Day 30 - Fairbanks, AK

To start today we have to go back to yesterday.  On the drive from Tok to Fairbanks we had 2 separate moose sightings the first just outside of Tok was a mother and her calf.  Pretty exciting but we were clipping along at 65mph and couldn't get slowed in time to get a picture.   The second sighting was a BIG bull moose with a HUGE rack off the right side of the road.  We had a little more warning on that one.  Lon and Pam were in the lead when a pickup ahead of them crammed on his brakes.  Lon spotted the bull and hit the engine and air brakes, Pam grabbed the camera trying to get the shot.  Tail gunner Jerry was changing Willie Nelson CDs at the time and almost rear ended the Britton toad and rig.  Gail paralyzed with fear and throwing herself between the impending collision and Heidi totally abandoned the shot.  Needless to say there is not a photo of the TROPHY moose.  Pam was so irritated with her little point and shoot camera, upon arrival in Fairbanks she went and bought a new "real" camera.

Much is made of the long summer daylight hours of Alaska.  On June 21 of each year they have 21 hours, 45 minutes of daylight.  Okay, we're not here then but close.  Using no artificial light these photos were taken last night/morning at 11pm, 1:30am, 4:00am respectively.

Jerry and Gail decided stay to with Heidi at the RV park.

Lon and Pam opted to go exploring.  First a visit to the Alaskan Pipeline (very impressive)

• The Trans Alaska Pipeline System was designed and constructed to move oil from the North Slope of Alaska to the northern most ice-free port in Valdez, Alaska.
• Length: 800 miles.
• Diameter: 48 inches.
• Crosses three mountain ranges and more than 30 major rivers and streams.
• Cost to build: $8 billion in 1977, largest privately funded construction project at that time.

• Construction began March 27, 1975 and was completed May 31, 1977.
• First oil moved through the pipeline on June 20, 1977.
• More than 16 billion barrels have moved through TAPS.
• First tanker to carry crude oil from Valdez: ARCO Juneau, August 1, 1977.
• Tankers loaded at Valdez: 19,625 through April 30, 2008.

Not sure what this was about, neighborly squabble perhaps?

Then they went to check out the Silver Gulch Micro Brewery

After which came a ride on the Discovery III paddle wheeler that provides a 3.5 hour trip on the Chena River and some history of old Alaska:

The Chena River is a 100-mile-long (160 km) river in the Interior region of the U.S. state of Alaska. It flows generally west from the White Mountains to the Tanana River near the city of Fairbanks, which is built on both sides of the river. The 2300 mile-long Yukon River flows from both the Tanana and Chena Rivers.

They had free coffee and donuts.  Lon thought he was "back on the job".

Due to the vast size of the Alaskan wilderness, airplanes are a critical mode of transportation and cargo movement.  1 in every 60 Alaskans is a licensed pilot.  We were treated to a float plane departure near our boat.

It's not unusual to see float planes on the rivers or airplanes parked next to a house.

We had a demonstration of sled dogs by David Monson husband of the late Susan Butcher, Four Time Iditarod  Sled Dog Race Champion.  He talked about the dogs, training and his beloved iconic wife.

There were many beautiful homes along the river and many not so beautiful.  An acre on the river goes for about $150k.

Next stop was a preserved Athabaskan indian village where we learned about the culture of the natives of this incredibly beautiful yet hard land. 

 Cue the Reindeer

Many log homes like these are common in modern Athabaskan villages.

They still trap and hunt, Lon thought this was the best use for a Wolverine he'd ever seen

They use these fish wheels to catch fish (that's my idea of fishing)

Pam's new camera got a workout

The flowers, in fact all vegetation, grow quite large due to the long days in the summer 

We got back and Jerry had a new sign on his coach

He fixed us italian sausages

Then we went looking for moose. No moose but have you ever seen skies like this?  

Oh well, maybe tomorrow...........

Day 29 Tok to North Pole, AK

We left Tok this morning.  We found out that Tok has no City Government. No City Council. No Politicians. No lawyers. No police. No codes. No zoning. They say all disagreements are settled by either a handshake or a gunshot.     That said, we're out of Tok. It rained all night and continued to drizzle the first 70mi.

First stop was Delta Meat and Sausage.

Who could pass up this sign.

                                                

                            

They had this sampler platter. It was all GOOD.

I couldn't decide, so we got one of each.

Elk , buffalo, reindeer, & jalapeno and olive summer sausage.

                                             Out side they had the normal Alaska beauty.

Then, on to Delta Junction and the end of the Alaska Highway.

1422mi since Dawson Creek and mile 0.

SO! What do we do now?

Heidi attacked the Alaska state bird.

Lunch at the infamous Buffalo Center Drive-in.

The Buffalo Burgers were excellent.

And of course.

Back at the bus, Heidi was waiting patiently for her Buffalo Burger.

Just north of Delta Junction, our first sighting of the Alaska pipeline.

Nearing North Pole, we passed the Eielson Air Force base and had quite an air show of fighter planes overhead. All appeared to be heavily armed with missiles.

I got this picture from an online file. Our two "Can't Break the Rules" girls wouldn't take pictures when we passed, because there were signs that said "NO stopping...NO parking...NO photography" Jeeez!

Finally we landed at the River View RV park, in North Pole, AK where every day is Christmas.

After our social hour meeting to discuss the day and the day to come, we were all off to Wal-Mart.

We also went to Fred Meyer, a store that is hard to describe. You have to experience it.

Tomorrow Lon and Pam are going on the Riverboat Discovery with their new camera. Should be a lot of great pictures.  Should be!

Day 28 Tok, AK

                                          Did you guess? We're still in Tok.   Population 1415.

Tok originated as an Alaska Road Commission camp for the construction of the Alcan and Glenn Highways in the 1940s.

The story is: one of the engineers on the project had a dog that made friends with a orphaned black bear cub. The cub was taken in by the workers and traveled with them. The dog's name was TOK. Therefore....Tok, Alaska.

Drive around Tok and you’ll see wild and domestic flower gardens, big vegetables, log homes with sod and wild flower roofs, old fish wheels, historic mining equipment, lots of airplanes, log caches. In late afternoon you may see the llamas strolling Tok.

On January 10, 2009 Tok made headlines with an unconfirmed temperature reading of -80°F. But the weather today was quite pleasant. We were told that it has been 100 here.

This time of year, there are flower baskets everywhere.

          The sod roofs are good insulation, I'm told. I don't really think you have to mow it. But I'm sure it's "dirt cheap".

                       We saw a moose.                                                          We saw a bear.               

Then we saw some really scary critters.

They are "sled dogs". $100 each. Pam wanted one. BUT, if you know Lon.

After exploring town. Lon & Pam went to explore the woods. Weapon drawn.

No bears, but they found the magic mushrooms.

After their "trip" in to the woods. Pam fed us all. The beef stew she had cooked all day was better than

Dinty Moore!

Tomorrow, off to Delta Junction, North Pole, and Fairbanks.  Maybe.