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Wed Nov 18, 2009 3:37 pm

sillygringo wrote: Hey PW I definitely will - I'll be back - I'm building my place out in TP and I'd like to finish one of these days/years. If you keep a log of your trip let me know. I've fired up a blog (where this article is from) for mine with both RSS and email feeds if you're interested.

http://www.freewheelings.com

Cool! Know the feeling. I started out in Carson south of the PO, but my wife got sick of the drive into town. Eventually bought in Talpa, where I live now. Get ahold of me when you return, and let's hook up. I'll bookmark your blog. Enjoy your Northern journey! :D

I did it 20 years ago, with friends in an RV and motorcycles....lotsa fun, but we did a round trip in 2+ months.

Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:01 pm

sillygringo wrote: for the dissenter

I prefer "skeptic" sir...does that red chevy have red over yellow plates, or is it just my bad eye?

sillygringo wrote: It's a shame everyone is so down on reading anything these days.

You should drop some of the bar names in your writings....and names of the folks, it makes for a better read...and pictures today are still worth their weight in words.

1.) When I lived in Anchorage back in '87, I stayed out on Old Spenard Rd. with a crazy, french horn playing gent called Michael, and his 22 yo ebony girlfriend, Celeste. They had a used clothing store, as a front for their weed business, that I renamed "Rhapsody Vintage Apparel". It was located next door to an old man that was building a 70ft ship from scrap iron...I often wonder if he ever finished his dream, and better yet if it ever found it's way to water. Michael had a collection of AMC Pacers that were not running when I arrived, but by the time I left, I had two that were on the road to Damascus.

I played mostly piano at the time, but ended up getting a gig at Chilkoot's playing my Guild on Tuesday nights. Chilkoot's is a crazy bar that was open from 6am to 5am, and typically there would be fights before the crowd hit the roads...my Guild survived, and is with me to this day.

Alaska is an interesting place...

Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:21 pm

The red Chevy has blue over yellow Alaska plates, just like they had back in good ol' '87.

I'll take notes on the excerpt from the "Pichers" writing guild.

Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:26 pm

say where are you? If you are around Wasilla drop in and see me at my shop. it is eazy to find just look for the fence row of westys.

Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:36 pm

bigbore wrote: say where are you?

He's in "The Land of Enchantment" (New Mexico)...or so says his bio.

Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:37 pm

bigbore, I'm out in the interior 50 miles from Fairbanks with no plans to go anywhere until Spring rolls around unless I get myself fired from my dog man job. Is your shop a VW shop? I'm going to be in search of an alternator assembly fan to pulley for a 1600 DP and a Summer job come about March...

Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:40 pm

yep Iam vw shop.

Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:41 pm

73kombi wrote: [and pictures today are still worth their weight in words.

Yeah for those that still say they read Playboy and don't look at the photos....... :lol: :lol:

BTW, great story of your stay in AK.........Bet you have lot's of tales to tell! :wink:

Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:58 pm

Without hijacking the thread and since you didn't have any photos ... I will add a few photos I have not already added to the bus and wilderness thread.

I was working in the Muncho Lake - Watson Lake area - very northern BC and southern Yukon for 10 days. The job is assessing the old alignment of the Alaska Highway before the realignments to make it a fast(er) highway. Some serious and I mean seriously beautiful open country made for road trip-camping exploration. I used a 4x4 truck and 8x8 argo amphibious tank-like off road vehicle for the job, but I drove from Victoria via your route. Then drove back to Victoria through the Kootneys for my sisters wedding. 5000 km in all.

The first photo is north of Wonowon heading to Fort Nelson.

This is the old highway alignment near the Liard River Hotsprings, does that not look like a perfect road for a bus adventure?

I stayed at the Northern Rockies Lodge while working.

Muncho Lake area from the work truck.

I'm heading back up for more field work and also a job in the Watson Lake area. Wonderful country, made me add a trip to the list .... along the Dempster Highway to the Beaufort Sea .. above the tree line - top of the world :D

Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:13 pm

Hijack away - More stories and photos!

Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:54 pm

all rightie then. this summer in my 71 I just got out of Fairbanks this spring for 500.00. it came with new tires and reg tags good for 2 years
here it is being towed home 300 miles in april

and that was the last time it was on a tow.
with in days it was on the road. the engine was in great shape I just had ot put the carb back on and the right dist and a set of ball joints.

the fishing was great this summer heres my frist king of the year.

fishing on the Keni with the proper tools.

and camping.

on site's along the road.

A little lunch in Whitter.

to get to Whitter you have to go though a 2 mile long tunnel.

hows that.

Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:36 am

And part 2:

http://www.freewheelings.com/travel/alaskanadventures/alaska-highway-by-volkswagen-bus-part-2/

By the way, you look like a hell of fun guy bigbore.

Thu Nov 19, 2009 2:11 am

Ha yes baumer99
Liard River Hotsprings one of my favorite stops on the Alcan but I find it better in mid winter at about -40 boy that water is nice.

[/IMG] The Dempster highway another fine run but I have only done it on a motorcycle at speed.

rockin the Dempster.

Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:20 pm

I've been tooling around Alaska since the fall and have finally fished part three of my series on the Alaska Highway by Volkswagen bus, Whitehorse, check it out:

http://www.freewheelings.com/travel/alaskanadventures/alaska-highway-volkswagen-bus-part-3/

I've been doing everything from dog sledding to building biogas digesters up here in the North Country if anyone's interested check out the rest of my blog www.freewheelings.com , but the the ALCAN by bus wagen has certainly been the most popular.

Thanks again to the Samba folks for making it possible to survive life in a '71 bay window. Cheers.

Tue Feb 16, 2010 2:15 pm

Also, bigbore you still around. I'm down in Cordova and will be taking the ferry to Whittier and then driving back to Fairbanks on Friday, which should put me through Wasilla afternoonish. I'd love to check our your shop.

Tue Feb 16, 2010 2:34 pm

Yep Iam here. I will PM you how to get here map.

Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:40 pm

Hey sillygringo, we met in Whitehorse (sage green westy)
Good to hear you made it to Alaska and mushing dogs too!
and looks like you got a line on some parts, good for you man.
I wimped out this winter and pointed the bus south but can't wait to get back up there.
I am looking forward to Liard for sure!
If you are heading though Whitehorse in the spring and need a place to crash drop me a line,
I should be back up there end of april-ish
Or i'm sure we will meet up at a beer store of some kind.
Remember, a dog team is much like an old volkwagen,
the more love you put in, the more you get in return.

And they are both known to unexpectedly stop and go for a sh1t right in the middle of the road. :lol:

All the best.

Tue Feb 16, 2010 7:24 pm

Hey, it wasn't an easy trip, but definitely some of the most fun I've had in years. It's funny you should find this as I was thinking about you while I was writing it. Are you down on one of those BC coast islands somewhere wintering out? I'd be lying if I said there aren't days that I'm not a little envious. I'm not sure when I'm going to be back through Whitehorse. I'm thinking to stay up here and see if I can't figure a way onto a decent fishing boat for the Summer or maybe wildland firefighting. Keep in touch, eh. Good to hear from you.

Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:38 pm

sillygringo wrote: Are you down on one of those BC coast islands somewhere wintering out? Yes it's.....wet

BTW, Great article .
I thought you were a convincing "bouncer" :lol:
This has inspierd me to document and take some pics of the trip back up this spring.
I know how hard it is taking pictures while trying drive with your fingers crossed and rubbing the buddha's belly.
This time my girlfriend and I are making the trip with the bus and a beetle.
So it should be interesting.

How is your co-pilot coping with the climate?Is he the amazing sled dog from New Mexico yet?

Mon Feb 22, 2010 4:17 pm

The copilot is spectacular, his coat grew out mighty long in the -30 plus temps out at the dog farm. He even fell in love with a Siberian husky named Uma who just finished the Yukon Quest last week. Luck dog.

Glad you liked the article. Bouncer, yeah, what a riot. I've been everything from a lumberjack to a scientist on this trip. You gotta love the North Country.

Hey, if you have a spare generator and feel like throwing it through the window of the garage in Wonowon could you tape a note to it that says something like "$#%%#$ YOU!"