Hi all:
Got a suggestion the other day about having a blog for everyone to communicate on, so decided to give it a go. You can write anything on here you want to about the trip, your preparations, rig modifications for the trip, what event you are really looking forward to, or if you have read about something that you really wish was included. Let's keep it clean though.
I will try to check on the blog daily and answer questions as they come up, or you can continue to email me like we have been doing.
This might be a great way to sort of get to know everyone before the trip, so let's give it a whirl.
Nita
I think this is a great idea, Nita! I, personally, would like to know where everyone is driving from.... maybe some of us could hook up on the way to Montana?? We are traveling from Hilton Head, South Carolina. The holidays are so busy now - perhaps this will pick up some steam after the holidays.. Can't wait to meet everyone, Ann Morgan
ReplyDeleteAnn:
DeleteI'm trying to figure out why you can post to the blog and some others can't. Do you have a Google+ account, or an account on Blogger? Is your name already in the 'Reply as' box?
Thanks,
Nita
Great idea...
ReplyDeleteKathy:
DeleteI'm trying to figure out why you can post on the the blog and some others can't. Do you have a Google+ account, or an account on Blogger?
We will be coming from Gold Canyon, AZ.
ReplyDeleteWell, this is a nice start!! We will be starting out in Little Rock, leaving on May 18th (oldest Grand Daughter's High School Graduation is on the 17th). We will be meandering towards Great Falls with stops along the way to see family and friends in Lincoln, NE and Billings, MT. We will be at the campground on June 10th.
ReplyDeleteHello Everyone,
ReplyDeleteLes and Rae Morrow, we are happy to be a part of this grand adventure.
We are from Gilbert, AZ
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE.
We will be staying in Rapid City, SD for the month of May then heading to Great Falls for the meet up.
Well, we survived Christmas, but both of us have horrible colds. Continuing to tweak the caravan and put finishing touches on the meals and entertainment. Deposits on the events will start happening shortly after the first of the year.
ReplyDeleteWe have had another cancellation, so if you know of anyone who wants to go with us, have them contact me, we need to fill this spot!!
Nita
We plan on leaving the Atlanta area on May 6th. We have a brief stop in Brandon, Manitoba. From there we go to Rapid City where we'll do all the paperwork to become residents of SD. Then we'll go onto Yellowstone for two weeks. We plan on getting to Great Falls around June 10/11.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you're feeling bad, Nita - that's no way to spend the holidays. I think we're going to take a rather "southern" route from Hilton Head - go through AL to see friends - on to Colorado to see family.... then Missoula, to see more family before ending up at Great Falls. We plan on arriving a day or so early, just because we always like being early!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThere is an advantage to getting there a day or two early. It will allow Tom to get the inspection over with, leaving you free to enjoy the rest of the time there in Great Falls. We will be there on the 10th, but the caravan doesn't start until the 14th. You will be responsible for your site fees until the 14th.
ReplyDeleteNita
Gary & Jean Schneider from Laurel, Montana. About 20 miles out of Billings
ReplyDeleteso we will probably be the ones coming the shortest distance to Great Falls.
It is about 220 miles from here. Looking forward to meeting everybody &
hearing where you are from.
Jean, we have good friends in Billings, Eric & Connie Johnson. Eric is a Geologist. We will be going through Billings to visit them on our way to Great Falls. Are you home for the winter, or are you snow birding in the south?
DeleteNita
Hi Nita, we are home for the winter. Going to Key West, FL for 8
Deletedays in March & probably to our daughters in northern ID in Feb.
We spent the month of Feb. last year in TX. We plan to arrive in
Great Falls on June 14. Maybe while you are in Billings we can
get together.
Jean...I think we will be in Billings for a few days, haven't worked out the details yet, but I will let you know when we do. Will know more about timing then.
DeleteLittle Rock hasn't been higher than the mid 30's all day, so I imagine you guys are freezing up there!!
Stay warm and cozy!!
Nita
Time to call all of your SMART friends and see if they would like to join you on the Alaska Caravan, we have two openings that I'd like to fill!!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year everyone!!
