Blog

On this episode of the “RVing with Joe & Kait” podcast, we speak to Robert Morales, a seasoned RV traveler and YouTuber recognized for his channel Touring Robert. Robert shares his in depth expertise RVing to and thru Alaska, offering worthwhile insights and suggestions for fellow RVers who dream of exploring the Final Frontier. From sensible recommendation on navigating Alaskan roads to must-see locations, this episode is full of every little thing you want to know for an unforgettable Alaskan RV journey.

RVing Alaska with Robert Morales

Transcript

Robert Morales had a YOLO second, you recognize, you solely reside as soon as, let’s pull the set off, let’s do that.

Joe Russo Speak about what it was prefer to journey to Alaska.

Robert Morales There are two methods to go as much as Alaska. I’ve seen roads in Indiana lots worse than the Alaska Freeway. Simply refill each time it’s like half a tank and also you’ll be tremendous. We misplaced a number of screws right here and there’s an RV, it’s gonna occur. The way in which I describe it to myself, there are three Alaskas. That was fairly an expertise, apart from the mosquitoes. We had one mishap, rookie mistake. I imply, it’s a must to have the $90 pizza.

Joe Russo On this episode of RVing with Joe and Kait, we’re going to be speaking to Robert Morales from the YouTube channel Touring Robert, all about what his expertise was like touring to and thru Alaska. Let’s get proper into it.

Robert, welcome to the present. Thanks for becoming a member of us.

Robert Morales Thanks a lot for having me, Joe and Kait. We’re the Russos. I imply, we’ve recognized one another for some time and it’s nice to be in your podcast. Congratulations on the podcast, by the way in which.

Kait Russo Thanks.

Joe Russo It is a new endeavor for us and we figured now could be the time.

Kait Russo It’s good to lastly pull the set off and begin our personal podcast. So thanks for being on ours.

Robert Morales Completely, anytime.

Joe Russo Inform us a bit about your self. How did you get into RVing? The place are you from? That form of factor.

Robert Morales Effectively, I used to be born within the island of Cuba. Been right here for truly two days in the past was my thirty fifth anniversary of arriving to the US. So it’s…

Joe Russo Completely happy anniversary.

Robert Morales Yeah, that’s virtually like an immigrant virtually celebrates that greater than their birthday. It’s like a rebirth, so very joyful to be right here. And now about RVing, we began RVing about 9 years in the past.

Effectively, earlier than, we rented a few occasions earlier than simply to ensure that we knew we preferred it. All of it started truly with my brother-in-law. We had been visiting household in Georgia for Thanksgiving and he rented a type of Cruise Americas with the image of Zion on the aspect. And you recognize, unmistakable. And I’m like, hmm, you recognize, that they had a canine and it was like very comfy to journey that might pull off wherever.

And I’m like, hmm, there have to be one thing into this. After which we rented one twice truly. And…And after we rented the second, we did the 4 corners out west, the nationwide parks in Utah, you recognize the realm, and I’m like, we have now to do that, particularly that space is made for RVing.

So we simply went, we selected one thing that I may type of pull with my present automobile that type of slot in my driveway, type of being the important thing phrase right here. So we went to the vendor simply to see it and the remaining is historical past.

We had a YOLO second. You solely reside as soon as, let’s pull the set off, let’s do that.

Kait Russo So that you began with a truck and trailer or towing a automobile and what do you could have at the moment?

Robert Morales I nonetheless have a truck and trailer. I began with that, I’ve an previous Kia Sorento. It was just like the beefier of the Kia Sorentos, however nonetheless it was underpowered. However we had been like, you recognize what? We’re in Florida, it’s all flat. What may probably go incorrect? Finally we hit some mountains and that’s when it bought sketchy. Finally needed to improve that Kia after which after 5 years towing with my authentic trailer.

I had been speaking to Winnebago right here and there and we bought to an settlement the place I grew to become a model ambassador for them. And as a part of that settlement they lend me a trailer yearly or each sure period of time, it relies upon. And that’s what I’ve now. I nonetheless have a Winnebago, it’s a Micro Mini, nevertheless it’s a barely, I went to a bigger one and I downsized once more to a 20 footer.

Joe Russo The rationale we wished to have you ever on the podcast immediately is to speak about what it was prefer to journey to Alaska, as a result of that may be a bucket listing merchandise for lots of RVers. It’s the solely state that we have now not but RV’d in and we’re somewhat timid about going up there.

I imply there’s all of the tales about blowing tires, the space to rise up there, all the opposite issues, and a part of us is rather like, eh, why don’t we simply fly up, go away the RV at house, that form of factor. So we’d like to get your type of notion on what it was prefer to journey up there.

Robert Morales Yeah, properly it’s actually far. I can vouch for that. However I imply, and you’ll fly, they’ve a number of firms that hire you a Class C up there, you recognize, and the factor with the leases, they don’t allow you to go on each street. So should you, particularly you guys, you could have a 4 by 4, you type of just like the overlanding actions, I feel for you guys it’s going to be higher to drive your personal.

However for everyone, you recognize, we bought very fortunate. We didn’t have a flat tire. We did have a chip in our windshield, nevertheless it didn’t occur in Alaska of all locations. It occurred, I consider, in Colorado on our method to Alaska.

So I imply we’re fortunate and let’s go by components. There are two methods to go as much as Alaska. There’s the Alcan, the Alaska Freeway, which is the principle that everyone does. There’s the Cassiar after which when you rise up there to the Yukon, there’s one other two highways, the highest of the world or proceed on the Alcan. The Alaska Freeway for probably the most half, I imply I’ve seen roads in Indiana lots worse than the Alaska Freeway.

So that you shouldn’t be involved and other people say it’s a must to have three, 5 gallon buckets of fuel as a result of fuel stations are far in between. Not likely, simply refill each time it’s like half a tank and also you’ll be tremendous. So don’t be afraid of the Alaska Freeway.

