Ruminations on Preparation

“Like Alexander the Great and Caesar, I’m out to conquer the world. But first I have to stop at Wal-Mart and pick up some supplies.” (Jarod Kintz)

I participate in two on-line groups composed of travelers planning to take their RV’s to Alaska this summer:  RVNet Open Road Forum (Roll Call Alaska 2016) and RVillage (North to Alaska).  As April has arrived the anticipation level is getting higher with some folks already on the road and others about to be.  By the end of May most of us will be part of the northward migration. The seasoned “Alaska Hands” remind us that the drive is not as challenging as it used to be but also caution us to be prepared.

How do you define “prepared”?  How to be sure that you are not obsessively over or carelessly under? The love of order can make life all banks and no stream. On the other hand, too much going with the flow can lead to unwanted stress.  Having  traveled many miles and spent many months in our various camping rigs we know a lot about our traveling style and our tolerance level for the unexpected but the Boy Scout motto* still applies.

We are now less than a month away from our estimated time of departure and are checking items off the list. Butch put new leveling jacks on the TT (ours were bent) and he has re-glued some cabinet doors that were wobbly. I have been through all of the linens and kitchen stuff trying to get us down to a bare minimum. When we were in Tampa we visited the Container Store with our measurements and got some new storage boxes.  Before leaving Sopchoppy we sorted out our clothing and personal items that need to go. Back at the mountain house we are very busy getting it ready to be rented all summer. Sometimes the preparation stage seems overwhelming but I know it is going to be so worth it.

 I am working on a rough itinerary so that we will not be completely aimless when we finally get on the road.  For past trips I have loved playing around with the on-line Good Same Trip Planner. Unfortunately GS has changed their format and the “new” program is not as satisfactory. Fortunately I have saved all of our previous itineraries and they have notes all over them. It is so much fun to look at them and remember all the fun places we went.

Phase I of our trip will be from Farner, TN (where we park the TT) to Reno, NV (where we visit family). At this point we are planning to go west on I-40. We can access it within two hours of leaving home and it is a direct route to Kingman AZ where we turn north to go to Las Vegas and Reno. The only place with traffic issues is Oklahoma City. The downside; the road is poor condition from time to time, tornadoes are a threat in the spring, and the wind can be vicious. Factor in a few days for hunkering down for bad weather.

Phase II will take us from Reno to Prince Rupert BC. Phase III will be on the AMH Ferry to Haines. Phase IV is pretty much unknown. After all, even obsessive preparers have their limits.

*Be Prepared