Lucy is on the road to Alaska

[Gene]

Great photos as always. If the CG check out tome is 10:00, we usually are out by 9:57; if the check out time is 11:00, we are usually out by 10:45. Maybe the early bird gets the worm, but we don't eat worms, that's for the birds! A leisurely morning is a delight.

While I share your preference for two lane blacktop, as you come west, interstates are hard to avoid and getting to the north country is the goal, so we have accepted interstates are part of the experience. It is easier to come to back to the lower 48 than to go all the way north.

One of our goals was to get to the Arctic Ocean. We traveled up the Dalton Hwy two or three times and never made it all the way across the North Slope. We've seen oil fields anyway and they are not a welcome sight after crossing the spectacular sights of northern Alaska. But we did in get to the Arctic Ocean in Tuktoyatuk in the Northwest Territories. We had to fly from Inuvik where the Dempster Hwy ended in 2006. The road has been extended to Tuk' though I don't know the condition of that road across the muskeg. If you want to make it to the Ocean, I'd select the Dempster as the more scenic route all the way, but also seeing the Brooks Range from the North Slope of Alaska is quite a sight too. Do both if you can. River crossings in northern Canada can be a challenge for long vehicles as the approach to ferries can be steep and sometimes vehicles get hung up on the grade. The ferry captains are used to this, but bumpers can suffer. I think it is worse with a long MH or Class C, but should be better with an articulated combination like a travel trailer. The Dempster in 2006 was dirt and gravel and when a light rain started, got pretty slippery. We were driving a 4Runner with ABS and had to learn how it responded very quickly the one time we started a skid. The road crews were out immediately fixing the road after the rain ended, but for a day or so it was a challenge. I wonderful drive with more amenities (though not many) than the Dalton. It was two days to Inuvik with a stop in the middle where there was a surpassingly good restaurant, garage, a motel and a CG and a place whose name escapes me (Eagle something?). I don't think there was a CG in Inuvik in 2006. The town had a nice little museum which we called and they opened for us, a decent pizza and and very pleasant people. Tuk' did have a small hotel with a basic restaurant, but that was a while ago. On the Dalton, Coldfoot is the midway place—fuel, basic CG, rooms, restaurant, all but CG designed for truckers. There's a BLM CG about 5 miles north where we stayed—it is at the southern end of the Brooks Range. There is also a visitor center for the Gateway to the Arctic NP nearby and a small town as well. The Dalton ("Haul Road") is pretty much a truck route and when we were on it, about 500 tourists per year drove it.

Dawson City has a large CG and I suppose leaving the trailer there and going up the Dempster with the truck camper could be a good alternative. I am reliving our adventures and probably writing too much on your thread.

[moosetags]

Tonight Lucy is in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Departure from Whitesboro, Texas this morning was around the usual time. We continued north and west on mostly back roads. The Texas countryside in this area is mostly rolling hills dotted with farms and ranches. The going was pretty slow with a number of small towns along the route.

We had planned to overnight at an Army Corps of Engineers Campground in Fort Supply, Oklahoma. When we called the campground we found that it was closed after being completely flooded. We readjusted our route and did some backtracking. We headed up through Oklahoma City where we arrived just in time for rush hour. Pulling an Airstream through a big city at rush hour is always entertaining. It was slow going, but we made it through unscathed.

Lucy found a really nice campsite at Cedar Valley RV Park in Guthrie, Oklahoma. We had a nice dinner at home and have settled in for the night.

Tonight's pictures include:

- Downtown St. Joe, Texas.
- US 82 near Muenster, Texas,
- Industrial equipment convoy taking a break along US 82.
- Fancy-painted oil pump in Nocona, Texas.
- Main Street, Nocona, Texas.
- Downtown Oklahoma City in the distance.
- Campground aisle in Guthrie.
- Lucy settled into her campsite.