There are a lot of factors of curiosity to cease. Everyone stops at Liard Scorching Springs or the Signal Publish Forest. It’s value a fast cease, not keep 5 days, nevertheless it’s value a fast cease. The one a part of the Alaska Freeway that’s actually unhealthy is just like the final 300 miles.

Joe Russo Okay, why is that?

Robert Morales After you cross a fantastic lake, it’s referred to as Kluane Lake, after which comes Destruction Bay. After Destruction Bay and it’s not the washboard or the potholes, it’s the frost heaves, since you don’t see them coming. The frost heave, should you get a type of frost heaves too far, I imply, your wheels are virtually gonna come off the bottom. It’s, and particularly should you’re towing again there, nonetheless we misplaced a number of screws right here and there, it’s an RV, it’s gonna occur. However so far as the Alaska Freeway, it’s for probably the most half tremendous.

The High of the World, it’s type of just like the Destruction Bay a part of the Alaska Freeway. Frost heaves, washboard, potholes right here and there. Often the gravel components are the very best components of the street as a result of they face up to higher, you recognize, like the cruel winters, you recognize, they’re simpler to keep up in that sense.

Kait Russo You produced a complete sequence about going to Alaska in your YouTube channel. And you’ve got a bit on the street to Alaska, which is its personal journey, after which Alaska itself. And I keep in mind chuckling as a result of one of many first stuff you stated was, you’re simply going to threat it with the spare tire and in that you simply had been going to deliver an air compressor and an excellent tire restore equipment. So it appears like that labored out for you. And should you had been to plan the journey once more in an RV, would you go the identical route or would you carry a spare subsequent time?

Robert Morales Like a second spare? And doubtless not. Most likely not. I feel I’d threat it. I imply, it’s I imply, there’s one street that I already did and I most likely gained’t do once more as a result of, you recognize, and that was the place we had probably the most hassle with. That’s the Dalton Freeway. I don’t know should you’ve heard of it. It’s the northernmost street in the US. Probably the most distant. 240 miles with out companies. I imply, after that city, Coldfoot, which is just like the midway level, you’re just about by yourself.

You understand, you higher have a manner. There’s no emergency companies. There’s no fuel stations, nothing. And that street is generally fairly unhealthy gravel, and the paved components aren’t excellent both. In order that’s the one street the place I’d take extra precautions, if you’ll.

The remainder of Alaska, I imply, a few of it seems like actually distant and the frontier. However the farther south you go, the extra it’s, truly, the way in which I describe it to myself, there are three Alaskas. There are three areas, three important areas of Alaska. And the primary one is Fairbanks, it’s the city in the midst of the state and north of there, and the encircling space. That’s what I referred to as the final frontier, the wild Alaska. It feels tough.

Vehicle automobiles they’ve an influence plug within the entrance as a result of it’s a must to plug them in on the whenever you park them within the winter as a result of it’s so chilly that you simply gained’t have the ability to begin them once more. So it’s that type of you recognize minus 40 levels in winter tough. Then you could have the southern a part of Alaska, which is just like the Kenai Peninsula you recognize the place the that’s a touristy a part of Alaska it’s the place all of the you recognize the place they had been the Princess Cruise goes and all that world the cruises go and it’s like and also you see them, you see up and down the parks, freeway, the buses from all of the cruise strains and even the Alaska railroad, they’ve automobiles. They might be like three automobiles from Alaska railroad, however then you could have two princess automobiles, two Holland America automobiles, and it’s so touristy.

After which there’s Anchorage, the biggest metropolis. And as an Alaskan pal put it to me, you’ll be able to see Alaska from there, nevertheless it’s not Alaska. You arrive there and there’s Chick-fil-A and even Elevating Canes and all of the chain eating places and every little thing. You may as properly be in Des Moines. It’s, you’re arriving in Anchorage and you might be arriving in any suburb of any massive American metropolis. So these are the three Alaskans.

Joe Russo Simply speaking about getting up there, numerous the those that we’ve heard will say that Alaska’s nice. However what’s even higher is the portion of Canada that it’s a must to drive by means of. Did you cease in Canada in any respect or did you simply type of bomb by means of it?

Robert Morales Effectively, yeah, in fact it’s a must to do, particularly should you’re gonna take the Alcan, which is somewhat farther east, the Canadian Rockies are a should, I feel. And I feel we type of rushed by means of them as a result of it was such a protracted street to Alaska that we wished to get there, so we didn’t spend sufficient time. However you recognize, the Banff space, Lake Louise, Jasper, yeah, that deserves a minimum of per week if no more.

With all of the mountaineering, all these lakes, they’ve this turquoise water that doesn’t appear potential. It looks like somebody simply dropped a bucket of turquoise dye to that lake, so and the mountains and it’s a fantastic space. Similar with the Western half, should you come down like we did, we return on the Cassiar, on the Stuart Cassiar. There’s so many lovely locations in that space. And naturally, there’s the realm surrounding Vancouver, which can be lovely.

Kait Russo Do you thoughts strolling by means of type of your timeline in your Alaska journey this yr? As a result of I feel you left Florida in direction of the top of Might, is that appropriate?

Robert Morales Sure, sure. Might twenty third or twenty fourth, I consider we left. And we just about made a beeline for the Rockies. So I wished to take a while to spend somewhat time in Colorado, and we did Yellowstone once more, we did the jap a part of Glacier Nationwide Park, which was closed in 2020 after I was there. And we took our time, after which we took our time and somewhat little bit of time in Canada.

We visited, I’m a Trekkie, so I needed to go to Vulcan, Alberta in fact, which the entire city is sort of a Star Trek themed factor, they’ve all these issues. After which Calgary, which I used to be pleasantly shocked. What an excellent metropolis, you recognize, it’s tremendous various and bustling. After which we did the Canadian Rockies, which I already talked about.