ReplyDeleteNow that we have that out of the way, it's time to start really thinking about all we need to do to get ready for this trip. For us, it's only 5-1/2 months to take off!!
Be sure to go over that Caravan Check List and get everything in order!!
Travel SMARTly!!
Nita
Janet & Hugh "Buck" Walker from Shelby, NC. We are 40 miles west of Charlotte and 80 miles east of Asheville. We will be leaving in mid-May and stopping in every state through the middle of the U.S. Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteWhen we are getting ready to leave, we can do a 'Where are you now" type thing and see if anyone is close to us.
DeleteI like that idea, Nita. Did you fill the other 2 stops yet? I will mention it our local RV meeting this coming week, if the spots haven't been filled yet.
DeleteNo, as far as I know we have not filled the two vacant spots, will know more on Monday when Phyllis and Melissa are back in the office. But, by all means, mention it to everyone you know who has an RV. We can take "civilians" if there aren't enough SMART members who want to go.
DeleteThis is a test to see why some can and some can't post on here. Really bugging me!!
ReplyDeleteNita
Hi Everyone:
ReplyDeleteStarted this out as individual posts, but now I'm lazy. I'm trying to figure out why you have been able to post comments on the blog, but some can't. Do you have Google+ accounts? Is your name in the 'comment as' box? I normally just use a blog account for posting my travel journals and pictures. This is the first time I have ever tried to set one up so everyone could share comments. Any hints would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Nita
Hello everyone
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I will be traveling up from Central California leaving around May 5 or 6. We plan on visiting the Oregon/Washington coast, staying in some Thousand Trails campgrounds on our way. We will be dropping off our firearms with my daughter and son-in-law in Washington for safe keeping while we are in Alaska and then heading over to Glacier National Park for a visit. We plan on arriving to Great Falls a couple of days early. Looking forward to meeting everyone and making some amazing memories. Safe Travels.....
Suzette and Forest Follett
Hi, We're Jim & Theda Collier and will be coming from San Antonio, Tx and probably leaving around May 1st and heading up through Kansas City and Colorado Springs stopping to see friends along the way. Plans are still like jello right now. Plan on arriving in Great Falls around the 12th. We have a 42 ft Tiffin Phaeton and are really looking forward to this trip. We were in Glacier in 2013 and really loved that area and can't wait to see Canada and Alaska
ReplyDeleteWelcome Sue and Theda!!
ReplyDeleteWe were in Glacier National Park last year (oops 2013) it was beautiful!! We have been as far north as Golden in BC, and Jasper, Hinton and Edmonton in Alberta. All beautiful and saw so much wildlife!! Moose, Caribou and bear, plus all kinds of sheep and mountain goats.
Good idea about dropping off the firearms with trusted people!! Do not want to get caught with those up north!!
Do you have the Passport books for the National Parks? We have been doing them for several years. Have graduated to the bigger 3-ring binder type as the little ones were just to little. Just another way to show where we have been. Can't wait to get the Alaska Stamps!!
Hi Everyone . . . .Happy New Year ! Since we have been unable to post our own comments to the blog (we’re still working on it!) I’ve asked Nita to post for us. Just wanted to say “hello” to all the participants and let you know our plans on getting to Great Falls. We will be leaving the Northwest Arkansas area the first week in June, stopping in Colorado Springs to visit my sister for a couple of days. Not sure if we will be staying at the Air Force Academy Famcamp or somewhere else yet. Will figure that one out soon. Feel free to contact us via our email address of tspearcy@gmail.com or by phone 479-855-4666. Looking forward to meeting (and re-meeting) all of you in June. Safe travels for everyone in 2015. Tom & Sandy Pearcy
ReplyDeleteI think we may have the two slots filled again. Phyllis is holding them, awaiting application and payment. Will let you know when we have payment in hand!!
ReplyDeleteEileen & I are leaving Round Rock, TX, for Puerto Penasco, Mexico, next week and will be at Playa Bonito RV Park and Resort thru April 7th if anyone should be in the area. We will then head back to Texas and leave for Great Falls sometime around the end of May. Looking forward to our adventure together in Alaska and the Yukon.
