Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

On Saturday, our underway was delayed due to a dead battery. Apparently I bumped the courtesy light switch and they were on overnight. Luckily, my Emergency Road Service works in Canada and I got a service truck to give me a jump start.

We left Whitehorse and headed east on the Alaska Highway. The weather was similar to the last few days, cool in the morning with cloud cover; The landscapes east of Whitehorse are beautiful:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...DSC_0068-1.jpg

The were a few more cars and campers on the road today, but we still had the road to ourselves most of the time:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/DSC_0151.jpg

We turned south onto the Cassiar Highway to head down to the Canadian Rockies. The Cassiar Highway is a lightly traveled route with very few settlements and services. The road surface is excellent, but narrow and unlined:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/DSC_0237.jpg

We entered an area that was heavily burned by a large forest fire last year. The fire area was very large, and a local resident told us that the Cassiar Highway was closed for 4 months after the fire:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...DSC_0268-1.jpg

http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/DSC_0301.jpg

We came upon an accident scene. The previous afternoon, a camper had driven off the roadway. The man was not injured, but the crew was removing parts of the camper from the lake:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/DSC_0352.jpg

Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

After we got rolling again, we entered the Cassiar Mountains and wonderful Alpine landscapes:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/DSC_0473.jpg

Just before we reached Dease Lake, our destination, we met a black bear on the highway. The bear was on the right shoulder and crossed the road directly in front our car:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/DSC_0582.jpg

Apparently the vegitation was not as tasty on the left side so the bear crossed in front again:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...DSC_0557-1.jpg

He (she?) proceeded along the right shoulder eating the plants:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/DSC_0711.jpg

We followed along as he went, for about 15 minutes. Lyndi was walking beside the Z with the door open, as I crept forward. The bear was completely uninterested or concerned about us:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/DSC_0625.jpg

He seemed to like the clover, but we couldn't tell for sure what he was eating:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/DSC_0675.jpg

Jim

Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

Thank you to everyone for your kind words and encouragement. I am enjoying writing this travel log because it gives me a chance to reflect of the things we did each day.

In addition to this log, I have been sending updates to Lance Miller's Corvettes at Carlisle Facebook page, Lyndi is posting on her Facebook page, blogging for the Carroll County Times and keeping our friends in city hall updated.

There is a small community of people travelling on the Alaska Highway. We have met many fellow travelers who said they saw the yellow Corvette a few stops back and wanted to meet us.

I met an older couple who told me they had an Aqua 1996 LT4 back home in Michigan. I asked if they knew Robert DeMarco or Joe Thomas and they said that they knew Joe and would say Hi for us when they got home. (I apologize, Joe, that I don't remember their names.)

For anyone thinking about doing a trip like this, GO FOR IT!!! The ZR-1 is a wonderful touring car and the open roads in western Canada and Alaska are made to drive on. We have figured out a lot of tricks that have made our trip enjoyable. I will try to share some of them when I get a chance.

Jim

Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

Yea, what Cliff said! :thumbsup: This has been almost like being along for the ride! Thanks Jim and Lindi for taking the time to share with all of us.


Jim, for some stuff pits have an advantage, well maybe. It might just be that I'm being 'rose colored' in my memories too! LOL Ya know I still can't get over the traffic density. If that track surface was hot, I'd have just about worn out a set of D3's by now! :mrgreen:

To your point about our Z's serving as great GT cars? JMHO, I think that is their strongest selling point with respect to being "an older generation corvette" by today's standards. I would never contemplate using my 72 LT-1 car, if I still had her, for my trip to BG every year. 14.5 hrs in a LT-1 w/ side pipes is not my idea of how to arrive in an unruffled condition at your destination. The Z makes that trip without beating you up!

You two kids have fun and be safe!
:cheers:
Tom

Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

Wow...just...WOW!!!

I've been following along in absolute AWE! What a...ah...I can't find the words to describe it! Ami and I love to travel, and we can't thank you enough for taking us along on this fabulous adventure, and in a Z at that!! I found myself rushing to my computer each day to see the next set of photos. You and Lindi have created an epic saga and we can't thank you enough for "taking us along".

P.

Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

Jim, I am extremely envious of your trip. While in Newfoundland I traveled from Deer Park Northern through Labrador than east to St. Johns and did not see on wild Animal. Have fun, be safe, I will see you in Carlisle.

Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

Great Pictures Jim!! Nina and I did some horse back riding and canoeing in Whitehorse when we went to Alaska. It's a really great place!!
Rich

Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

Even a black bear taking a dump - what could be more better?

Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

Once in a lifetime trip, thanks for sharing and enjoy
:Eagle:

Re: ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log
 

Which begs that famous rhetorical question "Does a bear sh!t in the woods?"