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Boca to Anchorage
This is a log I kept when I drove from Boca Raton, Florida to Anchorage, Alaska in the summer of 1989 in my 4wd '82 Toyota pickup. I was being transferred from Phoenix, Arizona to Anchorage and had traveled to Florida to visit my family and friends.
Boca Raton
Gainesville 291.4
Drove up through mostly a lot of rain. Met Tim at Kevin's house.
Played another game of golf. [Got beat again.]
Got beat at backgammon several times. I swear, those [Farquhar] brothers are good.
Write Tim to discuss the upheaval of computers and back to nature concept. Also to ask how the 100 days after concert went.
Write Lyn to thank him for the 20th Ann tapes. They got me from Jax almost to Atlanta.
Jacksonville
Tifton
Dobbins AFB 370.2
Nice easy drive to Atlanta. Didn't have full realization of what I was doing until I left Florida. Hit the afternoon traffic jam between Atlanta and Marietta. That was OK because Dobbins is just outside of Atlanta.
Got free pizza and a few drinks at the COM Club. Good night's rest. Going to put some cash in my wallet and pick up a couple [packs of cigarettes] at the BX on my way out.
Nashville
Land between the Lakes 357.7
The Land between the Lakes is beautiful. I had to drive 10-15 miles down these back country roads to find a campsite but it was worth it. My camp is right at the edge of Energy Lake. There are only about 1/2 dozen other campers out here.
Saw my second deer along the country road.
Paducah
St. Louis
Kansas City 485
Made really good time between St. Louis and Kansas City. Lots of traffic; lots of cops. Kansas City is huge. I won't go into the city tonight. I'll just get something to eat and watch a movie.
As you come into Kansas City, you go over a hill and then the city appears right before you.
Quite impressive.
Council Bluff
Union County State Park 326.5
Nice short day's drive to the Park. My second night of camping, I have it together much more. Moved my mobility bag and my clothes bag to the cab, installed the boot [between the cab and the cap]. I have much more room for sleeping now.
Very little traffic on the road. Lots of construction, though. The cops have been sneaking up on me. I'm not as good at spotting them as I used to be. Fortunately, my truck doesn't go much faster than the speed limit anyway.
Feels warmer here than in Kentucky. More windy, though. And no lake to look at out my window.
Sioux Falls
Fargo
Pembina
Winnipeg 492
Very little traffic; very little construction, except for Pembina which was all torn up. Got a 1.14 liter bottle of Bacardi tax-free for $8.79.
Crossing the border was a joke. The guy took me at my word and I was off.
Winnipeg seems very liberal. The place I'm at is very nice. There's also a club right on the premises.
Think I'll go out on the town and see what my Amex card will get me.
Jacksonville to Winnipeg 2031.4 miles
Brandon
Regina 367.1
Very slow travel to Brandon. After that made good time to Regina (rhymes w/vagina). Everyone was driving along pretty good. A couple of people flew past me; then I saw them pulled over by cops further on up the road.
Regina looks like a very old city. Wish I had some time to do some sightseeing. It's a lot easier to get around but not as interesting for driving.
Saskatoon
Lloydminster
Edmonton 493.4
Beautiful drive! Once I hit N. Battleford the view of the N. Saskatchewan River and the surrounding countryside was splendidly panoramic. Wonderland highlighted to the max. I was in awe the whole way to Edmonton.
I passed areas where it looked as if I could touch the far away mountains, though they may have been a hundred miles off. I passed several lakes, one notably with maybe 100-200 ducks in it.
I saw my first Alaska plate outside of Regina. Also saw a California plate.
Once I reached the Battlefords, all my apprehensions immediately vanished. I now know why I'm going to Alaska. It's definitely the great outdoors.
Onoway
Valleyview 248.2
Not so spectacular of a drive but still out in the country. Really like this truck. Setting it up for the night is down to a science.
Oh, went to Fantasyland Mall in Edmonton. Biggest mall I've ever seen. Not only do they have an ice skating rink like Metro in Phoenix, but also have a Water World w/ waves and slides, putt-putt, and dolphins.
Temperature is perfect. Really like the screens I got from Billy.
Dawson Creek 159.9
Partied at the Alaska and the Dawson with some taxi drivers. Rained pretty much the whole night. Visited the local museum and Mile 0 marker.
Pink Mountain
Fort Nelson 286.5
Finally started the Alaska Highway. It's just like everyone said it would be. It starts out just like a regular road. Then it goes to some hard pressed gravel type stuff. On this pressed stuff, there's no loose gravel, but it is not as smooth as regular asphalt. Then I hit this mountain uphill and then another downhill that was dirt and gravel. It was nice and wide but still primitive. Kind of scary too so I drove really slowly.
Pink Mountain was pretty far up there. Met a really nice guy who gassed the truck. Told him the story about how the truck had been up and down the road before but it was my first time.
Then hit some asphalt that was smooth as glass. Really good road from Prophet River to here. Met a guy right behind me at a construction highway stop who was from Shaw. Talked with him on the [cb] radio all the way here.
Truck is running great.
Going for a swim and then dinner.
Summit Lake
Laird Hot Springs
Watson Lake 329.2
Ate monster pancakes at Summit Lake. Went in the hot sulfur springs. Drove the Alaska Highway. And I have seen the lake.
A young couple directed me to the path to the lake. I went down to it not even a distance of two blocks from here. I washed my face in the clear water. I stroked the fern mosses growing on the shore.
I have seen the lake. I have reached what I came to the North Country for.
Teslin
Whitehorse
I can't believe I'm here. The trip is almost over now. It has been great! No problems, just seeing [North] America. I'm so fortunate to have done this and had this opportunity.
[From here I make a 2-day run into Anchorage. There is no mention of the night in Tok Junction.]
Haines Junction
Beaver Creek
Tok Junction
Glennallen
Anchorage
Winnipeg to Anchorage 2973.8 miles
Sept 7 [89] I've been here two weeks now. I really like it. Right outside my window are the Chugach Mountains. It's only August and it's already down to 50 degrees F. Driving up from Phoenix, this is like free air conditioning. I saw a moose out at Cambell Point. I've walked around downtown Anchorage [like a tourist.] I am making many good friends being stationed here on the base.
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