DeleteWelcome Naomi and Eileen!! So glad to hear from you. Have a really great trip to Mexico, one of our members was wondering about going into Mexico with the RV. Eric Brubakken would probably love to hear about your experiences there. He posted the question on the SMART page on Facebook, if you do FB. See you in Great Falls!!
DeleteSecond try at posting. Will there be a cosmetologist in the group? She can't go 100 plus days without getting her hair done.
ReplyDeleteI left out that She is my wife, Janet. Sorry about that!
DeleteIs anyone going to be in Branson for Memorial Day? I hear they have a lot going for vets. Trying to make plans for hitting all the states in mid U.S. and Yellowstone just before getting to the Great Falls meeting point.
ReplyDeleteDon't know about a hair dresser, I usually go into Walmart or a salon we see along the way. I think you will have a good time in Branson, they do treat Veterans nicely. We haven't been there on Memorial Day, but we go up regularly on Veteran's Day. Lot's of the shows are free, there is a parade and Vet's lined up along the way. It's very moving! Have fun!!
ReplyDeleteWell, time is getting shorter, and the caravan is coming together just like it should. We have received the 2015 Milepost books and at the end of the month I will be forwarding to each of you, your own digital code number. This will allow you to pull up the 2015 digital version of the Milepost. The digital isn't available until the end of March, so that is why I am waiting until then.
ReplyDeleteWe have also received the caravan tote bags and I am so excited about these. They are nice and roomy with a zippered main bag and additional storage pockets on the front of the bag, complete with the caravan logo embroidered on one of the front pockets.
Phil and I have been busy putting together the Caravan Books. This book will have all the information you will need for this caravan. In addition to the daily travel logs there are wonderful turn by turn maps and directions. In addition, there are lists of all the participants with names and addresses, campground addresses, lists of campgrounds with pet sitters, campground amenities chart, all the important phone numbers you might need, in order of the campgrounds we will be visiting. Lot's of information, right at your fingertips.
Tom and Sandy are busy putting together a lovely Welcome Dinner in Great Falls, with choices of entrees and a cash bar.
So, all we need from you is for you to show up in Great Falls, with smiles and excitement bubbling over, ready for an adventure into the wilds of the Northwest and Alaska, our very own Wild Frontier!
See you soon!!
This is really weird. I have to write a comment, then Login to Google to get my account working then rewrite the comment. Trying again after finally getting logged on.
ReplyDeleteSince I am now logged in, I want to thank you for all you are doing to make this a great experience. The itinerary looks great. Since we are not going to Chicken, I took the spreadsheet and changed those dates for the trip around to Tok. Our kids will now have a day by day listing of where we are. I plan on doing the same thing for our Pre and Post trip out West. Thanks for all you do. Buck & Janet Walker
ReplyDeleteHi Buck...I have had such fun organizing all of this, and I have learned so much about Alaska. Hopefully enough that everything will run smoothly!!
ReplyDeleteSee you soon!!
Well a few things have changed since my last comment on December 27.
ReplyDeleteWe had planned to visit an old family friend in Brandon Manatoba on our way to the caravan. But just found out in January that she passed away in December. We still plan on leaving Atlanta on May 6th. So our route now takes us pretty much from Atlanta to Rapid City SD then on to Yellowstone for two weeks. We're thinking of getting to Great Falls around June 12th. I know, I need to make reservations...
On our way to Florida last month we spent a few days at LazyDays getting a front mask made for our Motorhome. We have Diamond Shield but I prefer the better protection a mask provides.
We plan on leaving the Key West area on April 26 and head back to the Atlanta area. We need to take care of some things at our house before leaving May 6th.
We are in Las Vegas until the 23rd, then headed to Ft Travis for two weeks, then up Oregon and Washington coast , thinking of 101. Has anyone driven this in motorhome? So excited about the caravan!! Also does anyone have any plans to go out of Fairbanks to Arctic?
ReplyDeleteWe have done 101 many times pulling our 36' 5er, don't miss it, it is a beautiful drive. Oregon has some of the nicest state parks right along the highway.
DeleteI think there are quite a few of us that are thinking of going up to the Arctic Circle from Fairbanks, shame to miss it while being that close!! Maybe we can carpool and make a day of it.
