ALASKA – WEEK 3 – JUNE 2 to JUNE 8, 2016

JUNE 2, 2016 – Thursday

Heading to Fairbanks with a stop at the North Pole. Stopped along the way at Rika’s Roadhouse, an old roadhouse on the Tanana River with a short working tour. Rika was a Swedish-born woman who was hired by John Hajdukovich to run his business and then bought the place in 1923 for $10.00 and other considerations (unclear what the other considerations were).  Rika’s was open year-round and catered to travelers in summer and locals in winter. She raised livestock and grew vegetables and fruits which allowed her to serve fresh produce, eggs, milk and meat. Rika ran the roadhouse until the mid-1940s; she died in 1969 and is buried on the grounds. The old buildings are still open although the roadhouse has closed for business and is now a museum (of sorts—chickens and flowers still grace the property.)

The North Pole was a charming community with candy canes on the light poles, a Santa’s house (gift shop), and an oversized Santa greets visitors. The woman at the Visitors Center told me that they do, indeed, receive letters to Santa each Christmas season and the 7-8 graders, as part of their curriculum, respond to them. In addition, other responders include the firefighters, police, senior center, and for the past few years, the Visitors Center, all take a part in responding to these letters. What fun!

Because I took too much time at this little stop, I ended up staying near town instead of driving up to Fairbanks.

http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/deltajct/bigdelta.htm

JUNE 3, 2016 – Friday

Fairbanks has a great Visitors Center and if you get up that way, it is well worth the effort to stop by…free wifi as well.  I took a long walk around town with a stop off at City Hall to see if I could get any information on family who lived up here in the 1940s. No such luck but did get a website for court documents so there is a possibility that I can still get some worthwhile information. Stopped by the Husky Dog (a hot dog place) for a quick bite. The guy who runs it tends to have ‘dogs’ just sort of fall apart and he then gives a tray to those who have dogs with them. This place is on the waterfront.

Left Fairbanks to head south to Denali. I stayed about 40 miles north of the park entrance…a fairly easy drive for the morning.

JUNE 4, 2016 – Saturday

Arrived at Denali National Park and signed up for an 8 hour tour tomorrow morning. I bought my Senior Parks Pass ($10) that will admit me and a couple of friends to any National Park in the U.S. for free for as long as I live. There really are some perks to getting older. I am staying at the park for a couple of days. It is not high tourist season yet, which is nice. If anyone decides to make this trip in the future and it is during peak season, reservations are highly recommended if you want to camp in the park. I am staying at Riley Campground – will accommodate both tents and RVs and it cost me $22/night (no services but there is a dump station for RVs). There is also a mercantile on site that issues permits, sells clothes and necessities, has a selection of bulk food (like trail mix, for example) and even espresso and ice-cream. The mercantile also has showers and a laundry (although pretty pricey) and free wifi but only on site—it does not extend to the campsites.  The weather has been a bit windy and cool/cold but at least the wind keeps the skeeter population down. As I was getting ready to retire for the evening, a moose and her calf were eating their way through the campsite and there were a number of people out with their cameras—some getting a bit too close and the protective mama did start to charge (no one got attacked).

JUNE 5, 2016 – Sunday

Took a wilderness tour today through Denali and spotted herds of caribou, a few Dall sheep, and on the return, we spotted a moose who had cornered a couple of hikers. She went around them as they stood there (I am sure they were petrified) and then the moose moved to the other side of the creek and headed back to where she came. The driver told us it was like she was saying, “What are you doing in my space?  Get out of here, I’m warning you.”  It was fascinating to watch this whole dance between the moose and the hikers. I did the Shuttle Bus Trip to the Eileson Visitor Center but saw all of these places plus the one last stop at Eileson. I did not get the bus with the box lunch but our driver still talked to us and stopped if anyone saw any wild animals. There was a guy at the back of the bus who must have had telescopic eyes because he kept spotting things that few of us could see – like the grizzly. This bear was so far away that I don’t think anyone had a camera lens that could have made him out with any clarity.

Here is a link to a similar trip –

 http://www.reservedenali.com/play/tours/tundra-wilderness.aspx 

JUNE 6, 2016 – Monday

While fixing breakfast this morning, I looked up and out the window to see a large moose with two calves munching the foliage across from me.  At first, I thought she was the same one from last night and wasn’t sure where the second calf came from. Minutes after this group left, I spotted the moose and calf from last night almost camouflaged in the brush. This was definitely two different families. It was a great beginning to this day. Finally headed out for Anchorage and not soon after, hit rain and in some places, the torrential variety. Oh, and the fog…obscured every mountain I should have been able to see. Drove through Wasilla and no, I did not see the “Thrilla in Wasilla” but I was not disappointed. The fog briefly lifted through town, however, and OMG, what a beautiful place—mountains on all sides!  The weather was so bad continuing on to Seward, that I made very few stops all day. I just wanted to get through it. But, it became too much after awhile so decided to camp near the Portage Glacier. It was cold (ya think?) and windy all night.

JUNE 7, 2016 – Tuesday

Did make it to the Portage Glacier this morning and it WAS impressive. Then, it was a stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a place that takes care of abandoned wild animals. They had quite a variety including a lynx, a fox who they put a dog in its space to help him learn to be a part of a pack, there were elk, deer, bison, and oh, those brown bears. Those guys were so stinking cute (not that I would have wanted to cuddle them or anything—they weighed in at 600 pounds plus). Continued on down to Seward after numerous photo stops along the way (the fog and rain from yesterday just vanished) and ended up discovering that the City of Seward  has camping grounds right on the water at Resurrection Bay—from tents and RVs without power to those motor homes that pay for the lights. It was amazing to see all this camping right there on the water! I walked the short way into town but aside from a bunch of bars, a few restaurants, and a couple of gift shops, there wasn’t too much to see at that time of night. I did pass a great playground for kids and a very busy skate park also on the beach. It WAS pretty windy and cold right down near the water but the beauty was breathtaking. I even saw a little sea otter not too far from shore (if the picture turns out, I will post it later).

JUNE 8, 2016 – Wednesday

Off again, heading to Valdez but will need to stop someplace in between.

Stopped by Lily Pad Lake, the Upper Summit Lake (nice reflection), and the Bird Point Overlook which offered splendid views of the Turnagain Arm and the literature says this place is a favorite among locals as a wedding venue (I can see that) —all on the Seward Highway before reaching Anchorage during rush hour. I am spending the night in Palmer about half way to Valdez. Finally found a GOOD, free shower and wifi. What a gift for travelers.

EDITED TO ADD: Stopped at the Alyeska Resort, (primarily a ski resort but open all year), They have a tram here that takes people up over 2000 feet to near the top where seven glaciers are visible. The restaurant up there is actually called The Seven Glaciers Restaurant. It was magnificent view from up top and the tram operator gave a little 'tour guide scenario' on the way back down the mountain. Pictures will follow although I did take one from the top using my phone that showed the lake and mountain view in the distance. Definitely a highlight of the trip.

http://www.alyeskaresort.com/hotel/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnagain_Arm