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Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Copper Center Lodge Destroyed by fire
Had breakfast there Friday a.m.....sad loss.
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PA12DRVR
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05/22/12 05:45am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: whats your career?
Currently employed as a contracts consultant
Prior work includes; pipefitter, mechanical engineer, project manager, attorney, procurement team lead.
Very grateful for the career so far....but pretty jealous to read some of the (both current and past) occupational histories on this thread.
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PA12DRVR
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05/17/12 12:45pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Can you bear to part with your "man toys"?
Any of the aviation related tools mentioned by the OP would be a hot seller up here. Worked with a couple of mechanics during the recent rebuild of the PA-12 and they are ALWAYS looking for quality used av. tools ....apparently the current crop is a step down in quality and a big step up in price.
I can never get rid of tools, reloading equipment, or similar.
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PA12DRVR
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05/16/12 08:42am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: N.C. To Deadhorse AK
Everyone is correct in what is stated above and I'm not sure I'd pick September as the month to do an RV trip.
That being said....whether it's snow in the upper half of the state or the tail end of summer further South, I think September is just about the most beautiful time of year in Alaska. If you can be prepared for the lack of services, the heavy commercial traffic and some cold (er) weather, it would be a great time to see some spectacular countryside.
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PA12DRVR
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05/07/12 07:24am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: TRAVELING TO ALASKA FROM SPOKANE
FWIW, I can speak from personal experience that one can get to Anchorage from Spokane in 72 hours. Add 10 hours to reflect going to Denali and you're looking at 80 hours......oh, wait, that was in a Jeep Cherokee.
As others have stated, there are plenty of campgrounds (of one flavor or the other) between Muncho Lake and Whitehorse.
I would strongly reiterate what others have said: Don't rush this trip. I did the Anchorage-Spokane trip 3 times (RT) during my attendance at GU Law and always pushed it as fast as I could until my return to Alaska after graduation....on that last trip, I didn't camp, but nevertheless the DW and I spent 10 or 12 days going from Spokane to Tok. We went up through Idaho then across and up through BC...some of the most beautiful country anywhere (even comparable to Alaska :) )....Don't shortchange yourself by rushing through it.
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PA12DRVR
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05/03/12 07:14am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: aux fuel tank 2011 f-350 dually
I had 2 F350's (first one was stolen) into which I put a 100 gallon auxiliary tank from American Tank and Toolbox in Frisco, Texas (they have moved since, I think). This was a direct connection that had a switch in the cab for changing from stock tank to aux tank.
They were expensive but (IMO) very much worth it. I was pulling a 38' 5th wheel and with the aux tank, it meant I didn't have to stop for fuel until I wanted to...meaning I didn't have to worry about whether I'd fit in any given gas station...just wait until I was stopped for the night, disconnect and fillup.
If I were to get another trailer, I wouldn't hesistate to put an auxiliary tank in. Huge peace of mind factor.
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PA12DRVR
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04/27/12 02:54pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Funny thing checking on airline tickets
I would think carefully about getting a private plane for "necessary" transportation. As mentioned, it depends on good or relatively good weather, but there are also significant operating costs to consider: insurance, fuel, oil, annual inspection, expensive parts that (no matter what) seem to wear out, rental cars at the destination, etc.
That being said, the fun factor can be signficantly higher.
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PA12DRVR
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04/27/12 02:41pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Blackout curtains for looooong AK days?
I'm with Joe b......just sleep when one gets tired! If one's tired enough, the sound won't matter. :)
Obviously, a bit tongue in cheek, but it is REALLY nice to see the long days and sunshine after winter. Having grown up in AK, spring is still one of the most energizing times of the year.
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PA12DRVR
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04/27/12 02:33pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: A Bit of a Rant
...or it could be an honest attempt to get more context around the question. For example, if the question is "What is the best 5th wheel" and the response is "Why do you want a 5th wheel?"....the answers to the "why" would help shape the determination of "best."
Using just one possible example, if you want a 5th because it has more room than a bumper pull, then the "best" 5th wheel isn't going to be one of the smallest ones.
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PA12DRVR
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04/27/12 07:06am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Alaskan Cruise
Denali hint: often visible from the road to Talkeetna even when it is not visible from the Park or from the roads nearby the Park.
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PA12DRVR
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04/24/12 11:38am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Unresponsive plane flying in the Gulf...!
Apparently others on here thought you were implying it too. And I have bad news, I don't think we're going to solve either of these problems on here. So if we want to talk about remote control of airplanes I don't think it's going to cause more people to die on the highway. Unless of course somebody on here is posting to RV.NET on their iPad while driving down the road.
Or, landing a airplane. :B
So....I was given a new iPad for Christmas. Thought I'd load a sectional on it and use it in the 'ol PA-12. So, one bright sunny morning in March, I squeeze into the -12, set the old trusty kneeboard off to the side, put the iPad in the seat pocket and took off.