After which it’s a must to maintain going north to a city referred to as Dawson Creek, not the TV sequence, however Dawson Creek. And that’s the start of the Alaska Freeway. In order that’s one of many important stops that it’s a must to do. From Dawson Metropolis, the primary day drive will not be probably the most scenic, to be sincere. And the one factor this yr in Canada, we had wildfires. So it was numerous smoke. So it wasn’t very scenic. However when you get to, you begin to get to the mountains. And proper now the title escapes me. It’s referred to as Summit Lake. It’s an excellent campground there and I ought to have a map in entrance of me as a result of proper earlier than Summit Lake there’s a city that has the very best cinnamon roll on the Alaska Freeway. They declare it and it was actually good.

They’ve a small RV park there too however we determined to boondock at this Summit Lake which is gorgeous. It’s referred to as Stone Mountain Provincial Park. Nothing to do with the one in Georgia or the one in North Carolina. It’s referred to as Stone Mountain and it’s lovely there. And that’s the start of the attractive a part of the Alaska Freeway.

From there, there are a number of should stops. One among them is the Liard River Scorching Springs, which, you recognize, that’s one thing that lots of people do. You understand, simply, it’s not such as you’re gonna keep there for a very long time, nevertheless it’s a pleasant sizzling spring should you’re into that. They’ve waterfalls they usually have a, you’ll be able to both keep on the state park, or no, provincial parks, they’re referred to as in Canada. However if you would like full hookups and Starlink, you’ll be able to keep on the RV park throughout the road, which is like, I don’t know, 40 bucks, 45 bucks an evening. And so they haven’t any bushes, so for us that, by the way in which, Starlink was a recreation changer when it got here to this journey, as a result of there’s no cellular phone sign just about.

Kait Russo I noticed the episode the place you stopped on the sizzling spring. And I keep in mind you had been exploring one of many little creeks and then you definately determined to show round. And I used to be getting somewhat nervous watching you type of discover down this little creek. I used to be like, the place is that this gonna go? I hope you didn’t get attacked.

Robert Morales Yeah, that was somewhat bit scary. I used to be sporting water sneakers and all that, nevertheless it will get narrower and narrower and also you begin seeing bugs and I’m like perhaps I ought to return, though the ground is all gravel. I think a few of it’s artifical lately.

So yeah, Liard River, very cool to go to. Only one evening, we bought there at 4 p.m. I jumped within the springs, after which on the subsequent day continued. And as I stated, each, I wanna say 100 kilometers or so, there’s a fuel station, and all of them, or most of them, they’re like little cities, you recognize, you could have a fuel station, an RV park, a comfort retailer and a small lodge and it’s all concentrated there so if you would like each hundred miles or so that you’re going to have a type of which may be very handy.

The subsequent cease is Watson Lake. Watson Lake, it’s type of within the border, it’s within the Yukon however you’re going to straddle the Yuko border there for a number of miles and Watson Lake is especially well-known for the Signal Publish Forest. Signal Publish Forest, this began throughout World Struggle II, you recognize, the 2 lonely troopers, you recognize, they had been constructing the Alaska Freeway they usually posted an indication with the space to their hometown. After which, you recognize, individuals began doing that and now there are literally thousands of, I imply, if not tens of hundreds of indicators there. And I do know each different YouTuber has put their signal there in some unspecified time in the future, so I had to try this too. However largely indicators like street indicators from everywhere in the world. That was one thing to see.

Once more, keep one evening on the RV park or you’ll be able to boondock. I imply there’s boondocking, the opposite factor. Besides the Yukon. The Yukon is a bit more strict with regards to boondocking however you’ll be able to pull off just about in any relaxation space, any pull out and no one cares. And in Alaska even much less.

And the subsequent massive cease is Whitehorse, which is the capital of the Yukon territory. And there they’ve a, they’ve the, it’s an previous riverboat. There’s a number of issues to do there. There’s a museum, there’s one other sizzling spring. And it’s a really developed metropolis for a way far north it’s. It virtually felt Nordic, you recognize, like type of like this sq. buildings, however very, very properly maintained.

And after that, that’s when it begins to get somewhat sketchy. You’re gonna go west. There’s this city referred to as Haynes Junction, which is the primary junction the place you’ll be able to go someplace in Alaska. It’s a, there’s a few cities on the Alaska Panhandle that aren’t accessible from the remainder of Alaska. So you’ll be able to solely entry them by means of Canada and that’s Haynes Junction.

After which after that Kluane Lake, Destruction Bay, that’s when it will get somewhat sketchy. And simply take a gradual and ultimately you’re going to come across the border. I didn’t speak in regards to the border crossings, however the border crossing into Canada was comparatively simple. They grill you with a bunch of questions, like when you have, primarily firearms, for some purpose they care about firearms, medicine and liquor. So long as you don’t have any of these, you’re tremendous.

After which going again into the US is most like customs. You need to declare when you have eggs, and eggs appear to be an issue. Sure issues, and it’s arduous to seek out tremendous correct details about what you’ll be able to deliver otherwise you can not. It modifications. Now the issue with eggs is avian flu, however sooner or later it might be one thing else.

And the primary city that you simply’re going to come across in Alaska is Tok. It’s a small city referred to as Tok. However that’s the place it begins. As quickly as you get to Alaska, you begin seeing these snow-capped mountains. There are mountains all over the place, and there are lovely lakes all over the place, and waterfalls, and rivers, and all that. However in Alaska, it’s identical to the focus of them is rather like, it’s much more. It’s the biggest state, however there’s a lot.

And I’m rambling right here somewhat bit, however I wished to get this level throughout. The primary factor is your geographical location. Being up to now north, even mountains that aren’t as tall, they maintain the snow on the highest yr spherical. After which should you don’t have a look at it on a map, have a look at it on a globe precisely the place you might be, you might be like on the highest of the world, actually. You’ll be able to level to it.

After which it by no means will get darkish that point of the yr. We arrived in Alaska. I wished to time it so we did Fairbanks for the summer season solstice, the longest day of the yr. And so they have one thing on the Saturday closest to that date, it’s referred to as the Midnight Solar Competition. Fairbanks, by the way in which, is the second largest metropolis.

