New Casita: TX to AK!

[Alaska Joel Johnson]

Hello everybody!
I'm a new poster and a new Casita owner as of tomorrow. My wife and I did a little research after we put our order in and it was going to cost us around $6000 to have our trailer hauled, barged and delivered to our home in Fairbanks, Alaska so my hardy wife bought a one way ticket to Dallas and is driving it back here herself. Hopefully she'll arrive quickly and fall will hold on a little longer so we can pack our two girls, 3 and 4, into the truck and trailer and get a weekend getaway in before the snow flies. She's picking the trailer up tomorrow and might even start up the road by evening. I'll keep you updated on her progress across North America...
Joel

[Morgan]

Just one question, Joel.

Did she have to check the truck or was it carry-on?

[Alaska Joel Johnson]

Good one, Morgan.

To be honest with you we went round and round about how to get a tug vechicle in Dallas to bring up. I initially thought that she would be able to rent a pickup or box van, U-Haul style, and drag it up. Apparently, though, they aren't too keen on a one way pull to Squarebanks. After considering having her brother, from Nacogdoches (apologies on the spelling, if needed), drive with her to Seattle and turn around and picking up with another friend, we finally decided on buying a truck there, driving it here, and selling it right away. I applied to a dealership in Dallas, told them we could sell one of our two cars here, and have half down to buy a used truck if they would finance the rest.
Long story short: I found a 2006 Ford F150, tow ready, with 58,000 miles and they financed 100% of everything. My wife walked into the dealership this afternoon, signed some papers, and left with the keys. I'm really curious to see, but I think we may be able to pull off selling it here in town before we make even one payment...
Joel

[Anders Laurits]

Cross post from casitaclub forum:
Copy/paste by AL.
<blockquote>> Dave and Ruth Today, 07:01 AM Post #3

Group: Forums Member
Posts: 59
Joined: 8-November 06
From: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Casita Club Directory #:2369

Those Alaska folk are a hardy lot.

We are leaving today for the Yukon, going up I-25, crossing the border at Sweetgrass, and doing the Alaska Highway. Guess we'll keep an eye out for her. I definitely want to meet her.

We're not registered on the Fiberglass RV Forum- if any one reading this is, feel free to post this message. We'll be towing the "naked" Casita with the NM plates and a Gecko decal.

Ruth
--------------------

Dave & Ruth
Santa Fe, New Mexico ></blockquote>Very cool stuff ! Maybe they will run across each other enroute !
AL

[Patrick M.]

Wow, you guys are very resourceful! Good luck on that first trip, and please keep us posted on the progress.

[Connie M.]

Way to go, Joel and Wife!
Maybe we'll spot you cruising around Alaska one of these days

[David and Nancy]

Great logistics idea, Joel. I drove my own truck round-trip between Anchorage and the Casita factory a few years ago. I put about 9000 miles on it. My wife flew down to Dallas and made the return trip with me. There is no easy way to get a Casita to Alaska, but it is worth it however you do it. We met another Casita couple in Anchorage who had theirs delivered to the state ferry in Bellingham. They then drove to Haines to haul it home. It may have been cheaper to have the Wrightway barge haul it from Seattle to Anchorage. Your method is the most innovative I have heard of yet, provided you can sell that truck without loss. But a rust-free truck from Texas should sell pretty well in Fairbanks.

I hope freeze-up holds off long enough for you to have fun with your new trailer this year.

[Alaska Joel Johnson]

Hi David,
We don't have to sell our truck for the same as we bought it for, as far as I'm concerned. It was going to cost us $6000 to have the trailer delivered; adding $250 for a one way ticket with $1000+ in gas and $250 for food and rounding to the next thousand for $2000 leaves us $4000 to play with. I'm not trying to make a profit on the sale of the truck or my wife's driving experience, just trying to ease the 6 grand blow to the pocketbook.

