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BlueNorthWesty Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2014 Posts: 348 Location: Calgary
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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dobryan wrote: |
I hope to see you in the Calgary area. I plan to arrive 2 to 3 days before my son flies in so I have some cushion in case I need it for the drive out.... |
Sounds good, PM me closer to the date you expect to get to Calgary, we should meet up! _________________ 1984 Medium Blue Vanagon Westfalia 2WD w/ rebuilt Auto, Peloquin differential, 3.27 R&P gears, 2002 Subaru 2.5L engine, Girling G60 front brake upgrade, PS, power mirrors
Build thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=610481&highlight= |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16505 Location: Brookeville, MD
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physast Samba Member
Joined: December 30, 2005 Posts: 675 Location: DC
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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My wife and I did a glacier cruise when in Alaska that was amazing. We flew into anchorage for my meeting then dove to Seward for the cruise.
If you have time I recommend it. We saw whales, bald eagles, bears, sea lions, moose, and a gigantic glacier! _________________ 1967 L633 VW beetle (currently being restored...slowly)
1991 Orly Blue Vanaru 2.5L |
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kbeefy Samba Member
Joined: March 10, 2006 Posts: 600 Location: Central Oregon
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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Detour from Canadia to AK via the top of the world Highway and Dawson City.
Are you headed north from fairbanks to the Yukon river? Hard to tell on that map. The drive to Circle is an interesting alternative. And if your all the way to Anchorage, you should probably go check out Seward as well. Plenty of fishing all over the state if your into that. _________________ 86 syncro CHC, NorthWesty subbie 2.5, decoupler, locker, custom interior, 225/75r16 Duratrack's on CLK's, Toyo cabin heater, ARB fridge, 300w Zamp Solar, Gowesty bumpers/skid/rails, Fiama awning
'86 Syncro Westy. Stock for now.
2000 F350 7.3 CC LB 11' Northland Cabover
2006 Subbie OBXT
2002 Tacoma DoubleCab 4x4
1969 Mustang Basket Case 351c/FMX/9
http://kbeefy.blogspot.com/ |
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hans j Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2006 Posts: 2715 Location: Salt Lake City UT
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 9:07 pm Post subject: |
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dobryan wrote: |
hans j wrote: |
Should have a Moab vanagon trail map worked out by that time! Might be able to head down there too if the weekend works out for us. Looks like a fun trip!! |
I would love to get together with a group for some good 2WD (w/ Peloquin) trail runs while we are in that area. We arrive at Arches Aug 8 and depart the 13th. |
Well I'm out, I'll be in Germany! But the trails will have a good workout this May, so the map should be pretty comprehensive of local trails for 2wd! _________________ 1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181 |
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AKWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2014 Posts: 680 Location: Haines, Alaska
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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Be sure to let me know when you are planning to come through Haines, AK. I would be glad to show you guys around. The salmon will be running strong by mid July and by August the rivers will be full. I would be glad to take you guys fly fishing for Sockeye. The bears are thick and you can count the eagles by the dozen. _________________ 84' Westy 2wd
EJ22 - 4spd - Peloquin TBD
GW +1.5 Springs
215/70-16's
www.CatchTheKraken.com
"Never go to Alaska as a young man because you'll never be satisfied with any other place as long as you live." -John Muir |
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geo_tonz Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2012 Posts: 1472 Location: Courtenay, BC, CANADA
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds Bloody epic! It will be a blast! When do you forecast making landfall on Vancouver Island? I'd love to meet up in Comox Valley, show you our 2 new breweries and maybe tag along in the new Multivan for a trip somewhere if I'm not out in camp. Maybe Denman Island if we still have our rec property there then:
http://www.denmanisland.com/
Two suggestions:
WIFI: in western Canada Shaw is a pretty big cable/internet provider. They have WIFI hotspots all over the cities that their customers can be linked to for free WIFI on the go. You can get a "Guest Access" that is free, but limited to 500mb/month. You can use my postal code if you want (V9N 8A5) as that's the only thing required you won't have already.
https://www.shaw.ca/wifi-guest-access/
BORDER: to get off the island you are going to wait in a ferry line. To get into WA you are going to wait in a border line. Combine the 2 and take either the Washington State Ferry from Sidney (north Victoria) through the San Juans (beautiful) into Anacortez, WA or the Black Ball Ferry from down town Victoria to Port Angeles, WA. The border crossing will be way quicker, you won't have to drive through Vancouver and personally I would add to my trip by taking the Anacortes trip and stopping at Friday Harbour for a tour/overnight, then continue on. I think you can purchase a ticket to Anacortes via Friday harbour, get off the boat and get back on a day later for the same price, or something like that. The black ball would be better if you were in a rush to get back in the states though.
