Fairbanks and the Arctic Circle!

Day 47 – June 17 got off to a great start at the Sourdough Café there at the campground, where we cashed in on our free breakfasts.  It was a misty drive up to Fairbanks. It was pretty, but not spectacular scenery as the weather was hiding a lot of the higher mountains.

When we reached the end of the Alaska Highway at Delta Junction, our odometer read 7,309 miles so far on this trip.  We stopped at a viewpoint of the braided Tanana River.

Tanana River

The biggest stop of the day was at North Pole.  We stopped at Santa Claus house where Ron and I each sat on Santa’s lap to not only say that we have been good, but that our grandkids, Lucy and Aiden have been good and that they love Santa very much.  It was a fun visit!

Yes Santa we have been good!

Now let met tell you about my grandkids, Lucy and Aiden. And also the hubby Ron....

Yes, Lucy and Aiden and Ron have all been good! I promise!!!

In Fairbanks, we are staying the next few days at Rivers Edge Resort. It is very expensive ($52 night) for full hookups on very small real estate that really needs mowing.  However, it is centrally located and has a laundromat. On the fun side, what a great time shopping at WalMart!  It’s been a while since we have been to a big store. And also lots of people! Back in civilization!

Day 48 – June 18 is Sunday, Father’s Day. We were in a great position to attend church and found the Fairbanks United Methodist Church. Very enjoyable.  Lots of visitors! Felt at home.  In the afternoon we had fun going to the Midnight Sun Festival. Lots and lots of food trucks!  It was a good day, especially getting to talk to kids and grandkids back home.

See the guy in the cowboy hat?  Trying to get some adult beverage I think!

Beautiful old church!

Great music!

Have never had wine out of a can before.

Have to admit it was an overload to go into a liquor store that had a selection.....such as Texas beverages - Titos and Deep Eddy and Shiner beers!

Day 49 – June 19 was my 7,000 mile tune-up.  We both went for haircuts and I even had time for a pedicure.  Woohoo!  In the afternoon we did our touristy tour of the Riverboat Discovery Sternwheeler.  We had purchased a TourSaver book, so we were able to do this at a buy one get one free price.  It was a good time.  You are able to view a float plane as it takes off and lands and you get to learn about that.  Then we were able to see the late Susan Butcher’s Iditarod training kennels. Then you go to the Chena Village where you learn about the Athabaskan culture.  All in all, a good excursion. 

Watching a sea plane take off.

Susan Butcher's dog kennels.

Giving a demo on how these dogs pull

Reindeer!

Pretty cool how the Chena and Tanana Rivers combine.  See the difference in the water?

Athabaskan clothing

Granite, Susan Butcher's dog that was told the dog wouldn't amount to anything, but he was the champion!

We ended the day by going out to eat at the Salmon Bake at Pioneer Village.  Very good food.  All you can eat salmon, fried cod and/or prime rib for a price of $35 each.

Day 50, June 20 found me remembering my father who passed away 25 years ago today. Time flies!  I celebrated this milestone rejoicing in the love of camping and traveling he gave to me. I can cross this off my bucket list.  We drove up to the Arctic Circle on the Dalton Highway!

Now – did it look like what I have imagined it to be?  No.  My world geography teacher Mrs. Smith said it was just an imaginary line.  Yes, it was.  I didn’t feel any type of electromagnetic field or a wall.  LOL!  But it was still irresistible to get there and experience it.  Especially on the summer solstice which happened today at 8:24 pm Alaskan time. We will not experience a dark sky tonight! 

We saw these people in Skagway. Now we find that they are going to travel the Yukon River Nome!

Celebration lunch at the Arctic Circle!

Look we made it!

Look and you will see the Shiner beers that made it!

Having a toast!

Finger Mountain

Arctic tundra

Yukon River and the E. L. Patton Bridge

The road and the Alyeska Pipeline

The mighty Yukon River

Beautiful tundra

We also crossed over the mighty Yukon River which spans 1,980 miles.  This is such an important river in Alaska.  It is the longest river in Alaska, traveling to the Bering Sea.  The bridge is wood decked and is known as the E. L. Patton Bridge, who was the president of the Alyeska Pipeline. This river is an ancient transportation route. Cold water in the summer and a ribbon of ice in the winter makes a good highway.  No more walking for miles through soggy forest. The natives and gold seekers alike used this.  There is a small visitor center here with good views of the Yukon River.

We also made a stop at Finger Mountain. This is a good place to explore the Arctic tundra.  This is a landmark and has been all throughout time.  The granite finger points to Fairbanks and has been used from the ancients through the gold seekers to find their way.

Day 51 – June 21 finds us staying one more day in Fairbanks.  We still have things we want to do. We did have to move campsites.  Then got busy with laundry, cleaning house, going to the bank to get more quarters so we can keep doing laundry and wash that black beast of a truck. And we still had not visited the  Museum of the North, which is a must see stop if you visit.  Half price if you have a tour saver book.

Then before you know it, it’s 11 pm and all our friends and family from home are posting beautiful tropical sunsets. We sure are missing our sunsets in the land where the sun never sets!