My wife, Ann, just called with an update and I was a day off on the Casita acquision schedule. Instead of picking up the egg yesterday she picked it up today. She is now in L'Target buying bedding and supplies with a hitched and filled truck/trailer combo in the parking lot. She/we didn't realize that the purchase walk through would be four hours and she said she's already tired. I have the feeling that she might drive for an hour or so this evening to get out of Dallas metro and pull over for some winks. She said she would call tonight and report her position...
Joel

[Alaska Joel Johnson]

Ann called tonight and gave me an update on her whereabouts. Last night she stayed at Doc's City R.V. park outside Keene on Hwy 67, TX. She ate at Abel's BBQ where she had the "best brisquet I've have since my father died." (He was from TX.)

Today she drove west to Abilene, ate at the biggest WalMart she's ever seen, and headed north. Tonight she is staying at the Best Western in Childress, where for $25 she is getting full hook-ups and use of the swimming pool. She tried out the shower in the Casita and was duly satisfied. Tomorrow she hopes to make it through OK and Kansas. More updates soon!
Joel

[Anders Laurits]

Joel, great report. Many people are enjoying the adventure with you guys. Thanks for sharing with us.

[PatandBob]

Joel,
Wishing the best of luck to you and your lady. I'm sure she'll get back home just fine, after all, she's an Alaskan--resourceful, practical and independent! It's a great state to live in too!!

[Alaska Joel Johnson]

Ann didn't make it all the way through Kansas today. She is spending the night at the junction of I-70 and Hwy 83, south of Colby. She said that she got her 400 miles logged but had to endure a few wrong turns, sadly. She told me that she is trying to get to Canada as quickly as possible, just for the mental accomplishment, because there is so much more driving to Fairbanks even after she crosses the border. There is a little pressure on her to make good time, self imposed, because I'm supposed to fly out on a week long Dall Sheep hunt on the 2nd of September...
I told her to just drive safely. I read up on the regulations today and realized that the sheep season is five days longer than it used to be. I could be hunting up to September 20 so there's plenty of time!

[Arizona Eileen]

Joel --

Your wife is a woman after my own heart. And I thought I was a 'pioneer' for driving from Phoenix to Dallas and back to pick up my new Casita this past April, never having towed a thing in my life. Comparatively speaking, that was a piece of cake to what Ann is doing. She's a hearty soul alright!

Wish for her that she had a GPS (or does she?). They're not 100% reliable, but they certainly help for those times when you're lost.

I'm curious about her route. In looking at the map, it appears she's taking backroads, correct? Driving west to Abilene then north to Childress seemed to be an indirect route. Will she be driving any of the interstates between Oakley and the Canadian border? What states will she be passing thru? Too bad she doesn't have a little time to 'smell the flowers' along the way since there are a number of National Parks that are worth stopping for up in that direction.

I'm sharing her progress with my co-workers, and now we're all rooting for her, so be sure to keep us posted!

Please wish her continued safe travels for us.

Eileen

[Tom Stewart]

once she get back to fairbanks will u be driving by the artic cam so we can get a look at the new egg?

[Larry&Donna]

Joel....

As a warning but I'm sure you know...Have you checked the road conditions before and after Beaver Creek. That area, around the Can/AK border, has always been rocky and under construction. Warn the Wife to slow down, snails pace, to keep the undercarriage from getting too dinged up when she sees the road deteriorating. Also, watch for the Buffalo.

We escaped from AK a few years ago...after 35years, 1 Dall Sheep, and countless Moose.

Larry&Donna

[Alaska Joel Johnson]

Ann called me just now after we got cut off 5 hours ago. At the time she had called me and said, "I just had a Casita sighting!" and then got cut off. So she did have a Castia sighting on I-90 where she pulled over after spotting Steve Russell on his maiden voyage to the Badlands in his newly acquired used egg. They we both excited to see each other and connect, being new trailer owners each, and after talking a bit Steve asked Ann where she was going. When she said Alaska he asked, "Are you the woman I read about online?"! Incredible!!! He took her picture and said he was going to post in online. I can't wait; I haven't see her for a week...
Joel

[Alaska Joel Johnson]

Ann had a big day on the road and marked three accomplishments:

1. Mastering cruise control. She is in Pierre, SD and drove over 450 miles today, from Kansas, through Nebraska, and almost halfway through SD. I have driven through Nebraska and am reminded of the comic who remarked he had to open the door and look at the road to make sure he was moving when he himself drove through. Someone asked if she is taking back roads and the short answer is she's driving Hwy 83. She picked up a book in town with five or six north/south American routes to take and she chose "The Road To Nowhere." I am inclined to think that "nowhere" is in reference to Cananda but it might as well be Fairbush, AK.

