North to Alaska: Thursday, September 6

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Day 13

Got off to a pretty good start this morning. Left Tok around 8:30ish and drove the last part of the Alaska Highway which ends in Delta Junction. Even though it was raining, we had a few beautiful views of the Alaska Mountain Range along the way. We saw two moose run across the highway in front of us, but they were so fast that we could not snap a picture quick enough.

Leaving Tok, headed toward Fairbanks, weather looks scary!

On arrival in Delta Junction we stopped for pictures at the signpost marking the end of the Alaska Highway.

Mile 1422 End of the Alaska Highway in Delta Junction

Next, we followed the Richardson Highway toward Fairbanks. It was cloudy and rainy which made it difficult to take good pics. On top of that we seemed to have moved out of the mountains. So the scenery was not quite up to par. (You get a little spoiled ha ha).

We stopped at Rika’s Roadhouse on the Tanana River. It was a stopping spot for many traders, miners, homesteaders, prospectors and others on the Valdez to Fairbanks trail (a 380 mile trip). The grounds and buildings were free to see and very interesting.

Front of Rika's Roadhouse Early 1920's


Back of Rika's Roadhouse Restored


Donna on the Grounds at Rika's Roadhouse

Alaska Pipeline

Around mile 170 we stopped off at North Pole, Alaska and, of course, we had to do some shopping. There were some reindeer at the location--magnificent animals.

Santa's Reindeer

Continued onward to Fairbanks, passed Eielson Air Force Base. Our first stop in Fairbanks, was an RV repair shop to repair the water heater. Good to go. We then drove over to the University of Alaska and went to their Museum of the North. There were some very interesting exhibits about Alaska.

Reading about the Alaska Highway

Next we went shopping at Fred Meyer’s (like a super Kroger, HEB) got some groceries, gassed up so we would be ready to go tomorrow. Made it over to our RV Park, pretty crowded about 30 RV’s here. Girl at the desk told me it’s crazy in the summer. They have room for about 160 units. The camp is on the Chena River and is very nice. Very windy and cold when we arrived, but the wind has settled down. We are getting our list together so that we are well prepared for our big excursion to Denali National Park starting tomorrow. I have been watching the weather and hoping that it will hold. Knock on wood we have had great weather so far, except for it being a little chilly. Additionally tomorrow we will travel about 30 to 50 miles a little to the northwest, which should be the farthest North we travel and is in one regards our turning point to start heading back South toward Texas over the next three weeks.

TODAY'S MILES 227 TOTAL 4583

ANDY’S REPORT

Well the peeps finally got up. Made some ham, egg, and cheese sandwiches—mmmmmmmgood! Got on the road, but lo and behold, no water house and no bumpy roads. Got some great naps in. We stopped at some red looking house, they had some funny looking cows, but dad told me to guard the house, shoot! We drove on some more and the peeps went into some big house on a hill, it was raining, so it was nap time. Stopped again and dad started banging around the back of the house and then all the lights came on. Finally figured out when that happens we’re parked for the night. The peeps took me for a walk that had fast running water and lots of grass. Ahhhh, it was nice! I got a little tired of taking care of business on gravel and dirt. Had some chicken with my dinner and I’m getting sleepy. Good night.