And the top of the Alaska Freeway is mostly a small city referred to as Delta Junction, however there’s not a complete lot to do there, so that you get there, take an image with the signal and maintain going to Fairbanks, massive metropolis. Plenty of issues to do within the neighborhood of Fairbanks. And it’s a reasonably large metropolis. You’ll be able to nonetheless let you know’re on the frontier, nevertheless it’s every little thing. They’ve every little thing.

Now, the Midnight Solar Competition, it’s a cultural expertise. It’s like several carnival wherever, any pageant. They’ve distributors and music and all that. They’ve a, on the solstice, that we didn’t do, on the finish we determined to not go. They’ve a baseball recreation that begins at 10 p.m. And so they don’t have lights. They don’t use the lights. You understand, it finishes at midnight or 1 a.m.

And the factor is with daylight financial savings time and the way in which Alaska is positioned within the time zone, the true midnight actually occurs like at 1.30 a.m. In order that’s when the solar is gonna be the bottom. And yeah, you do the solar does set like at 12:30 a.m., after which it comes again up like at 2 a.m. But it surely by no means will get darkish.

Joe Russo I used to be gonna say, I keep in mind watching a video with Gone With The Winds, the place they had been up in Alaska, they usually did a, it was like a 5K or one thing at midnight. You keep in mind that?

Robert Morales Yeah, they try this too. I feel they do it on the identical day because the baseball recreation. However I’m not sure. I’m not sure about that. Yeah, that’s one thing that really we may have executed, however we wished to do different issues.

We went to the, in Fairbanks, it’s a day journey to Chena Scorching Springs, which is a pleasant space. Really the spotlight for us was not the Scorching Springs, however they’ve a pleasant museum with an ice bar, they usually carve a martini glass out of ice. And so they carve it in entrance of you, after which they offer you an Appletini on the finish of the tour. Most likely 25 levels in there. I don’t understand how lengthy they usually have these ice sculptures that a few of them are 30 yr previous sculptures that they’ve been there, you recognize, they maintain them frozen even in winter. That was a cool place.

Kait Russo Did you freeze your martini glass so you’ll be able to take it house?

Robert Morales The custom is so that you can smash it on the bottom in your manner out. In order that’s what we did Yeah from there you’ll be able to go two methods. You’ll be able to go north as I discussed earlier on the Dalton Freeway which is definitely whenever you understand that you simply’re actually within the Arctic since you go previous the Arctic Circle and when you go previous the Arctic Circle and it’s a must to get up in the midst of the evening to expertise this, when you have a transparent day, go expertise the midnight solar, the actual factor.

You understand, that was very emotional for me. I had one just about, for a few years, I had wished to expertise this and I’ve heard this. There’s this mountain, it’s referred to as Gobbler’s Knob that it’s about, I wanna say 20 minute drive from the Arctic Circle going north. And from there, throughout this date, in late June, the solar doesn’t set. You see it type of coming down from the west the place it will, after which when it hits lifeless north, it’s like 5 levels over the horizon, after which it begins going again up after the astronomical midnight. And that was fairly an expertise, apart from the mosquitoes.

Joe Russo Yeah, I wanna hear in regards to the mosquitoes.

Robert Morales Particularly on this northern a part of Alaska. And never solely there, you recognize, the Yukon in Canada too, I imply, mosquitoes are loopy. I imply, they swarm you. When you’re transferring, not fairly as a lot, however should you cease like I did, prefer to take an image of the midnight solar, as you do, they’re simply flying throughout you. They don’t chew as a lot. When you’ve been to Florida, our mosquitoes right here in Florida, they land on you they usually chew you instantly.

These mosquitoes in Alaska, they’re type of lazy, like torpid, you recognize? There are numerous them, however they land on you they usually’re like, hmm, ought to I chew him? Ought to I not? And ultimately they do, however I simply wore bug spray and I had a type of nets, you recognize, for just like the worst of the worst days, like after I needed to, you recognize, go seize the generator to get some energy and all that, you recognize, so yeah, we did that.

After which in fact, the Dalton Freeway takes you all the way in which to only earlier than the Arctic. It’s probably the most distant street. First you undergo Boreal Forest, then after you cross the Brooks Mountains Vary, you go, it’s the north slope, nevertheless it’s tundra. Nothing grows, no massive bushes will develop that far north. And ultimately you go to a city referred to as Useless Horse, which is type of anticlimactic as a result of it’s all, you recognize industrial amenities for the oil firms, oil wells. And it’s not probably the most enticing place.

From there you’ll be able to take a tour. And it’s a must to take a tour if you wish to see the Arctic Ocean. And you might be what, 10 miles away? You may as properly go the additional, not even 10 miles away. And it’s not costly. You get it there on the Useless Horse Camp. And so they type of offer you a tour of the oil amenities. After which on the finish, you get to should you really feel so inclined, you’ll be able to take the polar bear plunge, because it’s referred to as. I simply waded within the Arctic. I simply did. I didn’t go all the way in which. I chickened out.

Kait Russo However did you intend to?

Robert Morales I wished to, however I’m like, it’s too chilly. You understand, it’s I’m from the Caribbean. You understand, it’s type of prefer it’s value it. In hindsight, I most likely it was most likely a missed alternative, however I most likely ought to have executed it. I imply, I may speak a complete hour in regards to the Dalton Freeway. It was probably the most intense journey of the entire journey for certain.

We had one mishap, rookie mistake on my half, that we left the water pump on, on the street, and it’s so bumpy. That is just like the least maintained street there in Alaska that our faucet opened by itself, you recognize, the tap within the sink, within the kitchen sink and we misplaced like half a tank and we crammed up like half of our grey water. So we type of needed to make a beeline again as a result of we had been on the restrict of our boondocking capabilities there.

And supposedly there was alleged to be a dump station at Useless Horse however each the mile put up and the BLM information had been incorrect. It’s not open. So yeah, we type of on the way in which again, we type of excessive tiled it again to Fairbanks.