Brian

[GettinAway]

Gene, I read this morning about guys on motorcycles making to TUK in the last few days. I hope to do it someday. I went up the Dalton, and a oil pumping station is what you see at Deadhorse. I believe TUK is far more interesting. Moosetags when you get to Dawson, you may want to go up the Dempster, (without the AS) just a few thousand extra miles.

[moosetags]

Lucy broke camp south of Guthrie this morning, and we headed into town. Guthrie, Oklahoma is a very important historic center. Guthrie was the economic and government center of the Oklahoma Territory prior to Statehood (1907). Guthrie was the State Capital until 1910 when Oklahoma's first Governor, Charles Haskell, moved the Capital to Oklahoma City because of a lengthy dispute with Guthrie Newspaper Editor Frank Greer.

Guthrie has some of the most significant commercial buildings in the central part of the country. We spent most of the morning touring downtown Guthrie. We got back on the road shortly after noon.

We crossed into Kansas. After a great lunch at Taco Bell (one of our culinary favorites), We continued north through Wichita and onward toward Salina, Kansas. We have stopped for the night in a campground in Lindsborg, Kansas. Lucy has a nice tree-covered campsite and we have settled in for the night.

Tonight's pictures include:

- Original Oklahoma Capital Building in Guthrie.
- The 1889 Blue Bell Bar where silent film star Tom Mix was once a bar tender.
- Ornate commercial building in downtown Guthrie.
- The 1890 Bonfils Building.
- The 1889 Gray Brothers Building.
- The 1890 DeSeiguer Building.
- Very ornate 1891 building.
- The 1890 Foucart Building.
- The 1893 Victor Building.
- A very nice 1965 Chevrolet Corvair that we were following on the highway.

Brian

[Gene]

Any town with a "tipsy artist" is worth checking out. Cool historic town of the period and one I had not known about. Very well kept downtown. Thanks for finding it.

[moosetags]

Today was a long run for us. Lucy covered almost 400 miles. We did have a little help as we gained an hour when we entered the Mountain Time Zone in western Kansas. We didn't do a lot of small town touring today as we wanted to cover more ground.

Tonight Lucy and Lillian are camped in Limon, Colorado. We are at Trailing Edge Campground and are at a brand new campsite that has just been added. This campground is marked by a vertical electric wind mill blade that is over 100 feet tall.

We are going to stay here for two nights. This is the first time since leaving Santa Rosa Beach that Lucy and Lillian have been separated. We went out to dinner at a local restaurant and watched the rain storms roll in. We are now settled into Lucy for the night.

Tonight's pictures include:

- SuEllyn's first kill in Lucy with her electric fly zapper.
- Entrance to Lindsborg, Kansas.
- Driving into Lindsborg.
- Brick Main Street in Lindsborg.
- More of Main Street.
- Downtown Lindsborg.
- Ornate Victorian home in Lindsborg.
- I-70 in Eastern Colorado.
- Lillian and Lucy at their campsite.
- Decorated windmill blade marking campground.

Brian

[xrvr]

Take a break and enjoy yourselves.

[Antique Pedaler]

Ah, we know Limon well. Been snowed in there TWICE!

[Rocket53]

Tagging along, hoping to learn from your journey for our trip next year.

[Lenmar]

Originally Posted by moosetags

Today was a long run for us. Lucy covered almost 400 miles. We did have a little help as we gained an hour when we entered the Mountain Time Zone in western Kansas. We didn't do a lot of small town touring today as we wanted to cover more ground.

Tonight Lucy and Lillian are camped in Limon, Colorado. We are at Trailing Edge Campground and are at a brand new campsite that has just been added. This campground is marked by a vertical electric wind mill blade that is over 100 feet tall.

We are going to stay here for two nights. This is the first time since leaving Santa Rosa Beach that Lucy and Lillian have been separated. We went out to dinner at a local restaurant and watched the rain storms roll in. We are now settled into Lucy for the night.

