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RE: port of entry Del Bonita, Mt
We re-entred the US at Del Bonita in the late summer 2010 on our return from Alaska. It is a very little used crossing point. We were there for over 30 minutes due to a question on an item we purchased in Canada. During that 30 minutes no one else went through the crossing going South and only one car went through going North. I think the two officers on the US side felt like the Maytag repair men as they seemed very lonely and anxious to talk to someone. There was one vehicle that came from the US side to deliver bottled water and he was there for 20 minutes loading about 30 or 35 empty plastic bottles. They must only come up there once a season.
The item we were questioned on was a buffalo horn carved as an owl. We declared it as it is an animal part although it was commercially sold as an art work. After 20 minutes trying to decide if we could keep it and several phone calls, we had to sign a declaration and then we were allowed to keep it and be on our way.
We chose Del Bonita to avoid the busy crossings near Glacier.
Mike
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2hams2alaska
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05/16/12 09:38pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Blackout curtains for looooong AK days?
We found the evening long twilight in Alaska very annoying in terms of sound sleep. Not only the light coming from the windows in the bedroom area but the roof vent light was even more bothersome. We purchased heavy bath towels and a bag of sqeeze type clothes pins. Each night at bed time we clipped a bath towel to the valance rod over each window. Nice and dark then and air could still circulate in if the window was opened. For the roof vent we made a cover out of 1/4 inch thick foamboard and placed several round dots of velcro around each vent with the matching pieces on the cover. In 60 seconds we could have the towels up and the cover in place and presto, the darkest bedroom one could want.
Mike
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2hams2alaska
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04/22/12 07:57pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Taking frozen meat thru Canada
When we crossed into Alsaka from Canada in 2010, we had to toss the oranges we had bought in the US before crossing into Canada. No citrus is allowed into the US from outside the country. We were asked about fruit just this one time and had to toss it. Other times we were not asked and we passed through with the subject being addressed. It all depends one the time of day and the inspector.
Mike
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2hams2alaska
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01/19/12 08:45pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Canada hwy 40
I agree with most of the posts. Highway 40 is good road and offers lots of xcenery and wildlife opportunities.
Als, Joe b. is correct in that the KOA just outside of Hinton is one of the best KOA's we have ever stayed at. Not a destination campground but a good one for a one or two night layover. Very well kept, nice laundry, wifi, cable TV and friendly folks. Price was not bad. At this northern lattitude, no pool if I remeber correctly.
Hinton is also a nice place to stock up at before heading further North. There is a WalMart and a Safeway and other major retailers. The motel next to McDonalds has wifi you can access from the parking lot to check email etc.
Mike
Mike
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2hams2alaska
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01/19/12 08:37pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: 2m Repeaters Along AlCan Highway?
http://www.bcarcc.org/YARA%20Brochure%202010.pdf
Here is a map of repeater coverage in the Yukon area. We found the map to be a good indication of the coverage we encountered on our trips up and back in 2009 and 2010. I don't recall ever hearing any indication of autopatch capabilities but then we were transient through these areas. We did find the local hams to be quite friendly and helpful. When we went through US customs going south into Skagway the officer who checked us through was a ham and gave us info on local activity there. We monitored 146.52 most of the time when not in repeater coverage and heard very little activity. Not like it used to be years ago.
The most ham radio time we had was operating Field Day from The Yukon Territory both years. Not easy to be heard from up there but it was fun to hand out the rare section.
Mike
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2hams2alaska
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01/19/12 08:23pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Milepost
They are different and both useful in their own way.
I agree with Luke. The two books are quite different in content and serve different purposes. The Milepost is great to allow the traveler to learn the details of what he is seeing or is about to see along the highways. The Church's book gives the traveler a very honest evaluation of the campgrounds located along the way. We found both useful on our three trips to Canada and Alaska. If we are lucky enough to go again in 2012, we will certainly have them both along.