Some Links:
Friday harbour: http://www.fridayharbor.com/
Washington State ferry: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/
Black Ball: https://www.cohoferry.com/
Comox Valley: http://www.discovercomoxvalley.com/
Also if you think you might use it I have one of these and could PDF it for you:
http://www.backroadmapbooks.org/index.php?main_page=product_book_info&products_id=192 _________________ ---------------------------------------------------
"Ron Burgundy": 1991 Vanagon Multivan (Weekender) 2.1L Auto - Driver/Camper |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16505 Location: Brookeville, MD
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 10:23 pm Post subject: |
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AKWesty wrote: |
Be sure to let me know when you are planning to come through Haines, AK. I would be glad to show you guys around. The salmon will be running strong by mid July and by August the rivers will be full. I would be glad to take you guys fly fishing for Sockeye. The bears are thick and you can count the eagles by the dozen. |
We plan on driving from Beaver Creek to Haines on June 28th. We take the 9:15pm ferry on June 29th to Juneau. So maybe we can meet you the evening of the 28th thru the evening of the 29th? Fishing on the 29th would be awesome!
Too little time, too much to see/do.... _________________ Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson
MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646
Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371
The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794 |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16505 Location: Brookeville, MD
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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geo_tonz wrote: |
Sounds Bloody epic! It will be a blast! When do you forecast making landfall on Vancouver Island? I'd love to meet up in Comox Valley, show you our 2 new breweries and maybe tag along in the new Multivan for a trip somewhere if I'm not out in camp. |
Unfortunately we have very little time on Vancouver Island. We arrive in Port Hardy on July 6 at 11:30pm. On the 7th we drive to the south side of the island, and leave Victoria for Port Angeles on the 8th on the 3pm ferry. I'd love to get together somewhere on the 7th or 8th. _________________ Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson
MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646
Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371
The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794 |
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AKWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2014 Posts: 680 Location: Haines, Alaska
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds like a plan. I will put it on the calendar. _________________ 84' Westy 2wd
EJ22 - 4spd - Peloquin TBD
GW +1.5 Springs
215/70-16's
www.CatchTheKraken.com
"Never go to Alaska as a young man because you'll never be satisfied with any other place as long as you live." -John Muir |
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m_brown_ Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2002 Posts: 85 Location: Juneau, AK
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 10:55 pm Post subject: |
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I'd be happy to play tour guide when you guys are in Juneau. I can probably hook you guys up with a few good deals on tours/excursions depending on what your plan is. Feel free to PM me.
Mike |
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newfisher Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2012 Posts: 1764 Location: The wet spot--Oregon
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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+1 on the Ferry route through the San Juan Islands and avoiding Vancouver B.C.
Close to 50 years traveling Oregon and Washington, the WA route can take you inland up North, jumping over the Cascades into the high desert on 97 to Bend and then catching the middle of the Oregon coastline down is nice and very diverse. Make it a point to stop in the Red Woods , walk in 100 yds and lay in the moss on the ground looking up. Im in Eugene and if you need anything at all let me know. Epic trip! |
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geo_tonz Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2012 Posts: 1472 Location: Courtenay, BC, CANADA
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 12:08 am Post subject: |
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dobryan wrote: |
Unfortunately we have very little time on Vancouver Island. We arrive in Port Hardy on July 6 at 11:30pm. On the 7th we drive to the south side of the island, and leave Victoria for Port Angeles on the 8th on the 3pm ferry. I'd love to get together somewhere on the 7th or 8th. |
With that schedule and a 6 hour drive to do during peak touris season you won't have much time to dilly-dally! Vancouver Island will be a green blur. Watch for a Maroon Multivan around Courtenay! Love to meet up if you have the time, but sounds like maybe you won't.