Our house is boxed caravan everywhere!! We have the tote bags, the Mileposts, Tour Saver Books, Caravan Books, Brochures, etc stacked up everywhere. Jackets should be here around the first. So excited and anxious to meet everyone!!
There was a comment above about leaving guns with someone you trust, that's a great idea. Don't forget to leave the ammo as well. If you get inspected, and the ammo is found, they may not believe you don't have the gun it goes with. So, leave all that ammo with someone you trust as well.
ReplyDeleteHi to Everyone aboard the SMART 2015 Northern Exposure Caravan. We are so looking forward to this trip and have spent the past seven (7) months in preparation.
ReplyDeleteWell the rig has had her bath and a fresh coat of wax including the roof. We are a 2003 Newmar Mountain Aire (Refitted and updated in 2013) 40’ diesel pusher and will be towing a 2011 Cadillac SRX, total length 60’. The refitting/updating completed in 2013 included the removal of the LPG/Propane tank, installation of a 18.5 cuft Samsung domestic refrigerator/freezer, updating of the entertainment centers, a changeover to AGM batteries from lead acid and increasing of the house battery systems by 620 amp hours. The rig also has a two (2) panel 30 ampere solar charging system permanently mounted on the roof.
We live in Pensacola, Florida and for the past two years have traveled in our motorhome six months each summer season. In 2013 we completed the Eastern Seaboard comprised of 12 states and four Canadian Provinces. In 2014 we traveled to the West Coast (Left Coast) and back home visiting friends and exploring 13 states over the 8000 miles route.
In preparation for this caravan we have taken on additional system works on the unit’s front end by replacing the upper and lower ball joints that can be greased, tires rotated and balancing, oil change, cooling system flushing with fuel/coolant filter changes. We have inventoried and expanded our onboard spare filters, belts, pumps, hoses, and the tool suites to affect their installation.
We are former bluewater boaters, having sold our 56’ blue water motor-sailor. If it had a coast line we’ve been there but have not seen much of America’s interior. With the motorhome, we intent to accomplish those Bucket List task. Prior to arriving in Great Falls for the rendezvous we will be visit family in Atlanta, Georgia then on to Chattanooga, TN; Paducah, KY; Independence, MO; Colorado Springs, CO; Port Hueneme, CA; Montray, CA; Salt Lake City, UT; Grand Teton NP; Yellowstone NP, Helena, MT; arriving Great Falls, MT one to two days early to have time to take-on fuel, provision food, accomplish any needed repairs and take-on Tom’s inspection.
On completion of the caravan we intend to swing east for South Dakota to visit Mount Rushmore, Custer, and the Badlands. Will also visit De Smet, SD to tour the Laura Ingalls Wilder homestead of the “Little House on the Prairie” fame. Afterwards a slow journey toward Florida with a short stop in Atlanta before arriving home in Pensacola to closeout the travel season.
Sharon and I have been married 51 years, 52 this November. I retired from the US Navy after 24.5 years and immedately started a marine construction company that spacilized in underwater cable systems. Closing the company in 1995, Sharon and I took on a major project in Malaysia for several years. Afterwards I continued to work in this field and project management worldwide. In 2006 we signed onto a long term project for an American company as the Far East Chief Facilities Engineer that had us living in Beijing China 6 ½ years and traveling throughout Asia. Upon leaving Beijing we toured and camped for four months in Australia and New Zealand before returning on tax day of 2012. We are both big readers and like a little wine and conversation. I work at playing a little golf, learning to fly fish, and play some cribbage. Sharon has interest in plants and flowers and plays some Mahjong.
If you have questions you may get us on the cellular at (850) 417-9233 or email dmhandley@gmail.com. Travel safe Shipmates!
In case you haven't figured it out, the above was written by Dave Handley. Quite a career Dave, I bet you have some interesting experiences to tell about around the campfire.
DeleteHi everyone!! Has anyone made reservations for the fly/drive excursion to the Arctic Circle?
ReplyDeleteHi Kittye:
DeleteI haven't heard from anyone planning on this tour, sounds like a great one though. We are still discussing doing the bus tour to the circle, but haven't made a decision yet.