Tonight's pictures include:

- SuEllyn's first kill in Lucy with her electric fly zapper.
- Entrance to Lindsborg, Kansas.
- Driving into Lindsborg.
- Brick Main Street in Lindsborg.
- More of Main Street.
- Downtown Lindsborg.
- Ornate Victorian home in Lindsborg.
- I-70 in Eastern Colorado.
- Lillian and Lucy at their campsite.
- Decorated windmill blade marking campground.

Brian

That bug zapper will get a lot of use in Alaska!!!!

[BigSxyWhtGuy]

We were just gifted that big zapper! What a shock — hours of entertainment as well! Good luck with the Black flies

[Jim Flower]

Tagging in to follow along.

[moosetags]

Lucy is camped in Limon, Colorado. Lillian got an oil change and tire rotation today at the local Dodge Truck dealer. We grabbed lunch at the truck stop, and did some touring around Limon. There wasn't a whole lot to see. We got a few pictures and went back to Lucy.

We are getting Lucy packed up tonight. Tomorrow morning Lucy will will head over to Strasburg, Colorado where she has a reservation at the KOA. Tomorrow evening we will be attending a private presentation and viewing of the Rivian Truck and SUV which are electric vehicles that we are hoping will be capable of towing Lucy. Rivian is a new company which is giving Tesla some real competition. Our main concern is the range per charge of the vehicle . We were invited to this event in Denver as we have a deposit on one of these vehicles. This will be our opportunity to see these vehicles in the flesh and speak with the company CEO and the firm's designing engineers. You can see more about these vehicles at www.rivian.com.

Tonight's pictures include:

- Lillian waiting for her turn on the grease rack.
- Broken windmill blade on the ground.
- Old Limon Railroad Depot.
- 1940 Ford Gasoline tanker truck.
- The Lincoln Theatre in Downtown Limon, Colorado.
- Lucy looks small at the campground compared to her RV neighbors.

Brian

[jcl]

Will be interested in your impressions of Rivian.

Ford has just announced a $500 million investment in Rivian.

And with respect to range, Rivian is proposing auxiliary batteries that can be carried in the bed of the pickup, underneath any cargo.

[Camper Crazy]

So enjoying going your travels with you. Love these little towns; glad you are a picture taker.
CC
PS My good lord that windmill blade is massive!

[TouringDan]

Looking forward to joining you on another interesting trip with your great photos.

Dan

[moosetags]

Today Lucy had a short run from Limon, Colorado to Strasburg, Colorado. We needed to get a little closer to Denver for our Rivian presentation event. Lillian went solo on the run into Denver. Lucy stayed at the the campground in Strasburg.

We drove into Denver and attended the reception. It was well attended by folks who have a reservation for a new Rivian. There were about a thousand people there. We got to see both a new Rivian truck and a Rivian SUV in the flesh. The pictures we snapped were gotten before the Rivians were mobbed with admirers.

We talked to a number of the Rivian engineers, and were able to glean a lot of information about Rivian's suitability as a tow vehicle.

The fit and finish of the Rivians was excellent. The interiors are very well appointed. We were impressed with what we saw and heard.

Before leaving the event, SuEllyn had the opportunity to have a brief conversation with the Rivian Founder and CEO Robert J. Scaringe. SuEllyn was able to get him to pose for a photo opp.

We made our way back to Lucy and have settled in for the night.

Tonight's pictures include:

- Rivian Electric Truck.
- Rivian Truck Interior.
- Rivian SUV.
- Another angle of the SUV.
- The Rivian SUV "frunk".
- SUV Behind third seat.
- SUV cargo area close-up.
- Crowd at the Rivian Event.
- SuEllyn and Brian in front of Rivian Truck.
- SuEllyn with Rivian CEO R.J. Scaringe.

Brian

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, you people haven't changed a bit since I met you at the Balloon Fiesta in 20**. I don't remember the year but it was many Moons ago.


The year was 2008; That was a long time ago.

[BigSxyWhtGuy]

So, can it tow an Airstream???

[farafield]

Exciting about the Rivian. Will investigate further--thanks!

Safe journey, will be following along from here.