage.

Jamarr

Trey on the left

Chris

8/6/2024

Air BnB above an airport hangar

 8/6/2024

Good news:  Our part arrived today.  Unfortunately, no work was done on the RV.  We are hopeful that we will be on the schedule for tomorrow.  We picked up some of our plates, utensils and food from the RV.  Our little Air BnB has a microwave and fridge, so we are attempting to warm up some leftovers from the Mexican restaurant where we ate last night.  Prayers needed for us to get back on the road.  We had lunch at a recommended spot, White Spot Cafe.  We had great burgers and coleslaw.  My haircut was a major disaster, but it should grow before my reunion next month.

The weather has been rainy since yesterday after a week of beautiful sunshine.  Forecast is for rain for the next 5 days.  

View from our window

8/5/2024

 8/5/2024

Our hotel has no rooms available tonight or tomorrow night, so off we went back to the Mercedes dealer. Our battery power keeping the fridge running on the RV was down to 18%. We talked with Trey, concerned that some refrigerated meds and all of our food would be lost.

He is Mr.

Trey on the left with one of the guys in the service department!

fixit! He arranged for our RV to be moved from along the fence up to the building next to an outlet. Keep in mind it currently doesn't run so it had to be towed some distance. The first time we plugged in, it blew their circuit breaker because we drew too much power. Trey to the rescue! He called someone to check the breaker! Ron was able to adjust the draw and we now have a working fridge. While we agonized about the lack of hotel rooms due to the influx of tourists this week, we searched for an Air BnB. One became available near the dealership, at the Anchorage small plane airport. Only issue: it's upstairs, so we will have to carry Duke. He hasn't been able to do steps for the past year. It seems every time a problem occurs, a solution is right behind!

P S. Our neighborhood in Dunedin, FL had no damage from tropical storm Debby. (Photo: Trey is on the left with one of the guys in the service department)

8/4/2024

8/4/2024:

After church, I asked the priest (who was from Chicago/Joliet area) about the homeless. He said the small Alaskan villages throw out troublemakers, criminals and substance abusers. They end up in Anchorage and live on the street. Crime is a problem here. In Walmart, much of their merchandise is under lock and key. The former mayor would not address the problem, but the newly elected mayor is working with groups to address the problem

8/4//2024

 8/4/2024: New neighbor arrived next to our hotel this morning. The city had moved several homeless groups yesterday off of a main intersection. This person has a mobile unit, easy to move. How sad that people must live like this, either by choice or necessity.

8/3/2024

 8/3/2024:

A history of our sleeping arrangements:

7/30: we stayed in the Baymont by Wyndham - not great, but not much to choose from. Most hotels in Anchorage were sold out.

7/31: when we were escorted to the lot where our RV was held, the employee told us we were not permitted to stay on our vehicle but hinted that after the gates were locked, that no one was around! So we decided to live on the edge and hide out in the RV until the next morning. So at 10 pm, we were watching TV and had the lights on when a car drove in. Guy got out of his car and got in a security vehicle. We quickly shut off the TV and lights and we're super quiet. Apparently he didn't see us. Next morning he returned at 6 am. We were on stealth mode.

8/1: much like any crook, we felt we had gotten away with the crime! So we came back to the RV before all gates were locked and settled in. This time we expected the security guard. He was right on time and we were lights out and quiet! But at 4 am he and another car came back and got out in front of our RV and had a discussion. Duke started scratching at the door, but I silenced him!! Finally, one of the guys left, but the security guy stayed until 5am. Guess who slept through this? RON!! We were never discovered!

8/2: Hilton Hotel for the next 3 nights. Look, no security guards!

8/5: Goodbye Hilton, hello "small planes" airport where we are staying in an Air BnB above a hangar. This is usually rented out to pilots..

Hilton

Hilton

Hilton King Sized Bed

Hilton bath

Large TVs living room and bedroom

Air BnB

Air BnB

Air BnB

Make the world go away

8/2/2024

 8/2/2024: Grateful for small things!

1)The mechanic showed up this morning and is currently analyzing the problem!!

2) We are at the nicest laundromat I've ever seen. Clean! New equipment! And a lounge to boot!!

Update: The diagnosis has been made, parts ordered, and project should be completed by Wednesday. PTL!!

8/1/2024

 8/1/2024:

Update

We have no answers.  The RV dealer did not get it into the bay for diagnostics yesterday or today.  We are in the queue, whatever that means.  Disheartened, but customer service rep, Trey, has been very nice.  He has no control once it's in the queue.  Last night we stayed in our RV in a secured lot fenced and barb wired.  We were at the end of a small plane runway, so heard takeoffs frequently.  Boy were they low!  Homeless people are everywhere nearby.  Makes our issues minor, for sure.  Tonight we will try to find a decent, reasonably priced hotel.  More tomorrow. 

Loaner car

 

Guess what we were given by Mercedes as a loaner?  A brand new all electric SUV.  Want to buy one? $120,000+

We had the same model loaner from MB of Tampa when in for routine service.  Un-real acceleration.