Joe Russo For those that are going as much as Alaska, what assets would you advocate they get or have available?

Robert Morales Effectively, everyone really useful to me the Milepost and I stands out as the oddball right here. I opened it twice. And since twice it had the outdated data. So, I imply, when you have a co-pilot that’s gonna go, mile by mile and there’s one thing, or when you have numerous time to plan, you recognize, and you’ll go mile by mile and see what focal point there are.

In any other case, I imply, we had been spoiled. We have now Starlink in movement. So we had web like even in probably the most distant corners of Alaska so long as there have been no bushes. So we used Google as an alternative, you recognize, to seek out our manner. However should you don’t, yeah, the Milepost might be an excellent useful resource.

Kait Russo It appears like Starlink was probably the most important assets for you on this journey.

Robert Morales It was a recreation changer as a result of my spouse, she’s working from the street, you recognize? So she was in a position to work from wherever, you recognize? Even in the midst of nowhere, Dalton Freeway, the place there’s nothing else, you recognize? There’s not a soul for 200 miles most likely on that north slope, besides the individuals which can be on the street.

Kait Russo Do you thoughts sharing what your Starlink plan was and the way a lot you had been paying?

Robert Morales Method, manner an excessive amount of. So the usual plan is $150, proper? However that one doesn’t embody in movement. So it’s a must to get the usual. Is it nonetheless referred to as roaming or now it’s referred to as one thing else? Roaming precedence. Although I went by means of my precedence gigabytes in lower than a day. However the precedence permits you to use it in movement, which works remarkably properly for one thing that’s speaking to satellites going excessive speeds within the sky and also you’re additionally getting in a special course.

I imply, it labored rather well. So it was 250 a month, what we paid throughout our time on the market simply so we may use it in movement. I perceive that’s one thing that not everyone will want, however in our case, we thought it was value it.

Kait Russo And it appears like, particularly for the reason that ebook you had been referencing had outdated data, with the ability to entry the web whenever you’re in the midst of nowhere to seek out out the place, let’s say, the subsequent fuel station is or the subsequent water fill is, is important.

Robert Morales To be truthful to the mannequin put up, most likely the net details about a few of these locations was additionally going to be outdated. Like there’s an previous picket bridge close to Dawson Metropolis, that Dawson Creek, that was not open. And properly, that dump station, that even the net BLM information nonetheless marked it as out there.

Kait Russo Going again to the timing of your journey, it sounds prefer it took you a few month to get to Alaska. After which how lengthy did you all keep in Alaska to discover?

Robert Morales We spent virtually six weeks in Alaska, and we’ve barely scratched the floor. The Dalton Freeway was like the start of our journey. After that, we went all the way down to Denali Nationwide Park, in fact. That’s like probably the most visited focal point in Alaska. After which we went all the way down to the Kenai Peninsula. We spent like, I wanna say, like three weeks within the Kenai Peninsula. That’s what I name the touristy a part of Alaska.

And there are such a lot of locations the place you’ll be able to take like cruises or, properly, we took, let’s begin with Denali. I’ve to prepare my ideas right here. You guys assist me out if you would like. However from Fairbanks to Denali, only a couple hour drive may be very, very shut. And Denali Nationwide Park, in fact, should you wanna benefit from the park, it’s a must to take both a tour or one of many shuttle buses as a result of you’ll be able to solely drive the primary 13 miles. That’s the one a part of the park you might be allowed to drive with your personal automobile. And also you don’t even get to see Denali on these 13 miles except you hike to the highest of the mountain. So try this.

There’s a city proper throughout the street from the doorway to the park. They’ve RV parks and every kind of companies. Even a really cool saloon on the Princess Lodge. So it’s very good. And you’ll camp within the park too. They’ve a number of campgrounds, however you recognize, I made a decision to order the total hookups campground exterior the park. It appeared extra comfy. And so many mountaineering trails and a lot to do.

Kait Russo How far prematurely did you ebook a few of these campground reservations and experiences? As a result of the way in which Joe and I prefer to journey, we prefer to wing it. And we not often ever ebook something prematurely, however I don’t know if that’s potential if we’re planning an RV journey to Alaska.

Robert Morales Really, it’s. The good expertise that we ever did in Alaska, which was Brooks Falls to see the bears consuming salmon there, catching the salmon on the river. I couldn’t make a reservation. I went with probably the most well-known firm, respected or not, they usually have reserving, however then it’s all weight restricted. In the event that they ask you ways a lot you weight and it’s a small float aircraft, so that they couldn’t, they stated they didn’t have something, so I type of had given up and final minute, you recognize, Ileana, she went on-line and Viator of all locations. And lo and behold, there was room in one of many excursions.

They’ve like 10 firms that do the identical or extra. I don’t know what number of firms they’ve. All of them cost the identical. All of them do principally the identical tour. You understand, they take you on a float aircraft to Katmai Nationwide Park, which is a fantastic flight. I imply, it’s a type of bucket lists, like, you recognize, you’re gonna keep in mind it perpetually. After which, you recognize, that platform the place you see the bears, you recognize, it’s consuming salmon and it appears so shut.

You understand, seeing nature, the circle of life occurring earlier than your eyes so shut, it’s one thing that you simply positively wish to do. After all, yeah, it comes at a value. It comes at a value, and I’m gonna say, it’s $1,000 per individual, that tour. Yeah.

Joe Russo Yeah, that’s, I’ll say, out of all of the issues I’ve seen in Alaska, that’s positively on my bucket listing.

Kait Russo Sure. I’m prepared to pay for it. I imply, I’d enterprise to guess you paid much more in gas to get to Alaska.

Robert Morales Oh yeah, for certain, for certain. And that was not the one tour we did, nevertheless it was positively the most costly one. I’d positively take one of many cruises, the day cruises that they do, all of them final round six hours roughly. And one among them we took from Seward, which can be a really touristy city, however lovely.

