June 1, 2025 - Driving to Alaska
Punxsutawney
We knew we'd need a new car to drive to Alaska -- both our existing vehicles were high time. It's been a long time since we've bought a new car. Initially we thought we would get a SUV. We drove a number of them. But neither of us liked the way they drove -- too truckish -- and despite their large size they didn't seem to have that much room inside.
So we ended up buying a minivan. We've had three minivans before and always liked them. The Toyota minivan -- the Sienna -- only comes in the hybrid version. So that's what we got. It turns out the hybrid was perfect for the trip. Despite its large size, the Toyota Sienna hybrid gets around 37 mpg -- highway or city. Good gas mileage is nice when driving to Alaska.
Lynnette and Pete, our "Product Specialist".
I was a little apprehensive about going into a dealership but it turned out to be a good experience. We were happy, they were happy, everybody was happy. That said, my checkbook was a lotta bit lighter. Wow, cars are expensive these days! But it's a great car.
Check out that odometer. Three miles! It wouldn't stay that way for long. We did our shakedown cruise by driving to Florida and back. The minivan ran perfectly.
Did you know that many new cars do not come with a spare tire? Our's didn't. There was no way I was driving the remote wilderness of British Columbia, the Yukon and the Alaska Highway without a spare tire so I bought one. Since the minivan isn't designed for one, I just had to throw it in the back.
Of course, we had the latest version of "The Milepost", which as the book says, is the bible of North Country travel. It contains an amazing amount of information. Not just on the Alaska Highway, but all of western Canada and Alaska.
Even in this age of GPS, another item we always carry on the long road-trips is the National Geographic road atlas.
Finally the day arrives. This is it: departure day. Alaska or bust! The new minivan is filled up. Not just with our stuff, but also stuff from others who want us to transport it to Alaska.
Leaving Maryland and entering Pennsylvania. Out first overnight stop: Punxsutawney, home of the groundhog Phil.
The B&B is right off the Barclay town square, which is where I thought they filmed the movie Groundhog Day. But it was immediately clear that this was not where they filmed the movie.
Phil's burrow is on the edge of the Square.
Yay, Groundhog Day!
The spectator area isn't as big as I had expected. I have heard both good and bad about the event. You have to arrive in Punxsutawney early. Shuttle buses run from the town to Gobbler's Knob from 3am to 6am. It's cold, I expect. You stand, and wait until 7am when the ceremony starts. My son-in-law attended one year and said it was one of the worst decisions he ever made. But we talked to a couple at the visitors center who have been here a few times and they enjoy it. They made it sounds like a party. So who knows?
In the little visitor's center and gift store was this poster of the famous 1993 Bill Murray movie: Groundhog Day. I was surprised to learn that the movie was actually filmed in Woodstock, Illinois which is 50 miles northwest of Chicago. I have actually been to Woodstock, in 1979, before the movie was made, when my friend the Bro and I went there to visit his family; it was his hometown.
Jonah Goldberg wrote this great review on the movie Groundhog Day: Link. I encourage you to read it. Here's a sample:
"Here’s a line you’ll either recognize or you won’t: “This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather.” If you don’t recognize this little gem, you’ve either never seen Groundhog Day or you’re not a fan of what is, in my opinion, one of the best films of the last 40 years. As the day of the groundhog again approaches, it seems only fitting to celebrate what will almost undoubtedly join It’s a Wonderful Life in the pantheon of America’s most uplifting, morally serious, enjoyable, and timeless movies.
