This was the big day before the convoy departed. Lots of meetings and last minute preparations. In the evening, there was huge gathering down at the Mile 0 Cairn. The MV's (military vehicles) lined up for photo ops. And there was a kick-off ceremony with dignitaries from around provinces along the route.
One of the pictures posted on the MVPA's AC'12 facebook page shows Electro-Willys and Juice box.
- Ellen
Saturday, August 4, 2012
AC'12 Travel Schedule
This is the published schedule for AC'12. First Gear was today at 7am sharp. Mike took videos of each march unit as they departed. He is hoping to post those videos tonight. 
- Ellen
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Dawson Ck Day 2 - Aug 2
I have been enjoying looking at all the photos people are posting to Facebook and to individual blogs. I find myself looking closely at them to see if I can see E-W or the E-W crew. From the postings and pictures about the convoy and get-together at Rolla last night, it appears it was a lot of fun. I understand that 58 vehicles went on this little 12 mile side trip.
I guess today is full of meetings. There was a driver's meeting this morning, followed by march unit meetings. The convoy will be divided up into March Units. Each march unit will have a person in charge at the front, and a tail-gunner at the rear. Mike and E-W are the tail-gunner for a march unit made of jeeps.
Each participant and vehicle going on the AC'12 convoy has to be registered and safety inspected. There is a list of specific equipment that each must carry. A large enclosed car-hauler will follow the convoy full of spare parts that people have put in there. There will be a maintenance section, but maintenance and repair is up to individual vehicle drivers.
Over the last year, I have been listening in on Mike's teleconferences with the core team. There was a huge amount of planning that went on. As refuel planner, Mike investigated the Canadian and provincial rules on carrying extra fuel. He designed a monstrous spreadsheet with each days travel plans and stops. Included in the spreadsheet was everyone's military vehicle and any personal chase vehicles.
Based on mpg of the vehicles he determined fuel needs for diesel and gasoline. Both gallons and litres were used, as well as the projected cost. It became clear that refueling could become a nightmare at some stops that have just one pump for each type of fuel. At other times, the spreadsheet showed that vehicles with same fuel tanks were going to have to use their spare fuel cans. Mike called those days a "Gas Can Day". Most fuel stations are anticipating the convoy, and have said they will have plenty of fuel on hand.
I guess today is full of meetings. There was a driver's meeting this morning, followed by march unit meetings. The convoy will be divided up into March Units. Each march unit will have a person in charge at the front, and a tail-gunner at the rear. Mike and E-W are the tail-gunner for a march unit made of jeeps.
Each participant and vehicle going on the AC'12 convoy has to be registered and safety inspected. There is a list of specific equipment that each must carry. A large enclosed car-hauler will follow the convoy full of spare parts that people have put in there. There will be a maintenance section, but maintenance and repair is up to individual vehicle drivers.
Over the last year, I have been listening in on Mike's teleconferences with the core team. There was a huge amount of planning that went on. As refuel planner, Mike investigated the Canadian and provincial rules on carrying extra fuel. He designed a monstrous spreadsheet with each days travel plans and stops. Included in the spreadsheet was everyone's military vehicle and any personal chase vehicles.
Based on mpg of the vehicles he determined fuel needs for diesel and gasoline. Both gallons and litres were used, as well as the projected cost. It became clear that refueling could become a nightmare at some stops that have just one pump for each type of fuel. At other times, the spreadsheet showed that vehicles with same fuel tanks were going to have to use their spare fuel cans. Mike called those days a "Gas Can Day". Most fuel stations are anticipating the convoy, and have said they will have plenty of fuel on hand.
 |
| Version ??? of the Fuel Spreadsheet |
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Dawson Ck Day 1 - Aug 1
Got to chat with Mike last night, and now I need to add to that list of things they are doing in Dawson Creek during their "rest days". As I suspected, there is no resting!
Mike, aka Gas Can Mike, is the refuel planner for the AC'12 convoy, and as such, is involved with meetings of the core AC'12 team. He is also working to get Electro-Willys and Juice Box running smoothly. And, of course, showing off E-W to anyone that is interested in it. E-W draws a lot of attention when it stealthily motors through camp.
Last night, it was a chore getting E-W and Juice Box out of The Cave. They had to unpack a lot of stuff before they could back out. But, hey, they need to reorganize The Cave for living quarters now, anyways.
This afternoon, the participants in AC'12 will get to practice lining up for movement and rolling out. The group has been invited to come over to the small town of Rolla to help celebrate the town's 100th anniversary. They will even get a RCMP escort.
Check out the Paper Doll Blog's posting of July 31: Day 12 - Recon Run to Rolla for some interesting facts about Rolla.
- Ellen
Mike, aka Gas Can Mike, is the refuel planner for the AC'12 convoy, and as such, is involved with meetings of the core AC'12 team. He is also working to get Electro-Willys and Juice Box running smoothly. And, of course, showing off E-W to anyone that is interested in it. E-W draws a lot of attention when it stealthily motors through camp.
Last night, it was a chore getting E-W and Juice Box out of The Cave. They had to unpack a lot of stuff before they could back out. But, hey, they need to reorganize The Cave for living quarters now, anyways.
 |
| The Cave at Round Lake State Park (photo by Jen on 07/29) |
Check out the Paper Doll Blog's posting of July 31: Day 12 - Recon Run to Rolla for some interesting facts about Rolla.
