Road trip from Fairbanks Alaska to Arkansas

[Glaciers]

Our road trip to see the Great American Eclipse on April 8th.

Well next Tuesday Karyn and I are going to start a 10,000 mile round trip from Fairbanks to Ashland Oregon, on to Salt Lake City to pick up our new travel trailer, from there head south through southeast Utah on through to southern Colorado into New Mexico and connecting to Interstate 40. Heading east on 40 to Moore Oklahoma and meet up with Dave our friend and neighbor who lives 2 miles up the road from us in Alaska. Dave keeps his travel trailer and pickup in Moore where his sister Eleanor lives. We will be traveling together from Moore to Mountain Home Arkansas to the Crows Nest RV Park.
It’s real possible we will bump into my brother in the New Mexico area as he will be dragging his trailer from Southern California to join us in Mountain Home.

So I intend to kinda keep a travel journal, more or less here in this thread. Karyn and I have for the last 10 years kept a 30 foot motorhome in the northwest and fly down from Alaska most every winter and put 4,000 to 5,000 miles mainly between the northwest and Arizona. Usually a minimum of 2 months, the longest stay was 4 months.
But this will be our longest road trip together for a vacation.
Anyway I will start by listing out some of our preparations, probably in the morning.

This is where I say something sappy like “Happy Trails”

 

[farmboy]

This could be a very exciting adventure. I look forward to your posts.

 

[Brad]

I am sure that nothin will eclipse that experience.

pun intended

 

[Petrol & Powder]

That's a lot of windshield time.

 

[Winelover]

Have a safe trip. Hope to see you.

 

[RicinYakima]

You chose a very scenic route, that I have traveled some. If you stop in Cortez, CO, there is a nice KOA there with a good gun shop just down the street. Wolf Creek Pass is an unforgettable trip.

 

[Rick]

John, did you reserve a third spot at the Crow's Nest for your brother? If not you better get it done . . . Soon.

 

[popper]

Crow's Nest is nice but the Indian stuff at Cortez is neater. Don't haul a trailer over Wolf Creek, west side is curvy. Already seen the eclipse several times so nothing new to me.

 

[Glaciers]

This could be a very exciting adventure. I look forward to your posts.

Plan on posting pictures as well along the way. The transition from winter, we have 2 feet of snow and it will still be below freezing when we leave, as we head south the transition to summer will be interesting as it will have taken place by Washington State.
And yes it will be an adventure provided I can keep it between the ditches.
Karyn will be in charge of pictures and is much better than I at choosing and framing a picture. I will encourage her to write some of the posts as we travel. You will be able to tell when Karyn posts as spelling will be correct and the posts will be coherent.

 

[Glaciers]

I am sure that nothin will eclipse that experience.

pun intended

Provided the weather is good it certainly doesn’t need to be perfect, it will still be suddenly dark no matter what.
Does Arkansas have hurricanes that time of year?

 

[Rick]

Arkansas has never had a hurricane, now tornados, that's a different story, ask me about that tomorrow.

 

[Glaciers]

That's a lot of windshield time.

In 2003 in drove an old 1982 14 foot box van out to Chicago to get Karyn and her sisters stuff from her Mom when she passed in 2002. This stuff consisted of furniture that they had grown up with and many other memories. On the way back I went to Campbell River on Vancouver Island to pick up a commercial hydraulic trailer for hauling vessels up to 36 feet long. That trip was miserable pure and simple. Mid to late November, dark and very cold. On the way down I didn’t turn the engine off as I was sleeping in the delivery van style seat. But I was young then only 51. Couldn’t do it today as I like to think I am smarter. Probably not though.

 

[Glaciers]

Arkansas has never had a hurricane, now tornados, that's a different story, ask me about that tomorrow.

I really meant tornadoes. But either one could ruin your day.

 

[Glaciers]

Have a safe trip. Hope to see you.

We are looking forward to meeting you folks as well.

 

[Glaciers]

John, did you reserve a third spot at the Crow's Nest for your brother? If not you better get it done . . . Soon.

Yeah Joe got with Amy at the Crow’s Nest and booked a site right across from Dave and us.

 

[sundog]

I've done Wolf Creek with a 30 foot 5th wheel - excellent condition diesel hauler, really good 6-speed auto tranny, and good brakes and tires on all axles. Also did Teton which was quite the adventure. Both quite doable with good equipment and a sound mind.

First tornado watch of the year today for NE Oklahoma.

That's quite a jaunt. Enjoy!

 

[Glaciers]

We we will be taking a break once we reach Ashland, planning on being there from the 23rd till the 30th as it’s the grandkids spring break.
Today or tomorrow I plan on listing out our preparations for the trip as this is not a regular trip where Triple A is right there. I believe in being prepared and self sufficient.

 

[Glaciers]

I've done Wolf Creek with a 30 foot 5th wheel - excellent condition diesel hauler, really good 6-speed auto tranny, and good brakes and tires on all axles. Also did Teton which was quite the adventure. Both quite doable with good equipment and a sound mind.

First tornado watch of the year today for NE Oklahoma.

That's quite a jaunt. Enjoy!

Well the sound mind is currently in question

 

[popper]

Yea, I did it with a VW van pulling a Coleman camper. 2nd gear most of the way. But I didn't need to stop for h2o at Needles!

 

[Glaciers]

You chose a very scenic route, that I have traveled some. If you stop in Cortez, CO, there is a nice KOA there with a good gun shop just down the street. Wolf Creek Pass is an unforgettable trip.

Well weather allowing we will be on 70 to 191 Moab to 491 to Cortez. After Cortez heading to Durango and 550 south or just stay on 491 south out of Cortez.
All depends on weather.