Mike
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2hams2alaska
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12/30/11 04:44pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Wanted: list of things to do before leaving on long trip
In order to make the house look occupied while on our two Alaska trips (2009 and 2010), like others do, we used timers to turn lights on and off each day. However unlike most timers we found outlet strips with built-in electronic programmable timers that allowed us to program a diffrent on and off time for each day of the 7 day week. That avoids the look of programmed lights when they come on and go off at the same minute each day. We bought several of these and connected a table lamp to one in each of several rooms with each timers' on/off times set differently from any other. We had no intruder problems but how much of a part these played in that? Who knows?
Mike
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2hams2alaska
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12/28/11 09:06pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Class C motorhome to travel Alaska
We agree completely, the trip itself through BC and the Yukon is a great adventure. Then the bonus is finding Alaska at the end of the trip. We enjoyed Canada just as much as our time in Alaska.
We have made the trip twice in our 29 foot Class C with no tow vehicle. Yes, there were times we could have used one but we never felt we had made an error. We always found parking and never felt we were denied an adventure due to the lack of a car. Do it your way and don't let horror stories about the roads give you concern. We drove 10,000+ miles on each trip and never had problem one, not even a flat. We did pick up one windshield chip but that was on US 2 in Montana.
Go for it and enjoy every minute.
Mike
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2hams2alaska
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09/30/11 08:15am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Do I need a new Milepost?
We made the trip in 2009 and 2010 in our class C MH. I would say if I had to pick one or the other book to upgrade, it would be Church's Alaska and NW Canada Campground Guide. Without a doubt it is more honest about campground conditions and their amenities than the Milepost. The Milepost is a great reference for traveling the Alaska Highway because of it detailed account of the scenery and exactly where things are located by referencing the mileposts. However, I suspect all the Milepost CG descriptions are written by the CG owners. With Church's book we never felt we had been misled.
Also, along the way stop at as many of the local tourist centers as practical and mine them for their local information, we found many interesting things to see and do that we would have passed up othrwise. Have fun in the planning as well as in the execution. We had a ball planning the trip but that didn't compare to the fun we had and the scenery we encountered.
A return trip for us in another year or so, maybe.
Mike
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2hams2alaska
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08/26/11 02:57pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Digital OTA TV to Analog conversion Boxes
Whatever you do, stay away from the units made by DISH NETWORK. These were marketed by KMart under the name DTV PAL and DTV PAL Plus. We have two of them and they are a piece of crap. Every few minutes the unit blanks the signal and gives you a blue screnn while it goes through a reset. While in the blue screen mode you cannot even turn it off, or change channels, or go to analog bypass or anything else. After anywere from 10 to 30 seconds the picture will come back on and then you are good until the next time. We called DISH NETWORK and they sent one replacement and it does exactly the same thing. Worthless.
Mike
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2hams2alaska
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08/23/11 11:51am |
Technology Corner
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RE: capacitor On RV
In order to add a power factor correction capacitor, one needs to know the actual power factor of the load you are trying to correct. There are devices on the market that will measure AC Power Factor but these tend to be expensive for a good one. And it requires measurement of both the voltage waveform and the current waveform. Typically, the current waveform measuremet requires a torroidal current transformer be placed around one of the current carrying wires.
Once the PF of the A/C unit is known, the proper value of a correcting capacitor can be calculated. But seriously, I doubt that the PF of the A/C units is all that poor and and that with correction added this will make a difference in your basic problem of not enough genset capacity for 3 A/C units.
Mike NA9Q
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2hams2alaska
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08/22/11 07:06am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Digital TV
Kidoo,
We also switched our Class C MH analog TV to a Visio 22 inch HD set last year. Like you I was interested in operating the set from the 12 V DC system so we could use it even when boondocking. The Visio set we bought does have an external power supply that plugs into the wall at 120 V AC and supplies 12 V DC to the set through a connector on the back of the TV. Initially I thought that this would be ideal and allow me to do just what I wanted, operate the set from 12V DC. However on furhter consideration I was concerned about the TV sets' tolerance to variations in the 12V DC. Remember, smart battery chargers can raise the charging voltage to as high as 14.6 VDC when in bulk charge mode. Additionally I was concerned about transients that might be introduced by the cabs' alternator charging system as well as the MH converter/charger.
