North! To Alaska...

[Egon]

For sure - make one part of the trip on Alaska Marine Highway - ferry system.

In 1987 our family took bicycles and spent three weeks on the Ferry system. This portion can be very wet, cloudy and misty. Scenery is Well just awsome . Get to see marine life from the ferry, little growlers and even the small deer on shore. There are a lot of places in between islands that are quite narrow. Just seeing the sun break through the dark black clouds and the resulting contrasts would be worth the trip.

The Ferries have dinning facilities, showers and cabins are available on some. Many people, like us slept on lounge chairs on the sun deck. This portion is covered and has overhead radiant heaters.

On the south end the ferry system can start in Seatle, Vancouver or Prince Rupert.

Spent a summer of 1963 working in The Yukon.

Do it Henro!!

Egon

 

[Egon]

Henro:

Forgot to add there is another ferry system which will take you almost to Japan.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( For sure - make one part of the trip on Alaska Marine Highway - ferry system )</font>

That's something we have not done, but have always heard great things about it from friends and family who have taken that trip.

The first trip up in '72 was tough enough that when we got to Alaska, my wife wanted to either come back on the ferry or sell the truck and trailer in Alaska and fly home because she didn't want to face that trip back down the Alaska Highway. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif But unfortunately at that time, I simply could not afford to pay what the ferry cost for us and a rig the size of ours. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[sassafraspete]

Another dream of mine as well....when I retire and have the time to do it... I hope to. No problem with my wife, as I think she would be more crazy about it than me.

Enjoyed all the stories, and the ideas for good routes. I should print these off and put into my file folder labled "future Alaska trip".

Man, would I enjoy doing some fishing up there!

 

[Egon]

Back in 72 the roads left a little to be desired. Dust, gravel, grimmy dust , washboard, more dust and then the potholes.

In 87 we used the Ferries and bicycles as there was no charge for bikes and the passenger fares were very reasonable. Some of the island had less than 20 miles of road.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Egon]

Pete:

You get one of the big Halibut into the boat and it just might take over and leave you swimming.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[sassafraspete]

I've seen some of those halibut....they are huge! And good to eat....I wish I had some of that in the freezer. Oh, and the salmon.... smoked..... gosh I am getting hungry.

I can't imagine going up there without wetting a line.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( You get one of the big Halibut into the boat and it just might take over and leave you swimming )</font>

Yep, biggest fish I ever caught was a halibut at Seward. We only estimated its weight at about a hundred pounds; didn't get to weigh it since we sure didn't want it in the boat with us and my brother tied it at the side of boat and then his knot came loose and lost the fish. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I told him he not only lost the biggest fish I ever caught, it was the biggest I'd even seen caught, and that he needed to get into the boy scouts since he never learned to tie a knot. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[sassafraspete]

Bird, it's funny how a brother can conveniently loose your big fish. It has happened to me too. It's a brotherly thing. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[v8dave]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Time your trip after the thick of the mosquito season. I seem to recall after June. Maybe Archdean can help here.

Two mosquitos in the Alaska outback fly out and kill a Moose.
One mosquito asks the other: "You think we ought to take this moose back home?"
The other mosquito replies: "Nope, if we do the big guys in the neighborhood will just take it away from us." )</font>

Yea, Bird, my recollection is pretty hazy. I should have phrased that as after the spring run-off had dried up. Which may not happen in some years. End of summer would be best, but you run the danger of an early snow that way. Oh well, good thing Bill is retired and can pick anytime he wants.

Ok you guys, here is a site that will get you all fired up for a trip to the north. This is a travelogue with tons of photos of a fellow's motorcycle trip to the Arctic Circle.
Grosjeans MC trip