Alaska or Bust

[buckland]

Wandering Sagebrush... Rob here.. I got the Thetford for free from my brother ...a marine mechanic out of Alameda. So the price was perfect. I don't like the cleanup for sure but again it is basically no cost. I like the idea of the wag bags as it is less hassle but the cost of the bags and such... I guess I will discover in a test by fire which would 'doo' better!

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Rob, I was out in the shop and looked at the label on our "anti stinkum", it's Thetford Ecosmart. No formaldehyde.

 

[buckland]

Anti-stinkum is definitely best...
on your boat the Thetford with 2 people use, lasts how long before having to dump?
I would imagine one could covertly use a gas station restroom for the dump?
Having not done this yet ... I would imagine a rinse out with a bucket of clean water, then dump into rest room toilet?
Back in "business?"

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Anti-stinkum is definitely best...
on your boat the Thetford with 2 people use, lasts how long before having to dump?
I would imagine one could covertly use a gas station restroom for the dump?
Having not done this yet ... I would imagine a rinse out with a bucket of clean water, then dump into rest room toilet?
Back in "business?"

We usually go about 5 days, depending on the amount of fluids. Most of the places we boat have remote pump out stations, and we are often at a marina for fuel where there are also pump outs. I think we could go a lot longer if needed, but the Porta Potti gets way heavier than I want to lift out of the boat and onto the dock.

 

[longhorn1]

Rob,

We use the Thetford Aqua-Kem as noted in a previous post. I don't think you can go wrong with either the Ecosmart Steve mentioned or the Aqua-Kem, both Thetford products. jd

 

[buckland]

Yesterday I cut a piece of scrap 1/8" steel plate 4x6" and attached a piece of black walnut as a lip... it is attached too the underside, center of the over-cab... sticking out the front. I have a 4ft magnetic mount mast antenna for the CB. Slam! it holds on tight. The cable I will attach with clips to the box I have mounted under the over-cab....it will then come through the rear sliding window...I made a 1/4" strip to seal the space created by the open slider. I have found on my trips into logging country in the North Maine woods ...it is a safe thing to do. Not only for a rescue but to let the logging truck know you are there before a hill or sharp curve. They do not slow down... you just have to get out of there way...and lord they are big!

 

[buckland]

This the latest "idea" of route in the western part of the trip. Ferry Up to Whittier .... hope to get to McCarthy and Circle as well as all yellow hi-lite. Anyone been to special boon docking camp sites on this route please let me know! The attached is a PDF file of a hi-lited map.

 

[buckland]

There's gotta be a great blues song out there (something parallel to the country song "Broke down south of Dallas")... that tells it for what it is... getting through Chicago..... or Hell... getting round the lakes. Every trip map I plug the route into is a blue ribbon filled with exclamation marks so packed together it becomes one big "Don't do it!"
I know ...I was gonna try the Canadian route from Niagara (rhymes with viagra...I know there's gotta be a song in here) to Flint, MI and on to the lake to cross with ferry..... well it still seems that is just too darn leisurely. When I want out of the northeast I need to get OUT... fast. Once I hit the mid west life will all get better travel wise. Wide open spaces.
There is also the scary part of finding a place for the first 2 nights to sleep.... Walmart is not an option in that area... That's almost is a horror movie script. So.... plan B ... or maybe C... is to get to Erie, Penn or so.... then somehow sprout wings and get to the other side of Chicago .... sleep......... and head out on I-90. Any and all half-ass ideas will be considered.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

There's gotta be a great blues song out there (something parallel to the country song "Broke down south of Dallas")... that tells it for what it is... getting through Chicago..... or Hell... getting round the lakes. Every trip map I plug the route into is a blue ribbon filled with exclamation marks so packed together it becomes one big "Don't do it!"
I know ...I was gonna try the Canadian route from Niagara (rhymes with viagra...I know there's gotta be a song in here) to Flint, MI and on to the lake to cross with ferry..... well it still seems that is just too darn leisurely. When I want out of the northeast I need to get OUT... fast. Once I hit the mid west life will all get better travel wise. Wide open spaces.
There is also the scary part of finding a place for the first 2 nights to sleep.... Walmart is not an option in that area... That's almost is a horror movie script. So.... plan B ... or maybe C... is to get to Erie, Penn or so.... then somehow sprout wings and get to the other side of Chicago .... sleep......... and head out on I-90. Any and all half-ass ideas will be considered.

Rob,you just have to bite the bullet and go the fastest way you can.
Know what you mean,have driven that route east of Chicago both east and west bound never found an easy/fast way.
Once spent the night in a motel just on the Pa Oh border didn't sleep much that night,I think it was in the area of I 80 as we were traveling home through Chicago and visiting some friends there.
Not much fun driving just put the foot on the gas and went. Stopped for gas/food that's all.

Keep looking and think of the destination.
Frank

 

[takesiteasy]

Trans Canada-Highway?