Given your route, it's probable that the first Vanagon mechanic you run across after leaving Calgary will be in my town. Keep him in mind for the what ifs:
http://www.glennsautorepairs.com/ His name is Shawn, even though the business is called "Glen's". They also carry some parts, as does the VW dealer (Sunwest). If you want top quality oem VW or equivalent parts then you could call in an order to Shawn ahead of time for pickup. His parts prices aren't cheap but he will only get the best he can find.
There are also decent Vanagon shops further south, in Nanaimo and Victoria as well as a couple in between
Also if you need to order parts CIP1 is the fastest and most reasonable in western Canada that I've found. Often the cheaper, less oem version, but I haven't had bad luck with them and was amazed at the speed of even their free shipping (stainless coolant pipes in 2 days!). Any of the favourite US ones will take a couple weeks and have duty, taxes, brokerage added to it. And shipping's usually pricey.
In a pinch you are welcome to have parts shipped here for you to grab on the way by too. I'd give you my address so there won't be any escaping with your new stuff!
This is going to be one hell of a trip thread! _________________ ---------------------------------------------------
"Ron Burgundy": 1991 Vanagon Multivan (Weekender) 2.1L Auto - Driver/Camper |
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Steve M. Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013 Posts: 6833 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 12:59 am Post subject: |
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What cellphone provider are you using now?
I did a cross country trip not too long ago and found out the only reliable carrier outside of the main population centers was AT&T.
T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon and Metro are only providing service where there is a population base for them to make money around the large cities.
AT&T were the only signal that showed in every location on the smartphone in the middle of nowhere.
So if you need an internet connection for email, texting and facebook updates in addition to emergency communication you'll have it.
I do not know what results you have north of the border. Perhaps the Canadians can give some advice on the service up there.
Also, get satellite radio...unless you really, really like religion talk shows and static!
Sounds like a great trip! |
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Steve M. Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013 Posts: 6833 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 2:11 am Post subject: |
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If you come out of Yellowstone by the eastern entrance on the way to Cody Wyoming you cross the trail of Chief Joseph as he escaped from the 3 Cavalry Armies chasing him.
You will also see the American cowboy along that route herding cattle.
If you time and can go up into Montana to see the Little Bighorn Battlefield it is another part of history worth seeing. It was a running battle and the places where both the soldiers and Indians fell are marked with tombstones across the plain.
Unlike the hollywood movie glorification of the 7th Cavalry you really come to get a sense of the hell it was during the fight. |
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AKWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2014 Posts: 680 Location: Haines, Alaska
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 9:33 am Post subject: |
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Steve M. wrote: |
Also, get satellite radio...unless you really, really like religion talk shows and static!
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x2 Be sure to install a truckers antenna with the sirusxm. The stock antenna is worthless in Canada and AK. Hard lesson learned for my family. _________________ 84' Westy 2wd
EJ22 - 4spd - Peloquin TBD
GW +1.5 Springs
215/70-16's
www.CatchTheKraken.com
"Never go to Alaska as a young man because you'll never be satisfied with any other place as long as you live." -John Muir |
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AKWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2014 Posts: 680 Location: Haines, Alaska
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 9:51 am Post subject: |
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Another device you may want to look into would be the DeLorme inReach.
In the Yukon and Alaska there is no cell phone reception outside of most city limits. You will drive for hours and hours between cell reception. The inReach is a satellite communication device that allows you to communicate by texting. It is great peace of mind if you find yourself broke down in the middle of nowhere. It uploads your position coordinates and sends them with each email or text you send. Friends and family can also access a map which shows your location and updates every 10 minutes. At any time friends and family can pull up the map and see where you are. Its worth looking into. _________________ 84' Westy 2wd
EJ22 - 4spd - Peloquin TBD
GW +1.5 Springs
215/70-16's
www.CatchTheKraken.com
"Never go to Alaska as a young man because you'll never be satisfied with any other place as long as you live." -John Muir |
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alaskadan Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2013 Posts: 1858 Location: anchor pt. alaska
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 9:59 am Post subject: |
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Beer and moose steaks grilled over my charcoal waiting for you on the kenai. Ak charcoal co. |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16505 Location: Brookeville, MD
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22670 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 10:14 am Post subject: |
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You have to buy an international data plan for your smartphone, of course.
If you do change your mind and do the Andirondack route to Montreal (NA best eating city ) I'm on that route, plus I have emergency friends in Buffalo
Lewiston Queenston bridge is best for crossing in western NY _________________ .ssS! |
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