North Enough

North to Fairbanks!  This is the furthest north we were planning on going this trip. We headed up the Al-Can to its end in Delta Junction and then continued onto the Richardson Highway to Fairbanks.We did not stop at Delta Junction on the way up but we did on the way back to Tok ( Yes Tok again!).  I thought I would talk about it first.  This is the point where the Al-Can ends and connects with the Richardson Highway.  There is a little museum and exhibit to commemorate the massive undertaking of the building of the Al-Can highway.  It was truly an amazing joint effort between the US and Canada to build this road across the cold frosty wilderness. It’s original WWII wartime purpose an inland route to get supplies to Alaska in the event of invasion from Japan.  Now we RV’ers get to drive it for the sense of adventure you cannot get on any other road. Yes, we complain about the condition and constant road construction but none the less it is an amazing feat just to say you have driven this road - all 1422 (more or less) miles of it!

We spent the next few days in Fairbanks. We visited Pioneer Park that showcases the history of the area steeped in gold mining and aviation lore.  We visited and mailed a birthday card to my daughter from the town of North Pole's post-office. Santa says you better be good boys and girls!  One day we drove to the Chena Hot Springs Resort.  This drive is a good place to see moose and sure enough we were not disappointed. We toured the Ice Palace on the grounds too.  A bit of a tourist trap but fun!  A little too early in the day for us to have an appletini served in an ice martini glass but it sure was fun watching them make the glasses!   There is also a nice restaurant lodge where the salads are freshly picked from the thermal warmed hot houses on the grounds.  The waiter told us the high season is winter where folks come to soak in the hot springs and see the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. The Japanese especially find it fortuitous to conceive their progeny under the lights. 

Making Martini Gasses

It's Huge!

Let’s not forget that other engineering marvel the Alaskan Pipeline.   Fairbanks has an exposed and accessible section of the pipeline. It is huge!  Next it was back to Tok for one more overnight stay. A fellow RV’er recommended visiting the local gold shops. One shop in particular was noted for having a large gold nugget. If they find you trust worthy they will even let you hold it! Wow! Guess we looked honest. Jack also let me pick out my birthday present too, a beautiful raw gold nugget and diamond necklace. I struck it rich with my honey!