Although the climate didn’t cooperate, they take you on Resurrection Bay there, and Kenai Fjords Nationwide Park. And also you get to see glaciers, and also you get to see the glacier cabin, which is one thing, you recognize, typically you don’t get to see it, however whenever you get to see it, it’s actually cool. Since you don’t know when it’s gonna occur, so it’s a must to maintain your eyes peeled on the glacier. And by the point you hear it, you hear the noise, it already occurred, you recognize, as a result of sound takes some time for it to journey. However we did see, we did get to see some glacier cabin.

We noticed humpback whales. We noticed probably the most lovely waterfalls, though it was raining the entire time, however we nonetheless bought to take pleasure in it. And there are two extra excursions that, one which we didn’t take as a result of we figured, we already taken two glacier viewing excursions. So there’s a tour from Whittier, which is, Whittier is a peculiar city.

All that is within the Kenai Peninsula. As a result of to get to it, it’s a must to undergo a tunnel. And this very slim tunnel. It’s a technique, just one lane tunnel, and it’s shared with the railroad. So it’s on a schedule. Going eastbound is on the half hour, going westbound is on the highest of the hour, after which if the practice occurs to be coming, it’s a must to wait.

But it surely’s very a lot a white knuckle drive since you’re driving on high of the rail, and your automobile type of and my new truck has that lane departure help or lane maintain help. And it stored getting confused. And the truck was making an attempt to steer me a special manner and I’m going like 20 miles an hour on this tunnel. It’s two miles, nevertheless it felt like an eternity.

Now, Whittier. Whittier is that this city that a lot of the city lives on this massive, you recognize, like 15 story constructing. And that constructing has like every little thing in there, you recognize, hospital. shops, amenities, they don’t actually need to get out of there in winter in the event that they don’t wish to.

However they’ve a cruise, it’s the 26 Glacier Cruise, should you’re ever in Alaska. That is probably the most lovely, and the climate additionally was nice. However you see all these glaciers, one of many largest ones, I overlook, I feel it’s a mile vast and like, I wish to say 500 ft tall. It’s, I imply, it’s referred to as, the realm is named School Fjord, and all of the glaciers are named after well-known universities. This one occurs to be Harvard Glacier. After which there’s one other, truly, probably the most lovely one was on the finish of the journey, on the finish of this cruise.

And I’m making an attempt to look it up right here on the map, and I can’t discover it, however I’ll. And that’s Blackstone Glacier, Blackstone Glacier. It’s lovely as it’s as a result of it’s like on the finish of a canyon, however then there’s this big waterfall on the correct hand aspect. And that’s most likely probably the most scenic factor. I imply, probably the most, such as you’re like, okay, that’s, it was value it. So similar with the earlier cruise, the one in Resurrection Bay, the Humpback Whales. After we noticed the Humpback Whales, I’m like, yeah, this was value it.

And that is a type of issues that, you recognize, it’s solely in Alaska, you recognize, and makes the entire effort of spending three months on the street and making it there, you recognize, like, yep, that is what it’s all about.

Kait Russo With the Whittier glacier cruise, was that only a day cruise?

Robert Morales Yeah, that’s only a day cruise. It departs within the morning, you recognize, they usually offer you a meal, which is nothing out of this world, nevertheless it’s a meal. And after you attain the glacier, you recognize, there’s all this ice on the ocean, you recognize, they usually get a few of that ice after which they offer you, I imply, it’s a must to purchase it, in fact, however they offer you cocktails with glacial ice.

Joe Russo I’m in. I would like in quaint with glacial ice.

Robert Morales That’s precisely what I had. Yeah.

Joe Russo There you go.

Kait Russo Going again to the reservations piece, how lots of the campgrounds did you reserve manner prematurely? And do you’re feeling such as you wanted to try this? Might you could have simply pulled right into a random campground and gotten a web site?

Robert Morales Method prematurely and manner prematurely, we’re speaking two weeks. I imply, we didn’t actually reserve something manner, manner prematurely. And yeah, I completely went on a tangent whenever you requested me that earlier. I went on the excursions as an alternative of the campgrounds.

And the great factor in Alaska is you’ll be able to boondock just about all over the place. In all places. They’ve loads of pullouts. And and I imply, we are going to keep at campgrounds as a result of we’re energy hugs and we wished to cost the batteries and we wished to take a protracted bathe. However and that locations like, for instance, we spent per week, a complete week in Anchorage, which for us, that’s lots.

Individuals who know me, I’m like two, three days, and we maintain going. And we spent a complete week in Anchorage, a complete week in Fairbanks. So these we reserved. The one in Fairbanks was the one somewhat sketchy as a result of it was in the course of the Midnight Solar Competition and that one we reserved prematurely and nonetheless we bought just like the overflow websites. There have been nonetheless full hookup, however they’re like by the entrance at the back of a fuel station, not the very best websites.

Yeah, you don’t actually need to make the reservation except for instance in Seward, the Seward Municipal Campground, you may get a web site waterfront. If you’d like that waterfront web site, they’re dry tenting, however they’re waterfront. So it’s your decision that one. That one it’s possible you’ll wish to reserve prematurely. By the point I reserved the Seward, which was like per week earlier than, they didn’t have these. However for probably the most half, and should you don’t wish to keep on the campground in Seward, there’s boondocking like 5 miles away from downtown or no matter. It’s all over the place.

Kait Russo Spherical journey from Florida, Alaska and again was, would you say roughly three months? Might you speak about like budgeting for somebody who desires to do a visit to Alaska from that a part of the nation like what’s a tough finances they need to plan for?

Robert Morales I don’t know precisely how a lot was spent to be sincere about it I’m like we’re going to Alaska you gotta do it. You understand you we wish to drive 5,000 miles a technique. No matter it takes you recognize we’ll determine it out later. So after I do my taxes this yr, I’ll I can let you know the way a lot we spent and I type of don’t wish to know I imply it’s a must to have the $90 pizza proper?

Joe Russo Yeah, I suppose so.

Kait Russo Wait, is that for a complete pizza or a slice of pizza?

