I second that ferry recommendation. I drove a motorcycle up to Haines
in '86 and there was NO WAY I was driving it back down again. Ferry
to the rescue! Since I had a bike, I was able to get off and cruise
around the towns and catch the next boat. I camped on the deck under
a heater in a comfy deck chair and sleeping bag  (can you still do
that?) and watched the whales and eagles go by all day. All I can say
about the Al-Can is expect the unexpected and be prepared to meet
some nutty travelers. I met these guys about halfway up in a big 'ol
'75 Chevy station wagon that they had cut the entire roof off the day
before. I asked them what they were planning to do in the rain and
they said, "Drive faster". I know you have to be crazy to live there
but it helps to be a little crazy just to visit.

Jeff

On Apr 18, 2007, at 9:03 AM, Automatic digest processor wrote:

> Date:    Tue, 17 Apr 2007 22:24:40 -0600
> From:    Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@HOTMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: Alaska trip tips
>
> I was wondering if anyone would care to offer some tips on
>>> traveling
>>> to Alaska by VW in the summer. Plan to drive.
>>> Tips on places to stop, things to see, VW stuff or anything else you
>>> think is important to be mentioned on talking about driving up to
>>> Alaska.
>
>
> http://www.northtoalaska.com/
> Go there and subscribe to their online email newsletter.
> Extraordinarily
> informative. Next:
> http://www.akferry.org/
> Whatever else you decide to do or not do, do take the ferry system.
> I'll be
> retiring in about a year and will be going to Anchorage to "hang"
> with niece
> and her hubby/baby and they've insisted to take the ferry
> northbound then
> drive back in my van. That's my plan. You cannot see and experience
> from
> roads what you will see and experience on the ferry and you don't
> want to
> miss it.
>
>
>
> Bob Stevens
> '87 Westy Syncro
> "Passion Fruit"