I was unable to find any info from Visio on the allowed 12V DC variation at the input to the TV and in the end I purchased a 12V DC to 120V AC converter. The sets power supply is plugged into the output of the converter and operates from 12V DC it at all times. This allowed operation when we were not connected to shore power. Granted it is always operating from 12V DC through the converter but that doesn't bother me. We probably do loose a few points on efficiency this way but that is a small penalty. A year and a half and every thing is still working well.
The Visio HD set was purchased at Sam's Club but I'm sure it is available elsewhere.
I thought this might be a solution to your situation as well,
Mike
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2hams2alaska
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08/18/11 03:20pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Loss of Pet While on the Road?
We took our then 16-1/2 year old Shih Tzu, Pookie Sue, on our 3 month Alaska adventure in 2009. Natually we had similar concerns about her making the whole trip with us and what we would do if she became ill. She was a super camper and traveler but at that age one never knows. We knew there might be times that we would be many miles from a vet we but determined that she would want to be with us on this long trip. As it turned out we didn't need a vets services. She thrived on the Alaska adventure and spent hours exploring each campground. Some months after we returned home her heath declined rapidly and we lost her at age 17-1/2. We were glad we were there with her to share that last great adventure.
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2hams2alaska
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07/30/11 07:44am |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: For heaven sake slow down!
We drove up and back in both 2009 and 2010. I would do it again in a heart beat. Yes, the stretch from Beaver Creek to the Alaska border is rough with lots of bad frost heaves but we drove it at 20 MPH or less in the bad spots and had absolutely no problem. Watch for the red flags and the waves in the road surface, both of which give plenty of visual warning IF you drive slowly. Several large rigs passed us and demonstrated no regard to the damage they were risking to their rig or even personal injury. A very easy way to ruin a dream vacation. Go slow, stop often and enjoy the scenery. On the second trip we did pick up one windshield rock chip. But that was in Montana on US 2. The only significant event was a bent rear bumper when I clipped a bollard in a Wyoming gas station on the way home last year. After that we couldn't get the sewer hose out of the bumper. It was captured by the kink in the square tube. Had to buy a new one at WallyWorld along with a storage tub to get us on home.
Mike
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2hams2alaska
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06/22/11 10:39pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Stopped up dog
We use canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix) and it keeps out two dogs flowing freely. Recommended by out vet. Serve them each about 1/2 can once a month.
Yes indeed, canned pumpkin works like a charm. And, it was recommended to us by our vet when our older Shih Tzu became constipated. Just a couple of table spoons fed to her on a spoon (she really liked it too, gobbled it right down!) and she was unplugged by the next morning. Libby's canned pumpkin was what we used. The rest of the can was devided into small snack sized Ziplock bags and placed in the freezer for future use if she had a relapse and needed another dose.
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2hams2alaska
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06/06/11 10:12pm |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: Crowds on the Alcan?
We made the trip up and back in 2009 and 2010 and never had difficulty in finding a place to overnight. Many nights we boondocked, others we spent in state or provintial parks, some in commercial campgrounds. We even spent a couple nights in a WalMart lot when all we needed was a place to pull off for a few hours.
The only place we had reservations both years was for Tek campground in Denali. We were glad we did make those ahead of time as it was well worth the inconveience of having to be there on a certain date. Tek is a great way to see the park and have the opportunity to ride the bus on in on more than one day. And don't miss the evening ranger programs that are presented there several times a week.
Take plenty of Deet and have your batteries well charged since generator hours are limited.
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2hams2alaska
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06/03/11 01:24pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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