Robert Morales No, that was the entire pizza. It is a comic story. This was on the village in entrance of Denali Nationwide Park. Really, we sat on the bar there that there’s it’s a the pizza place there. I overlook the title. It escapes me proper now. And proper subsequent to us, it’s they occur to be viewers of my YouTube channel. So we began chatting and this and that.

And so they had a king crab pizza for market value, in fact, they don’t let you know the value. It’s like, if it’s a must to ask, you’ll be able to’t afford it, proper? So I’d prefer to have the king crab pizza and the bartender informed me, you recognize, it’s $90, proper? I’m like, I’m not gonna say no in entrance of like, I type of, and I nonetheless wished to do it, you recognize, I used to be peer pressured into doing it type of, yeah, it was probably the most scrumptious factor I’ve ever had, that crab. And later we discovered it had a complete pound of king crab, $90.

Effectively, after we went all the way down to Homer, which is one other place that we haven’t talked about a lot, a pound of king crab was $120. So I suppose that was the most affordable pound of king crab in Alaska at $90. So it labored out.

Joe Russo Yeah, I’ve a pal who works on all of these Alaska TV reveals and has spent numerous time within the winter and summer season going by means of Alaska. However he was telling us, if you would like the freshest, greatest king crab, it’s in Homer.

Kait Russo He did say that. Now, did you attempt the king crab in Homer?

Robert Morales No, we didn’t. I stated, you recognize, one is sufficient. In Homer, we tried Hallibut, in fact. Halli is the Hallibut fishing capital of Alaska. And Homer is a really it’s a it’s a really cool city, I imply for probably the most half is the spit, is that this peninsula that goes into the water that just about seems like synthetic, like man-made, however they declare it’s pure and that’s the place, you recognize, all of the eating places, a lot of the eating places and all that’s.

And that in fact is the gateway to the float aircraft journey to see the bears consuming salmon. So, they usually have every kind of, you recognize, you’ll be able to go fishing, cruises, and we’re not likely into fishing all that a lot. I imply, I’ve executed it twice in my life. So we didn’t try this, however they’ve every kind of cruises from there to an actions and experiences.

Since we’re already in that space, Kenai Peninsula, probably the most maybe genuine expertise we had like of Alaskan tradition, we occurred to be on this small city referred to as Kenai in the course of the salmon run. And there’s the Kenai River there. And it’s like, it’s a must to be a resident of Alaska to have the ability to do that.

However hundreds of individuals deep web fishing, they’ve these massive spherical nets, they simply dip them within the river and in some unspecified time in the future the salmon is gonna get trapped in there. And seeing all of the individuals doing that and even the individuals who have boats, I can’t consider they weren’t crashing towards one another as a result of it was like a fishing frenzy on the market, tons of of boats on the mouth of the river there. That was fairly the expertise.

Kait Russo That appears like enjoyable. So that you principally had a large web that you simply put into the water?

Robert Morales Yeah.

Kait Russo After which simply waited primarily for a salmon to leap in it. And then you definately would deliver it up.

Robert Morales Sure, you go on the seaside. There’s a seaside there. And there’s actually hundreds of individuals. And through that point of the yr, they allow them to camp on the seaside on either side of the river and different rivers within the space as properly. And yeah, it’s like a consider it as like an enormous lollipop, proper? It’s a spherical web with a protracted stick, and then you definately carry it and also you stick it within the water. And yeah.

Joe Russo Did you get to stay it within the water, or was this Alaskans solely?

Robert Morales No, I didn’t, I didn’t get to do it. Possibly if I had an Alaskan pal, nevertheless it’s an exercise up to now, it was anyone may do it. However these days it’s a must to be an Alaska resident to have the ability to do it legally.

Joe Russo What was your primary factor you noticed or did in Alaska that basically stood out? Effectively, apart from the Brooks Falls and the bears consuming the salmon, properly, we’re a part of the 30% membership. We bought to see Denali.

However I’m making an attempt to assume right here. It’s arduous to choose one expertise, if you recognize what I imply. However I’d say most likely probably the most distinctive was the, yeah, Katmai Nationwide Park, Brooks Falls, and the bears consuming salmon and the entire expertise, the float aircraft journey on itself. I imply, we had been packed like sardines in that aircraft. It was uncomfortable, however the views out the window had been spectacular.

Kait Russo For anybody who hasn’t watched it but, they want to take a look at your YouTube sequence on Alaska as a result of simply watching it will get me so enthusiastic about going to Alaska in an RV. As a result of we maintain going type of forwards and backwards on, properly, will we wish to RV there first, or ought to we perhaps fly in, tour round somewhat bit, and determine?

Joe Russo Yeah, we’ve truly been speaking about this yr, as a result of we have now lots happening, is taking one of many cruises up, do the cruise, perhaps a pair excursions, or simply keep up there for some time after which fly house. After which simply get a really feel for it, after which have the ability to take our RV again after we don’t have every other issues happening, we don’t need to rush it, and we will simply take our time.

Robert Morales Yeah, that’s the factor. It’s a dedication. You need to finances your complete summer season. It’s not such as you’re driving even cross nation. You need to take your time. And we spent six weeks in Alaska. And there’s so many issues that we didn’t get to do.

And for instance, as you most likely know, I broke my ankle in Quartzite final yr. So I wasn’t nonetheless 100% to do longer hikes and all that. There are a lot of hikes that I didn’t get to do. And the various issues that in hindsight, all of the analysis on this planet that you are able to do, there’s nonetheless issues that you simply miss, like little cities right here and there that I’d have preferred to go to and we didn’t.

The one factor we haven’t talked about, it’s the northernmost level in the US. And we needed to fly there as a result of there are not any roads. That’s one factor, it’s up till two or three years in the past it was referred to as Barrow, Alaska, and now it’s the Iñupiaq title Utqiagvik, which doesn’t actually roll off the tongue, and just about everyone, even Alaska Airways, nonetheless calls it Barrow.

