Thurs, 5/30/2013. Two celebrations today... HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIN! What are you doing today? Wishing today special and memorable for you. We love you! AND... at 9am, we cross the US Customs border into Alaska! Hooray! After 5,438 miles, here we are in "The Last Frontier."
State Flower - Forget-me-not
State Tree - Sitka spruce
State Bird - Willow ptarmigan
Largest state in the union in area (twice the size of Texas)
Chicken, Alaska? Once a mining hub for Fortymile district. Miners wanted to name the town "Ptarmigan" after a bird common to the area but no one knew how to spell it so they settled on the easier name of Chicken. Well, a bit unique but don't need to stay long. Tok is the junction where we meet up again with the Alaska Highway and real pavement!
Strange weather is everywhere. Two weeks ago the area was snowbound. It has warmed up a bit too quickly and there is frozen ground below and flooding above. Hi Joe, at Smith's Green Acres RV Park. Thanks so much for opening up the ladies shower area. Hope you enjoy the grilled country pork ribs, brown rice and quinoa and green beans with onions/bacon/stock.
Larry..as you instructed, we unwrapped and opened up the wine upon reaching Alaska. Long Island Winter White! Thank you!
Friday/Saturday, 5/31- 6/1/2013. Up early and on the road towards Fairbanks. Some great tag sale finds.. a pole and lures for salmon fishing and a chrome "vintage" cake carrier.
On 11/16/73, permission was granted to begin construction of the 800-mile trans Alaska pipeline. The first oil entered the line at Prudhoe Bay 6/20/77 and reached Valdez on 7/28/77. On 8/1/77, the first tanker load of North Slope oil left the Port of Valdez aboard the ARCO Juneau. What an accomplishment! Admiring a section of the pipeline over the Tanana River.
North Pole Alaska?
Not the geographical North Pole, but where the spirit of Christmas lives (and a reminder to get a head start on shopping), and where Santa gets his mail. Memaw and Grandpa had a chance to tell him what wonderful grandchildren we have. He said he'd be in touch.....
In Fairbanks, settle in Riverview RV Park. Nice riverview
Shrimp with peas/carrots, over spaghetti. Read about Fairbanks and plan activities for next few days. Time again to wash down the RV.
Visit downtown Fairbanks and have famous crab burger, clam chowder and beef barley soup at Soapie Smiths. Visit the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor's Center. Visit Home Depot (of course) for Tim's next project. Arrive at Chena River State Campground in downtown Fairbanks (trees! with background noise of planes and trains). Dinner of grilled steak, baked potato, and creamed spinach..sure tastes good. They say the mosquitoes in Alaska are as big as hummingbirds. Not quite as big, but bigger than the ones at home, and so many!..such a nuisance. Pesky. Annoying. Really bad. Tim feels like the Red Cross donation center.
Sunday/Monday , 6/1-2/2013. Sunny, 70+ degrees. Motorcycle to family friendly Pioneer Park, home to several village stores housed in log cabin buildings + museums + food venues.
The Tanana Valley train ride around the park was very charming. And charming Tim will nap just anywhere!
Visit the University of Alaska and have lunch at the Coffee House (wraps with bacon potato chowder soup). Onto the spectacular UA Museum of the North exhibits and research collection of cultural traditions, wildlife, art, and movies. Very special! Froggie wasn't scared, he had a great time. For dinner let's have grilled chicken, beets and teriaki rice. Yum.
Monday, 6/3/2013. Leave Fairbanks for Denali National Park. Stop for lunch outside of park at the Baked Salmon The fried halibut and waffle potatoes hit the spot!
Set up at Riley Creek Campground just inside the park, do laundry and visit with RV neighbors. "Tim, want to take a bus tour?"
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