In January we started making our trip plans for 2014
Last year we went to Prince of Wales Island Alaska via the Alaska Ferry and had a great time.
It was our first experience taking the ferry that long of a distance, we've taken the ferry before, going on trips to Juneau and Skagway and had good experiences. So we thought we would do it again this year. But my thought was to start the trip from Whittier Alaska (which is right outside of Anchorage) and go directly to Bellingham Washington. Well that for us is a little easier said then done. There is only one boat that is ocean rated and does the trip between Bellingham, Whittier, and then goes out to Dutch Harbor Alaska. A total of 3,500 miles. I was able to secure reservations that covered Sharon and myself and our bike/sidecar unit. They wanted the payment completed by the end of the month. In the meantime a friend of ours from Chicago, Julie, called and said that she and a friend were thinking of coming up for a visit, and they were planning on coming up the inside passage via the Alaska Marine Highway, leaving Bellingham and coming to Whittier.
I let my reservation expire and tried to set it up again. Now that I had some better dates locked in and with guests coming up to see us. I tried to make the same reservations again. Well nothing was available that would get us and the sidecar unit on the boat between Whittier and Bellingham Washington.
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The Alaska Marine Highway System between Bellingham and Dutch Harbor all 3,500 miles
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My next option was getting a reservation between Haines Alaska and Bellingham Washington
I was just trying to avoid driving to Haines, but the 700+mi are really beautiful and I saved a little over $1,000.00 so everything worked out.
We will be traveling on the MV. Columbia, the ride to Bellingham is four days
Our plan is to camp out during our trip to Washington either in the recliner room or in the solarium. We did this last year and found it suited our purposes.
Additionally there are showers available on board.
Recliner Lounge
Solarium Deck
Both areas have lockers available for rent and we usually use them so we don't have pack a lot of stuff around with us on the boat.
Our plan is to ride the Pacific Coast Highway starting in Washington , Oregon and finally into California and then back to Alaska.
We're planning on camping the whole trip. In fact there is a whole community that supports the motorcycle traveler. I've got a fellow that we're staying with the first evening after getting in to Washington state. I've already contacted him and gave him the dates that I'm going to be down there
This is what he had posted on the site
I have a two bedroom home with two acres of tent space. The home is empty. Has fridge, washer, dryer, stove whatever you need. Large shop with enough tools and welders to build a bike if need be.
Trailer for rescue.
Give me a shout as to when you might want to hang for a day or a week.
Below is the tent space map and I'm listed on it myself. Over the last three years Ive had a couple travelers stay with me
More to follow
