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Originally Posted by
Lifemagician
In lots of ways, I was very fortunate. I did not have many to turn to and ask, and those I did, especially family thought I'd lost my marbles. I headed out! And when the asphalt ended, and the rest of the road I was on was gravel, well, I just continued - albeit a bit slower. You will be driving much slower anyway, as the speed limits in CA are slower and enforced.
If you are going to stick to the asphalt, you're going to miss a lot. There's nothing like going down a side road/track, usually gravel, and because most think like you, they miss out on so much. What is wrong with the occasional pothole. Drive so you can see it way up ahead and stop before you get there, and then make sure if you want to continue, or turn back and take an alternative. I've had to make those choices ever so many times.
But the key is to drive slowly!!! There is no line of traffic behind you to harass you. Remember you are NOT driving in the U.S,
And yes, there is absolutely no reason why you should not do it in a corvette. I know a gentleman from Australia who did it in a righthand drive Lotus which he had shipped across the Pacific Did most of the trip with the top down. He went all the way to the Arctic Circle - not sure if he made it to Prudhoe Bay. My only thought at the time was, being so low down in the car with the roof down he would be vulnerable to wildlife. I always treated wildlife with great respect. They can be most unpredictable, especially when they have young. You will no doubt also come accross travellers going to AK on motorbikes, and believe it or not, on bicycles. On one of my trips I met a family of five on bicycles, and another time there was a brave soul doing it by Shanks's Pony.... i.e. on foot!
[After Alaska he took the Lotus all the way to the tip of Argentina. I know he chronicled the whole trip on a Lotus owners' website. If I still knew the site I would link it here, but I have long since lost contact with him.]
Contrary to popular believe, it can get quite hot in Alaska and northern Canada. You will be surprised how many roofs have solar panels and solar hotwater.
The season is from May to September, July and August are the hottest months. If you are going for 2 or three months, go from later in May. If only for a couple of weeks, depart in June. It also coinsides with the Bears, Moose and Byson coming out with their young - a sight to behold! (Another reason to drive SLOWLY!) Mid May and around mid September there are a LOT of motorhomes on the roads. These are all being driven from the lower 48 to AK for the locals to use during their holiday season.
But Hey!! Get the Milepost first. Read it and go by that. Take things as you find them. You can make all the plans in the world, but when you get stuck behind a pilot car at roadworks - some which went for miles and hours, or when the road is blocked with a bushfire up ahead, there's not much you can do. You just take a deep breath. Always have something to eat/drink in the car, get out, go for a walk, get to know the folk in the car behind you and in front of you. Amazing at a time like that how much information other travellers can give you. Heck, I have even seen people get out a small camp stove and make tea/coffee for all around, even firemen and road workers.
Just pack your things, take the car you like and go enjoy yourself. If I could I'd be up there again in a flash. But alas! those days are over. So glad I went four times while I could.
Lifey