Going to Delta Junction

Time to move on from Fairbanks, so our next destination is Delta Junction about 90 miles south. The drive took us by Eielson Air Force Base where we saw 5 or 6 F15's landing. They land pretty close to the road and there are signs that say “ No stopping or taking pictures.” So we didn't stop even though I wanted to. We were pleasantly surprised to see a moose in a small pond along the road. Just so happened a place to get off the road was just ahead and we were able to get close and take some pictures. He looked at us and several others who stopped for a photo but didn't seem bothered at all and continued eating. Fun to see them in the wild!! On down the road you get another sighting of the Alaskan pipeline which are few and far between. Amazing as there is 800 miles of this pipeline and you only get a few places where most tourist get to see it. We got in around noon to Smiths Green Acres RV Park, unhooked and had the rest of the afternoon to catch up on laundry:))

There isn't much to see in Delta Junction but some huge mosquitoes and a sign saying this is the end of the Alaskan Highway at mile 1422. We are proud to say we have driven the entire 1422 miles :) and it is fun with lots to see. We spent 2 nights in Delta Junction and it was time to move on to Tok, AK.

Please keep David in your prayers as he has one more mission to Iraq before he gets back to Germany. God Bless the USA!!

Our last 2 days in Fairbanks

We went on the Riverview Discovery that goes down the Chena River. This is a very relaxing cruise with some exciting happenings. First off you get to watch a bush pilot land and take off several times, then see a champion dog sled demonstration and then take a walking tour of an authentic Athabascan village. You also get to see some beautiful homes built along the river.  It really is a fun trip down the river and worth the time.

We went over to the Large Animal Research Staion managed by the University of Alaska Fairbanks to see a Musk-oken. This is a pretty neat looking animal that we had not seen before.  Female musk-oxen carry their calves during an eight-month pregnancy, but after birth there is little time to waste. The infants are able to keep up with their mothers and the rest of the herd within a few hours. nd Siberia. No other hoofed animal lives as far north as the musk-oxen. The musk-oxen can live in the harsh conditions of the arctic tundra because its 24" long hair and woolly undercoat ward off frost and provide insulation.

We also stopped by Pioneer Park where the Gold Rush Town  has numerous log cabins that date back to the 1900's.  They are now being used by different businesses that sell native Alaskan crafts. The Park also has a great play ground for kids and one of the best know restaurants in Fairbanks, the Alaskan Salmon Bake.
We are looking forward to moving on to Delta Junction about 100 miles south of here tomorrow.

Fairbanks 07/24/2011

On the way to Fairbanks we stopped at  a pull-over and talked to a father and son who were traveling on 2 motorcycles. One being a 1947 Indian, they had driven up to Fairbanks from Seattle. They were having a great time!

We have been here 2 nights and have enjoyed our stay. We went to "Golden Days" downtown on Sunday hoping to see craft and food vendors but we were a day late. They did have a raft race and all rafts had to incorporate duct tape. There were lots of rafts and people downtown to watch the show.

Went over to one of the spots where you can actually see the Alaskan Pipeline. The pipeline goes North to South and is 800 miles long. It carries oil 24/7 and almost half of the pipeline is underground.

After lunch we decided to head to the North Pole. We all know who lives in the North Pole?  Santa Claus!!
The North Pole is about 12 miles out of Fairbanks and all the streets are named after some type of Santa Claus theme, ie:  Reindeer Lane, Santa Clause Road, etc... Santa wasn't there as he had other commitments. The town is different, that is all I can say other than I was surprised how many people lived there. I guess everyone wants to be close to Santa Claus.

Last night in Denali and going to Fairbanks on 7/23/2011

We decided to got out for pizza for our last night in Denali. Had a pretty good pizza for $9.99 and a draft beer for $2.50 which is a real good price for a tourist town. After the meal we decide to do one more trip into the park to look for a moose. We had seen one from far away but hoped for a more close up look. Drove into the park 15 miles and saw one caribou at a distance and talked to a few people in the parking lot about different animals they had seen. Well still no close up of a moose until we were about 3 miles from leaving the park when right beside the road was a moose and her 2 calves. It is always when you don't expect it that they appear. Stopped the truck and took several pictures when the moose and her calves started coming right toward us. They are really pretty big animals and quite magnificant looking. We were so excited to see this moose and her calves close up. It made our trip to Denali complete:))
Got up the next morning and made the drive over to Fairbanks/North Pole, staying closer to Fairbanks but the campground has a North Pole address. We are at the Riverview Campground which has nice long sites with grass, wifi and cable tv. First thing was to restock the camper with food and everyday items. So off to Walmart we go, it is great to be able to purchase everything at reasonable prices. You would all feel this way after you see your favorite box of cereal for $7 in one of the tourist towns and you get it for under $5 at Walmart.
We will be here 4 nights and already have plenty to do.

Grizzly Bear today:))) 07/22/2011

We decided to take our lunch and ride into the park. About 9 miles into the park and I see a Grizzly right next to the road. I was the first vehicle to spot it and once I stopped others did too. He was just off the road on the drivers side and was eating. We were about 30 ft away and he started to come right toward us and crossed the road right in front of the truck. He was now on Suzanne's side and raised himself for that great picture. His nails are really dangerous looking and could do lots of damage to a person. We think he raised up because a man was out of his car and he noticed him. Then he walked pretty quickly and disappeared into the woods. It was so neat to be that close to a grizzly. We really wanted to have that kind of sighting as it is what Alaska is all about. The beauty of the animals!
We traveled down the road and came upon a caribou just sitting on the rocks in a dried up creek. It is hard to believe the rack can weigh up to 40 lbs. Today was turning out to be the best day of our time in Alaska. We drove back by an hour later and the caribou was still there. I don't think he had moved.
What a great day!!
This is our last day at Denali as we move on to Fairbanks/North Pole tomorrow. Looking forward to having a Walmart handy:)

Mount Healy Overlook Trail on Thursday, 7/21/2011

Today we decided to take a nice hike up the Mount Healy Overlook Trail. This trail is rated strenuous. 4.5 miles long, and takes 3 to 4 hours to complete. The first mile has a 500 ft. elevation gain, with the second mile having a 1,200 ft. elevation gain. The trail, especially the last mile has numerous 25% grades, and they are very strenuous and steep. No need to pay for a stress test, just do this hike for free. We made it to the top in 2 hours, with some resting along the way. There were lots of people at the top and everyone was pleased to have made it. The elevation at the top is 3,425 ft. and gives spectacular views and we were lucky as the skies were clear and we could see Mt. McKinley. We had a peanut butter sandwich, some water for lunch and enjoyed the fantastic views. Suzanne was a little scared about going down, as some areas were very steep with loose gravel. But it took us an hour to get down without any problems other than our legs feeling like jelly. We have never been so glad to see our truck and get to the visitor center for some ice cream:) That was the longest hike we have done, and the most difficult. We will see how we feel tomorrow.

click to enlarge and see Mt. McKinley