- Ellen
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Travel Day 6 - July 31
It's the last day of the month, and the Rocky Mountain collection convoy arrived in Dawson Creek this evening. The E-W crew turned north from Hinton, Alberta and headed through Grande Cache to Grand Prairie. From Grand Prairie, the group traveled northwest to Dawson Creek, British Columbia and Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway.
I'm sure the crew is eager for the travel days to be done. They will have several days in Dawson Creek to rest, do laundry, meet the rest of the AC'12 convoy members, chew the fat, compare rigs, make plans, attend special events, go to Rolla. Hmmm... not sure that list of stuff sounds like rest to me!
- Ellen
 |
| Travel Day 6 |
I'm sure the crew is eager for the travel days to be done. They will have several days in Dawson Creek to rest, do laundry, meet the rest of the AC'12 convoy members, chew the fat, compare rigs, make plans, attend special events, go to Rolla. Hmmm... not sure that list of stuff sounds like rest to me!
- Ellen
Travel Day 5 - July 30
The views on Travel Day 5 must have been awesome for the Rocky Mountain collection convoy. They got started before 0730 and made their way north to the west entrance to Kootenay National Park. That's east of Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia. Mike, the kids, and I have swum in the pools there.
After crossing the Continental Divide once again, they drove into Alberta through the northern part of Banff National Park. I'm glad to see the stopped at Lake Louise. This a large resort build by the railroad back in the day that many took vacations via the rail lines in Canada. We stopped here years ago with our kids and dog, Smokey. The Japanese tourists were enamored with our "wolf" dog (yes, she was part wolf, part husky).
Leaving Lake Louise, they traveled north along the Icefields Parkway. This route took them north into Jasper National Park. I look forward to seeing some pictures along this route.
The E-W crew turned east at Jasper on to the TransCanada Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway). They camped the night at Hinton, east of Jasper National Park. It appears they made great time through the parks.
Travel Day 6 will bring them to Dawson Creek to hook up with the rest of the AC'12 Convoy.
- Ellen
After crossing the Continental Divide once again, they drove into Alberta through the northern part of Banff National Park. I'm glad to see the stopped at Lake Louise. This a large resort build by the railroad back in the day that many took vacations via the rail lines in Canada. We stopped here years ago with our kids and dog, Smokey. The Japanese tourists were enamored with our "wolf" dog (yes, she was part wolf, part husky).
Leaving Lake Louise, they traveled north along the Icefields Parkway. This route took them north into Jasper National Park. I look forward to seeing some pictures along this route.
 |
| Jasper NP - Large Glacier along their route |
 |
| Day 05 travels |
Travel Day 6 will bring them to Dawson Creek to hook up with the rest of the AC'12 Convoy.
- Ellen
Monday, July 30, 2012
Yellowstone Pictures (TD2) - July 27
Here's a couple of pictures from Mike. They are classic Yellowstone National Park subjects!
- Ellen
 |
| Old Faithful |
 |
| Buffalo stopping traffic |
Travel Day 4 - July 29
I talked with Mike just before they got to the Eastport Border Crossing this afternoon. He and Jen had a great evening, and Jen enjoyed camping with them at Round Lake. She posted a couple dozen pictures to Facebook, and I thought I'd share a couple with you. Mike and Jen took an early morning walk down to the lake.
I watched Mike's SPOT while they were at the Border, and it didn't take them long to get through and back on the road and on their way in British Columbia. That was certainly good news. Later he told me that they asked all the convoy to come inside, and they checked their passports together.
From the Eastport Border Crossing, they made their way northeast to Cranbrook. From Cranbrook, they headed north to Fairmont Hot Springs. Mike said that some of the rigs were slow going, and the group had to, at time, pull off to let traffic pass.
Tomorrow, they are going to split up in groups of 2, as they now number six. This will make it easier to navigate through Yoho, Jasper and Banff National Parks.
Mike's travels bring back memories for me, and I'm pretty sure they are camping tonight at the same campground we camped at once. That is nice country from Sandpoint to Fairmont Hot Springs.
- Ellen
 |
| Mike and Jen |
 |
| Round Lake Sunrise |
The Rocky Mountain collection convoy now numbers 5. Based on the SPOT data, it looks like they got a late start from the Round Lake Campground. In addition to the F350 pulling The Cave, they now have a WWII 1 1/2 Ton, a Deuce and half with short box, the Deuce's chase pickup truck, and a Jeep Cherokee with flatbed trailer carrying an MB jeep and teardrop camper.
I watched Mike's SPOT while they were at the Border, and it didn't take them long to get through and back on the road and on their way in British Columbia. That was certainly good news. Later he told me that they asked all the convoy to come inside, and they checked their passports together.
From the Eastport Border Crossing, they made their way northeast to Cranbrook. From Cranbrook, they headed north to Fairmont Hot Springs. Mike said that some of the rigs were slow going, and the group had to, at time, pull off to let traffic pass.
Tomorrow, they are going to split up in groups of 2, as they now number six. This will make it easier to navigate through Yoho, Jasper and Banff National Parks.
Mike's travels bring back memories for me, and I'm pretty sure they are camping tonight at the same campground we camped at once. That is nice country from Sandpoint to Fairmont Hot Springs.
- Ellen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)