Getting ready to leave.

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Hello, you can call me Frank and this is my first travel blog. When do you start getting ready for a trip to Alaska? Well, Jeanne and I have been getting ready at least since 2009, when we purchased a new Winnebago Aspect 30J class C motor home. So far, we have driven it around Arizona and New Mexico with two multi-week trips to Oregon and Colorado. For the past two years, I have served as a Church Service Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. During this time Jeanne has helped care for her mother who was disabled by a stroke. Now we are ready for our trip of a lifetime.

We have renewed our passports, checked Canadian travel regulations, made reservations as far as Calgary where we will witness the annual Stampede, Have reserved campsites at Yellowstone and Denali as well as some other places. New tires on the tow vehicle and RV. Where to go and what to do, but enough. I don't want to get ahead of ourselves. We will cover the trip one day at a time.

This past week we have already experienced two disappointments. First, on May 13th I had taken the coach to Camping World to get the generator serviced and to install MCD shades and replace the sliding screen and shade under our skylight. By June 17th, the parts had not arrived so we were forced to leave without the improvements we wanted. I would like someone to explain to me why it takes so long to get RV parts.

Next, on June 13th Jeanne broke three Metatarsal bones in her left foot. For brevity's sake, we will not cover the details here but it was an unfortunate accident that will keep her from hiking the first 8 weeks of our travels. She is learning how to use one of those knee scooters. We'll be gone too long to rent so I bought a used one. This will allow her to travel to most places where the paths are paved.

Undaunted by these misfortunes, our journey begins Wednesday, June 22, 2016 when we depart Phoenix for our first stop at Page, AZ and Lake Powell. And not a day too soon, I might add as the temperature yesterday was 118 and it is only marginally cooler(?) today.

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Comments

[Jim Fink]

Gas prices in Canada
Fill up before entering Alberta, Canada ($$$$). Fill up before entering British Columbia, Fill up before entering the Yukon. There were 2 US gas stations on the Canada/Alaska border with cheaper gas.. Good place to fill up.