After getting away from class D airspace, I pull the iPad out. Hmmm, no kneeboard strap, oh well, just hold on to it. Turn it on, wait a long time for it to turn on, something to do with the 5 degree cabin temps?. Oh well, it's on.
Ok, let's call up the sectional. Hit icon repeatedly, hmmm, nothing happens. Stick iPad inside coat for 5 minutes, it warms up, I can pull up sectional (Thank goodness I still am in familiar territory).
Now we're cruising along happily coordinating terrain outside with electronic sectional. Life is good. Then we turn the corner and are now entering the Knik-Matanuska drainage....just below the Knik glacier. Things, as they often do around the Knik in the spring, get bumpy. No big deal, but, wait...no strap, kneeboard or other means of holding the iPad. One hand on throttle, one hand on stick, leaves 0 hands for the iPad. Oh well, I'll turn it off and chase down a kneeboard for it next trip. Hmmm....it won't turn off (see above re: cold). Frustration is creeping in.
Stick iPad inside coat for warming up....seems like a good place to leave it, but it's bumpy enough that the seat/shoulder belts are crushing iPad and I'm getting busy turning around and entering pattern for Palmer.
Pull out iPad from coat. Throw it in back seat. Fight the PA-12 down to land at Palmer...realize that, technically, I could record two landings for this one arrival (thanks to bouncy spring gear and gusty winds).
Moral of the story: the iPad stays with granddaughter to play games on and I'll stick with paper sectionals while flying the PA-12. No iPads while landing.
(fair degree of tongue-in-cheek in this tale. :) )
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PA12DRVR
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04/24/12 07:50am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: 35' TT too much to handle for weekends
Just a thought from a different perspective: Started with a 19' TT and went to a 32' TT. Yes, there were a few sites that were more problematic and a few gas stations I had to pass, but with regard to the weekend trips:
...we found that the longer TT actually made weekend trips easier as we had more room to leave more "stuff" and didn't have to worry about what to take, what not to take, etc: just stuff it all in, leave it in, and go.
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PA12DRVR
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04/17/12 09:07am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Question on Leases
Also depends on the jx and the lease terms, but you might want to consider having your friend head down to the courthouse? county? recorders office? (whichever applies for his locale)and record the lease so that a title search of the property will bring that up as a possible encumbrance on the property.
Depending on the stage of the "foreclosure", might be too late to have any effect.
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PA12DRVR
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04/17/12 08:48am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Spare tire for diesel pusher?
I would guess (emphasize guess) that you will probably be able to find a spare somewhere in Alaska and most places along the Alcan, but having your own might mean the difference between a roadside wrecker-assisted tire change vs. either a couple day roadside wait or a long tow PLUS a couple day wait.
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PA12DRVR
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04/12/12 08:56pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Taking an inflatable to Alaska
Kidoo,
While I think one could certainly go to different (maybe even more) places with the Zodiac, the canoe would provide access to lakes, streams, small rivers, etc without the risk inherent with a trailer. I think you'd find the proposed canoe/TC trip very enjoyable.
On the unfortunately infrequent road trips I take within the state anymore, it's very enjoyable to throw the canoe on top of the topper and just head out.
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PA12DRVR
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04/10/12 09:02am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: I've been a "Fabguy" for over 35 years now....
In a prior life, used to run a fab shop...you've done well to avoid injury for 35 years. Hopes for a timely recovery.
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PA12DRVR
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04/09/12 06:57am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Date is set ... sort of
"I first drove the Alaskan Hwy south bound the last week of November 1962. There have been a lot of changes."
Truer words were never spoken, both about the Alcan and about Alaska.
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PA12DRVR
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04/09/12 06:54am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: If you could have one car back
Have to say 2:
- 196?..El Camino with big engine stuffed in it and some (how much could you do) work to the suspension. Went like the proverbial violated ape on a straight line. Worthless in snow and it didn't like turns, but it was wonderful go-fast machine.
- 197? International Harvester Pickup: It would start to rattle and hum when it went above 55 mph, but it was my first 4WD and, since it had the trusty winch on front and a handyman jack in the back and was built like a tractor, I figured would go anywhere. Figured wrong, but not by much.
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PA12DRVR
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04/03/12 02:57pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Taking an inflatable to Alaska
Much like alaska dennis, I used to have a small zodiac for about 10 years. It had a floor and inflatable keel. Even took it out for halibut a time or two but managed to find the limitations of a small Zodiac.
I'd bring your boat.....but bring a motor if you want to cross lakes.
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PA12DRVR
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03/30/12 01:09pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: best town for 4th of July
I would avoid any state campgrounds nearby to either Los Anchorage or Squarebanks
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PA12DRVR
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03/23/12 10:34am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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