However there’s one every day flight from Anchorage to Barrow and should you wanna simply to say that you simply had been on the northernmost level there by the Arctic Ocean, it’s value 24 hours of your time. They’ve a fairly good lodge with ocean views. However there’s actually not a complete lot to do there besides, you recognize, try this. And there’s a museum that was closed after we had been there, nevertheless it’s one thing else to do.

Kait Russo Now, in the course of the time that you simply had been there, is {that a} common time to see the northern lights?

Robert Morales Nope.

Kait Russo I do know that’s seasonal.

Robert Morales Nope. The factor with the Northern Lights, they’re up there. However because it doesn’t get darkish, you’ll be able to’t see them. So it’s a must to wait till later within the season. Had we stayed into late August, September, perhaps we’d have been in a position to see the Northern Lights. However, uh, yeah, we, um, we needed to, we needed to get again for another causes ahead of we wished to.

Joe Russo. All proper. I’m bought.

Kait Russo You’re in? All proper.

Robert Morales I’m considering, and that is my loopy thoughts considering right here, I’ve been considering for a few months, to fly to Anchorage in late February and take the practice to Fairbanks and perhaps I’ll have the ability to see the Northern Lights. Like a two week winter journey, simply you recognize, fly up there and like a conclusion to our journey if we are going to.

Kait Russo I like that concept as a result of if I, now the primary time you all went to Alaska in 2010, you flew there? Since you didn’t take an RV.

Robert Morales No. In 2010, and we had been already fascinated by RVing again in 2010. And we did the Dalton Freeway again then, too. However we flew. We flew to Fairbanks. And we spent more often than not in Fairbanks. And it was identical to per week, only a week, you recognize, prefer to get a style of the midnight solar.

And never each rental firm will allow you to go on the. There are three highways that don’t allow you to take a rental automobile. That’s the Dalton, the Denali Freeway, which is one other freeway we haven’t talked about, and one which is named the McCarthy Freeway that goes right into a city referred to as McCarthy, which is within the Wrangell-Santelias Nationwide Park.

However there’s a few outfitters in Fairbanks that may hire you, and on the time it was a four-wheel drive. Again within the day, they gave it to us with a CB radio. That’s what everyone makes use of to speak on the Dalton nonetheless to today. Not everyone has Starlink and an additional spare tire. So they usually ship you in your manner.

Joe Russo Effectively, the one factor we have to get for our van is a spare tire as a result of we don’t have one.

Robert Morales Not even one?

Joe Russo No, not even one. So we have now a air compressor. We have now a really properly complemented tire restore equipment. However no, no spare tire, in order that’s gonna be on our listing.

Robert Morales The factor with these roads is you’re not gonna get a nail, which is straightforward to take away and unplug. It’s most likely gonna be a giant sharp rock that’s gonna pierce by means of your tire and that tire is gone. It’s not repairable. That’s the issue with these grime roads up there.

Joe Russo Effectively, I feel we’ve taken numerous your time and actually respect you type of scratching the floor for us of Alaska and I can’t wait to get by means of the remainder of your Alaska sequence on YouTube.

However earlier than we allow you to go, there’s a query that we’re asking all of our visitors and that’s, what’s one factor you want you knew earlier than you began RVing?

Robert Morales Oh man, you recognize, this has modified through the years. I want there was an Expedia for RVing, you recognize, like a common reserving system. Generally you find yourself, in my case, typically I simply find yourself going to campgrounds which have an internet reserving system, simply not having to name, look ahead to a name again. And that’s one thing that I assumed, you recognize, I used to be by no means a camper.

You understand, I jumped into this way of life as an RVer. I assumed it will be like accommodations, you recognize, 24-7 reception desk and this and that. And I noticed that it’s extra of a, you recognize, having to, particularly mother and pop campgrounds, you recognize, it’s a must to name, make a reservation and this and that. After which, and I didn’t know there have been so many choices apart from, you recognize, campgrounds, you recognize, we have now Harvest Hosts and HipCamp, there’s so many alternative methods that you could keep on the market.

Joe Russo Yeah, I don’t know what number of occasions we’ve been in cities the place we expect we’re going to boondock after which we understand there’s no place for us to boondock or all of the spots are taken. After which we’re driving round in search of a campground and all of the campgrounds are closed. So you’ll be able to’t go in and get a spot. And we’ve gotten fortunate a few occasions the place we’ve popped in they usually’ve closed they usually’re strolling out. We are available in and say, hey, do you could have a spot? Can we simply park right here for the evening?

Robert Morales Effectively, you could have a camper van. For you guys, it’s simpler, too.

Joe Russo Sure, it’s a lot simpler. I imply, we will slot in a regular parking spot.

Kait Russo Now, earlier than we allow you to go, for individuals who wish to discover you and take a look at your Alaska sequence, how can they discover your entire content material? Go to my YouTube channel, Touring Robert. I’ve an Alaska playlist. And I’m just about all over the place. All of the social networks, simply search for Touring Robert, at Touring Robert, all one phrase, American spelling, with one L. And that’s it.

Joe Russo Nice. Effectively, thanks very a lot. And it was nice having you on the present.

Robert Morales Thanks. Thanks, Joe and Kait. It’s been my pleasure with the ability to chat with you guys once more.

Joe Russo Effectively, and also you’ve impressed us to rise up to Alaska.

Robert Morales So yeah, you bought to do it. You guys bought to do it.

Joe Russo Effectively, I hope you loved that episode. When you’d like several of the assets that had been talked about in immediately’s episode, try the present notes or head over to our web site at we’retherussos.com. We have now numerous RVing assets on the market, particularly of all the opposite states that we’ve been to, since Alaska is the one we haven’t gone to but. However there are assets for the brand new RVer in addition to the skilled RVer, and also you’ll discover hyperlinks to my two books, Take Dangers and Tales from the Open Highway.

Thanks a lot for watching or listening immediately, and should you haven’t, please subscribe or comply with us from no matter platform you’re watching or listening to. We’ll see you subsequent time.