JUNEAU OR BUST?? / JUNEAU AT LAST!!

OK, for those of you who check here now and then for whatever reason, good news.

We finally arrived in Juneau, after seven days of driving through Washington State, British Columbia, portions of the Yukon and eventally a fragment of Alaska. Halfway along, after more than a thousand miles, we had to seek help with the van which was not producing power enough to continue. Two and a half days of shoptime later, we were again enroute but I had to drivethe remaining Eleven Hundred Miles in a day and a half, averaging 52 miles an hour pulling, a 22' camper trailer. We came to Haines late Saturday night in time to catch the ferry to Juneau early Sunday and arrived on schedule, but badly battered and weary beyond description.

In brief, the catalytic heater collapsed and stuffed itself into the muffler. When that was fixed (a story in itself), the cause was traced to fuel pump and filter and the original problem was probably bad gasoline (which was probably contaminated with diesel fuel). Oddly the dealership was able to import a replacement converter in 12 hours by air all the way from Edmonton and replace it for us at no cost (at 76 thousand miles on an 80,000 mile drive train warranty). They could NOT get a standard muffler and promise it would even arrive within 10 days, time we did not have to spare! A local shop did that part of the job in 35 minutes, not cheaply. And then it took another day and a half to get the rig up to power again.

The reward was having Patty, the twins and Tabitha along for company and support. We saw lots of scenery, and wildlife, and beauty, and made a host of memories, but flying along at the speed of a train is not the best way to see this georgeous northland. Awesome mountains beyond belief, beautiful water in lakes rivers and waterfalls, varities of trees and terrain and some farmlands, and more. We did not have to cope with any rain until the last fifty miles coming into Haines.

I'll try to post pictures after full recovery, and when I locate a suitable internet wireless site.

To our Prayer Team: we couldn't have made it without ya. Thanks, big-time!