 

[buckland]

If you've ever been on it through Quebec and east Ontario... it's is just as bad as south of the lakes....but fuel costs more.

 

[buckland]

Well things are falling in to place ...my lord there are many details ....
I will be going west...lickity-split... hate it but will go through/around Chicago.
My first night (gawd help me) is somewhere around Cleveland., OH...
Second night near Madison WI
IF I go on I 90
Third night somewhere in South Dakota from the Mississippi to Rapid city
Fourth night somewhere between Hardin and Bozeman MT.
Fifth night somewhere In Idaho or thereabouts
Then cruise on into Seattle
I'd say five nights six days

My question to y'all is at Madison WI. ...... some folks say stay on I-90 and some say NO... go I-94

I ask this because I have tried to find out what the road surface is. I hate the demented cemented highway ...
a rhythm builds up and porpoising starts.... if the road is smooth asphalt and longer I'd take it. So if anyone has done this
lately and can offer advice I'd appreciate it.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Rob, have traveled some of those roads but don't remember anything but sailing along to get through.
Have you thought about giving your self some extra day/days to Bellingham?
Sure would hate to have missed the ferry due to some delay. Just a thought.Thinking ahead.
Frank

 

[iowahiker]

We prefer I-90 and use it frequently for getting to Seattle and we consider the road in good condition all the way. We consider I-94 longer.

Looking at your comments, a few thoughts:

- With your schedule, consider camping at one of the Badlands NP campgrounds. The primitive campground was free the last time we were there but on a gravel road. The developed campground has flush toilets. Camping in Rapid City was too much noise for us. And you are mixing up Mississippi and Missouri names for the river in central SD.

- We prefer I-90 and use it frequently for getting to Seattle and we consider the road in good condition all the way. We consider I-94 longer. We get on I-90 and stay on I-90 all the way. 600 mile days are not too long on I-90 if you go 69 mph.

 

[buckland]

Indeed Frank... life is a rush and as my old friend used to say ... "I fall behind as soon as I can...so I have more time to catch up"...
I will ...as my wife suggests ...take more time for the haul out west. I in my driven way need to see the straight line drive times and then work backwards. I do intend to put two days extra in the mix at the end of the calculating. I guess with all my travels in crazy countries during crazy times has me 'militarized' in logistics... it is hard to shake. My goal really is to have fun... I loosen up in the stretch.

Hope your jump into the fray in the site team goes well. This site is one wonderful community.
rob

 

[Bozeman Mike]

I went to school in madison and now live in Bozeman. I prefer going through North Dakota. If you need some ideas on places to camp for free around Bozeman I would be happy to help.

 

[Missing Link]

I agree with Iowa Hiker re. the Spearfish/Rapid City area, however, heading west last summer we came upon a very nice FS campground in northeastern Wyoming just off of I-90 called Bear Lodge. Not too far west of Spearfish but only a few folks in the CG, and a tranquil setting. You might check it out.

 

[buckland]

All righty then. It's worth a shot. If there is anyone who has done the route below or part of it and has boondocked .... what I am looking for are specific nice places to camp with the FWC Eagle. I am used to off road as long as it isn't boulder hopping. So check your notes/journals and I bet I could find it on Google Earth. (Of course if there are any in Alaska I'd be very happy about those too (attached find a pdf file map if you need it...it can be zoomed in:

Tok to Dawson City Taylor Hwy.
Dawson Creek to Stewart Crossing Taylor Hwy.
Stewart Crossing to Ross River Campbell Hwy.
Ross River to Watson Lake Campbell Hwy.
Watson Lake to Dease Lake Cassiar Hwy.
Dease Lake to Kitwanga Cassiar Hwy.
Kitwanga to Prince George Yellowhead Hwy.
Prince George to Cashe Yellowhead Hwy.

Thereafter
Jasper to Banff Route 93.... as this is the 150 Anniversary Parks are gonna be crazy (free passes this year)
so any ideas where to find quiet/small camping would be great if it is possible.

Also looking for good "blue highways" south into Idaho then Montana.... In the route 2 south to route 200 area... maybe heading towards Colorado.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Rob really can't help with "boondock" areas,but around the Chicken Ak area there is a nice CG on a river if I remember right it's just off the road, starts under the bridge. Didn't see anyone there as we drove through. Also the CG across the Yukon river from Dawson City is
not used much. Large spaces and seemed almost like boondocking with outhouses,plus has a neat paddle wheel graveyard just outside camp,down river.

You should PM Robbie,he lives in Watson Lake and does a lot of off road/boondocking. I would think he would have the best suggestions IMO.
Keep having fun with the planing.
Frank

 

[buckland]

Thanks Frank...I will do that....He has answered other questions before, what a lucky guy to be half way into the wilds up there. I also recall the Paddlewheel graveyard mentioned in past posts as well as the Trip Report from "The two Bobs".... Man I am excited.... I know it will be good...mostly because my friends think I am nuts to do it...can't get a better recommendation!
Rob