7-6-2011 Denali Tour

Denali, another highlight and one of our favorite places didn’t disappoint us at all.   Camped right in one of Denali’s campgrounds.   First night we took a shuttle bus out 15 miles.  They  also only allow private vehicles to go out 15 miles.  The tour buses go out much further.   There are 6 million acres, but only 92 miles are open the public, and that is by shuttle/tour. 

Next morning, up at 7, and on the bus to Kantishna at 8:30 for 13 hour tour.  Not bad at all.  Packed snacks, lunch and dinner sandwiches and drinks.  We had a lot of pit stops in between also.  Mt McKinley again in view; the total view is just awesome!  Saw 11 bears, 5 moose, 3 caribous, 1 wolf, 1 porkupine and a gray jay bird.  The first bear was special as it walked down the road right past the stopped bus and on down the road.   It was a great day!

This bear was just awesome, sauntering by and could care less that we were there.

Dall sheep

Caribou

7-5-2011 Breakdown to Denali

17 miles down the road on our way to Denali Natl Park, our serpentine belt let loose.  Coasted to a stop on a long hill.  Had a new belt with us.  Brian, Bec's hubby, is a great mech, did almost all the work himself.  Soooo glad he was with us!!  Started out, then an engine miss, which we corrected on the second try.  Got to Riley Creek Campground in Denali Park with time enough for dinner and our first jaunt out.

Mt McKinley on our way out.  McKinley's vertical relief is greater than Mt Everest.  It's the highest mtn on the North American continent.  Truly an awesome sight, and we were lucky, as it's only in view 25-30 percent of the time.

Ptarmigan

Mt McKinley

This was the view from a resort high up across from the park.

Saw this moose laying on the side of the road just chillin in the sun.

Denali means "High One", named by the Athabascan native people.

Tomorrow's posting will be the tour of Denali and some wildlife, so stay tuned!

7-4-2011 El Dorado Gold Mine

Took a tour through this authentic gold mine from years ago.  Train ride through permafrost tunnel, then got to pan for gold!

7-4-2011 AK Pipeline, Quest Dog Musher, U of AK Museum

Alaska Pipeline in Fairbanks.  It heads underground in Fairbanks.  And the pix with Becca and Brian will give you a perspective of the size of the pipe.

Quest Information Center with Jodi Baily, Yukon Quest champion and Iditarod Musher with two of her dogs.  The dogs were so sweet and docile, and as you can see, enjoying the rest and warmth of the bldg.

The U of AK Museum building itself was awesome, outside.  The architecture was so different.  However, inside it was a disappointment.  The brochure said you needed 3 hours, not so, unless, you read every single word all over the museum, which we don't do.  And Al's bear is much prettier than this one, for sure!

7-3-2011 Riverboat Discovery Tour, Fairbanks

3 1/2 hour paddle boat tour cruising the Chena and Tanana Rivers.

Rolly and Bonnie

Becca and Brian

The late Susan Butcher's Iditarod Training Kennel and home.  The dogs train with a four wheeler, and boy do they get excited when they know they are going for a run.  

Debarked for a small tour of an authentic Athabascan Indian Village.  Several talks on the Indian/Eskimo culture.

This coat was the most beautifully made that I've ever seen.

7-3-2011 Fairbanks with Bec and BrianB-Univ of AK Lge Animal Research Ctr

No, this is not Becca and her hubby!!LOL  They arrived 7/2/2011 and we started our tours the next day.  Went to the University of Alaska Large Animal Research Center, but it was closed for the day.  Followed the fence around through the woods and this was waiting for us.  Musk-ox, huge huge animals.

6-25-2011 Chicken, AK to Fairbanks

 Stayed at Eielson Air Force Base Campground.  Deeply wooded but with a nice lake.  Al hoping to go fishing for a bit.

Highway started out not so good for a bit, but then OK.

For our Sturbridge friends, check out Rolly and Bonnie's truck!!  I think it's the first time Rolly's truck has ever been so dirty, and it will be the last I'm sure.

Mildred the moose (Al's name for her).  Saw Millie driving in and out of the base.  Guess her favorite food was located in these big lots.

Cheno Hot Springs Resort.  Not really a natural hot springs like Liard Hot Springs, but quite a resort and well kept up.

Private hot springs for the ducks.  Water temperature was 156 degrees!!!  They seemed to love it, didn't bother them in the least.

    Moved to Ft Wainwright Army Base for a week.  Will spend a few days with the kids here, before going to Denali Natl Park.

 Will be together with Bonnie and Rolly  from now till we get to Homer, and a few other places.  Good people and fun.  Nice having another couple to have meals with also.  Lots of teasing going back and forth!LOL

6-24-2011 Dawson City to Chicken, Alaska

In the clouds again, but totally awesome!

The road was totally dirt.  And the rigs looked like it at the end of the day!

Rolly and Bonnie on the other side of the hill.

Road washout...one lane.

Awesome views.

One of only 3 business in Chicken, AK.  This lounge had ball caps hanging from the ceiling and walls.  Quite a collection.

Chicken was named by miners because they couldn't spell Ptarmigan.  An active mining town, everything "chicken" is here.  Very remote, nothing there just the 3 businesses and a couple of campgrounds.  But everyone you meet travelling through Alaska asks "Did you stop at Chicken"?  Suppose it's the combination of such a small stopover, and the challenging roads to get there LOl....  

6-24-2011 Dawson City Ferry Across the Yukon River

Small small ferry to cross the river, the George Black Ferry, which was free of charge.    It runs 24 hours a day.  It carries vehicles and passengers, and connects to the Top of the World Highway, Yukon Hwy 9. As you can see, the land part of the ramp was dirt.  Day before there was a wait of at least 3 hours, but today Rolly and Al were the first ones in line so no problem.   Thank goodness no motorhome caravans the day we left.

Only the two of us could fit on the ferry.

Other side of the river, same kind of ramp.