2. Backing up for the first time. Ann is very impressed with the city park in Pierre, which is on the Missouri River and the Lewis and Clark Trail. She is paying $15/day and said she would like to visit again. The RV park doesn't have pull-through spots so she had to back into position while half a dozen experienced road warriors looked on in silence. It took her 15 minutes but she did it.

3. Cooking. Tonight she boiled some eggs, which required her to turn on and light the propane, and threw some snow peas in with some other healthy food I'm fuzzy on, and had dinner in.

Tomorrow she should reach the border and depending on timing might cross or camp. Next stop: Canadialand!

Joel

[Alaska Joel Johnson]

I just got an email from the fellow that Ann ran into a day or so ago, complete with pictures. Enjoy!

Hello Joel,

Today I was on the second day of my shake down cruise of my 2002 Casita LD 17. I had started from Apple Valley, MN and intend to visit several western states. As is my habit when camping, as soon as I could I left the Intersate and sought out back roads. I was heading south on a pretty little two lane highway (US 83) about 50 miles south of Valentine, Nebraska, in the sand hills of western Nebraska. I had just pulled over to let my trusty and loyal dog out for a little walk. What should appear going the opposite direction but a fancy new Ford pickup towing a brand new and very shiny Casita! Your wife pulled over just a few feet from me on the other side of the road. When she introduced herself by telling me she was on her way up to Alaska my jaw dropped, not because it is quite an undertaking for a young woman by herself, but because I had just read about her on one of the Casita sites just a couple weeks ago! What are the odds of me meeting probably the most famous Casitan on a little two lane like that in the middle of Nebraska. And it happens she was the first Casita I have seen on the road ever! She was kind enough to give me a quick tour and I took a few pictures for you. You are welcome to share this with the Casita group if you choose. If so, be sure to post the pictures of your lovely wife Ann, and beautiful rigs. I think they would find it interesting. I sure did!

Steve Russell

[Alaska Joel Johnson]

I was in touch with Ann briefly tonight and she is overnighting in Saskatoon, Canadialand! She successfully and uneventfully crossed the border this morning and made good time on the road today. We talked about ETA and she might be in town as soon as Sunday. She had a bit of a hard time trying to start up the furnace last night in ND, where the temp dropped down to 40F, so she ran the heater on the AC unit off and on for warmth. She didn't keep it on all night because she said the heater, and the furnace, were pretty loud. I'm curious to hear them. She also had her first water exchange experience and that went well.
Thanks for all the words of encouragement, everybody. More updates as events warrant!
Joel

[Alaska Joel Johnson]

I had a feeling that Ann might make quicker progress once she hit Canada and for the second day in a row she drove 450+ miles. I'm not implying that Canada is less exciting. She had a road book that followed Hwy 83 and she pulled over and spent time on some of the book's highlights. The book ends at the border.

Today she drove from Saskatoon through Edmonton to Whitecourt. I have fond memories of Edmonton, myself. When I graduated high school and left home, at age 17, I drove out of Fairbanks, destination Wisconsin, in a Ford Escort that I bought very used for $500 and put new tires on. That Ford Escort got me from Fairbanks to Edmonton, where it slipped the timing belt and totally kaputskied the engine for good. It was Sunday and the only auto mechanic in the book that was open was honest-to-god named KGB Auto, where Demitri (or what ever his name was) took a look at my first car while I went to the Edmonton mall with my traveling companion and best friend, Matt. We spent two days at the mall, eating, shopping, looking, and running up the slide stairs in the water park. Long story short: My car was totaled and I left it there. No sale, no transfer of title. Demitri told me the engine was shot and he would need at least 10 days and $1500 to repair the car. I asked him if he would take it if I left it. He obliged.

Joel