Alaska 3 or bust!

dtcerrato · May 09, 2022, 06:11:23 AM

Quote from: windtrader on May 08, 2022, 10:24:49 PM
Awesome report. You folks are doing some real driving. Do you have a sense if second half takes longer, consumes more gas? I just have a stereotype of travels across such vast areas being more twisty and mountainous. Able to hop amongst low cost fuel puymps?

Thanks!

The second (western) half undoubtedly takes longer & consumes more fuel but doesn't lessen the impact of the experience as the mountains, waters, & wildlife saturates it.
"Able to hop amongst low cost fuel pumps" - maybe better put as " Able to find a pump for pennies less" & definitely more expensive in the far NW.

Kevin · May 09, 2022, 01:11:00 PM

Sounds Dreamy Dan!

It must be exciting to hit the road again! Here's wishing you both happy and safe travels!!

Kevin

dtcerrato · May 09, 2022, 10:20:48 PM

Thanks Kevin
We're currently in a rest area in Fox Creek Alberta (between Edmonton and Grand Prairie) 27F & snowing.. 3000 miles down, 1500 to go. 2/3rds of the way there!
Fuel prices in Alberta are lower than SK & MB. Lloydminster AB Husky/Esso truck stop on the south side of the highway was a great fuel stop @ 1.899/L.
Bus stays toasty overnigjt with the two CDHs running at 1\2 throttle. Everything is good.

chessie4905 · May 10, 2022, 04:19:21 AM

That white stuff better be gone in 3 or 4 more weeks. Get enough of it here in Pa in winter.

dtcerrato · May 10, 2022, 05:31:47 AM

Fox Creek rest area this morning. Alberta CA. 24F & toasty inside. Two days of Canadian Rocky Mountain driving now will get us to Tok AK.

Utahclaimjumper · May 10, 2022, 03:33:19 PM

Dan,, how long do you intend to stay in Tok?? Your return trip to begin when.?? Am thinking I need a trip about that length from Cedar City, Utah.. Trip length for me would be 2885 miles one way,,( or about $3000.00 in fuel.. I have been to AK many times but all priour trips were with my twin engined aircraft in the late 80s and all over the state with that method...
My 38 ft. diesel motorhome is kept in top condition and has a full tank to get me started ( range about 1000 miles per tank ) It has never been to AK and is yearning to go..>>>Dan

dtcerrato · May 13, 2022, 09:48:59 AM

Quote from: Utahclaimjumper on May 10, 2022, 03:33:19 PM
Dan,, how long do you intend to stay in Tok?? Your return trip to begin when.?? Am thinking I need a trip about that length from Cedar City, Utah.. Trip length for me would be 2885 miles one way,,( or about $3000.00 in fuel.. I have been to AK many times but all priour trips were with my twin engined aircraft in the late 80s and all over the state with that method...
My 38 ft. diesel motorhome is kept in top condition and has a full tank to get me started ( range about 1000 miles per tank ) It has never been to AK and is yearning to go..>>>Dan

All summer hopefully. Our return is currently scheduled around the Indiana rally end of Sept. If we don't decide to leave the bus in Tok. With the surge in fuel prices we'd been contemplating leaving the bus in Tok as a tiny home and road trip it on this end when we fly up. Just a thought, we'll see.
I really doubt you could do the trip for 3 grand in fuel. We figured $5000 Canadian for Canada fuel - $2500 each way... Ha! it's 3/4s for the one way! The 1000 miles per tank is nice. Ours is about 600 but fueled more frequently for safe keeping. We just fueled in Whitehorse Yukon for $2.349/L - $500 would fill a tank that was almost half full. No discouragement intended - can't take it with you - just do it.

We'll be watching to see if you decide

windtrader · May 13, 2022, 02:37:42 PM

Eadh person really has to think a fair bit about what the primary reasons are for getting the bus on the road. Dan has made the trip a couple times and may thorougly enjoy the trip itself so can accept the outrageous cost just to move the bus. Some would look at the total out of pocket cost and add for wear and tear and find other attractive ways to spend that on a different adventure.
With fuel prices never this high, I'm sure most of us are thinking twice about how much we want to lay out this year and adjust trips to be acceptable moneywise.

luvrbus · May 13, 2022, 03:07:54 PM

100 gals of fuel for $515.00 takes the fun out of it, not many RV's on the road now because of fuel prices.I average 7 mpg but still cost me almost a dollar per mile for the Country Coach just for fuel

Tedsoldbus · May 13, 2022, 06:00:32 PM

We are booking shorter trips but NOT parking the bus. Eat that Putin!
(Or whoever is keeping fuel expensive).
Rita needs dependable WiFi for her job and prefers campgrounds so we mostly stay at those. An occasional Walmart or other spots for one night, but mostly campgrounds. Good news is they are wide open right now. We just booked 2 nights at a KOA going north on 81 that is usually booked for June. And just booked 4 nights in September on NAS Pensacola campground right off the runway for the end of year air show of the Blue Angels. We are taking the nephew that lives and breathes fighter jets. Any other year it would have been booked solid by now.
So there is a silver lining. Campgrounds are open. The roads are less travelled.
Take shorter trips for a while. Alaska will still be there.

chessie4905 · May 13, 2022, 06:51:08 PM

On our way to AK this AM. So far high 12's for mpg. Running 62 to 65 so far. In MI currently, visiting daughter till Monday. Then Hibbing MN next to see Greyhound museum.

Dave5Cs · May 13, 2022, 06:56:33 PM

Ya 6mpg going and 6 going back......

chessie4905 · May 13, 2022, 07:32:29 PM

Yeah, my 4905 gets half that 😭

luvrbus · May 13, 2022, 08:30:46 PM

It's only money like they say you cannot take it with you,or come back after it, only problem you sure as hell cannot go anywhere without it ( money).We are going to try and limit our travels to around 4000 miles this summer just some trout and Steelhead fishing in Idaho with Van

dtcerrato · May 14, 2022, 12:50:21 AM

Made it to Camp Malemute in Tok AK safe & sound and it is still snowing & winter is still here but the experience is priceless. Bus & toad performed flawless & yes very few RVers on the roads but the ones we meet up with seem to be a special breed no matter if Bus or S&S. We will post the numbers when we tally them...