I can almost see Alaska from my backyard!

• Passport:    Checked!
• Bug juice:  Checked!
• Binoculars: Checked! 
• Coffee:      Checked! 

The propane tank is topped off.  The van gassed up.  'Tross went through a final suspension check yesterday.  Every squeak and tiny leak is fixed.  There is nothing much to do but to pick up a hat with the mosquito-net at REI today.  We are off to visit the Last Frontier on Monday: Bears and Eagles and Wolves, oh my! 

4,000 miles

The map shows our rough itinerary.  Although the roundtrip from Seattle (the pink fuzzy) to Juneau (the green fuzzy) adds about 4,000 miles to 'Tross by the time we return, we would "bearly" (!!!) scratch the surface of Alaska.  

We will take the Alaska Highway, The Alcan, up - partly indicated in pink, above, where Happy Van is traveling.  After a 2.5 hours ferry ride from Skagway to Juneau to admire the glacier, we return via the Green Road, the Cassiar Highway, currently roamed by Happy Cow.  Despite the destination, we will be driving on Canadian soil 95+% of the trip. It's a bit of a pro-cess, aeyyyyy?  

Week one combines Couch Surfing and "roughing it" in the van.  We found a Couch at Lytton off Highway 1 - Numero Uno on the map. Prince George (#2) is our second Couch, and finally - probably by Day Five - we will get to Dawson Creek which is the start of the Alcan.  An interesting couple will host us at Dawson Creek.  We may stay and explore the area for couple days before we move on.  By then, I am certain I will be dying for an Americano.  

Not many Couches are available beyond Dawson Creek, so we will rely on Good 'ol Tross to provide comfort and joy.  We packed enough VIA and provision to last for days without seeing a grocery store; I am not worried.  

8 boxes of 12 VIA will give us a ration of 3 per day.
I hope we find some Starbucks along the way.  

Gladly trading a family size sunblock
for a family size bug repellent

I hope the sun graces us with her presence for more than two days. Otherwise, I could probably safely return the family size SPF30 sunblock I just got from Target.