North to Alaska: A Problem

For the last few weeks, I followed a couple travel blogs from Alaska. One belonged to Bob Kribs (Snowhaug), who is now home. He did some very cool things, like flying over and landing on a glacier and over Wrangell-St Elias to see bears. With two small boys in tow, we will be much less adventurous. He mentioned the importance of Milepost in doing the Alaska Highway. We aren’t there yet, but I’d also recommend The Next Exit for services on interstates. We found last night’s rest stop there and decided where to get gas there. For non-interstate driving, I’d recommend The RVer’s Friend, which gives a lot of information about service plazas, like showers, restaurants, and, most importantly, internet connectivity!

Jeff & I both woke up before 6, but we didn’t get up and breakfasted until nearly 7. We seemed to be making really good time, though, until 11:30.


Problem #1: 35 miles from Minot, the truck beeped and read out “power loss”. Suddenly it wouldn’t shift well, didn’t want to go over 30. I thought “oh, crap”, but Jeff just kept driving. (Why is it that men won’t just stop and find a solution?) Jeff called Snell, our auto guys since Chevrolet closed the dealership in St Peter. They said it sounded like a fuel filter issue. Our GPS told us that the nearest automotive dealer was 25 miles away in the opposite direction. Liam suggested we push the red button. Not a bad idea, actually. Why else do we pay for OnStar?

Jeff talked to the OnStar guy while I tried something a little different on the computer. This time, it found a bunch of auto places in the next town (<3 miles away). I called the body shop who suggested stopping at Farmers Union in Kenmare where they go for parts. Jeff went in, bought the filters (an extra one, just in case) and asked about doing it himself. The guy said he had a guy who could do it in half an hour and that Jeff might be able to do it in a couple hours if he had another person, but he might break some wires. Easy decision, except the next service guy we talked to said the guy wouldn’t be back until 1.

Josh (“the guy”) arrived at 12:30 and did a great job. He didn’t even charge us for his labor. He did mention, though, that they do a fuel filter weekly during the summer and daily during the winter and often it happens after people fuel up at Behm’s in Minot (where we had been 35 minutes before). Word of advice: don’t go to Behm’s, at least for biodiesel.

We got back on the road after about an hour. Unfortunately, the check engine light remained on despite the truck working fine. Jeff called OnStar again, just to make sure we were safe. The diagnostics team said it might stay on for another 40 off/on cycles, but we were good to go. Yeah!


Fortunately, the rest of the trip was uneventful, aside from not having the correct directions to Buffalo Lookout RV Park, where we are currently staying. It doesn’t allow outdoor fires, though, so no cooking. If we’re going to cook while camping, it better be over the fire or too frigid to be outside, so we ate instead at Houston Pizza, which is a Saskatchewan chain. Now we’re just hoping the boys fall asleep easily. Their wi-fi also works only in the laundry room. Jeff's with the boys while I sit here publishing.


Conversation of the Day:

L: “We’re in Canada!”
M: “How do you know that?”
L: “I saw a Canada flag on top that tower.”

Disturbing Comment of the Day:

“I just want to go home.” (from Liam, 22:20 into our trip)

License Plates Noticed: MN, ND, SK, AB, ON, FL, MB, MT

High Temperature: 85o (Minot, ND)
Low Temperature: 68o (just east of Valley City, ND)

Miles: 487.9

Total Time on the Road: 12:23

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