7/7/2008        

  Leg 18:     Whitehorse, YT to Beaver Creek, YT

                               Well we made to Beaver Creek and actually in one piece. Between Burwash, YT and Beaver Creek was the worst road we have experienced  yet. Regular passenger cars had no real problem, but the frost heaves in the road (not always marked) cut our speed down to about 45 mph,  but we only got airborne a couple of times.  I will be giving everything a good going over in the morning before we leave for Tok. The photos will have to wait until Fairbanks.

Pioneer RV Park at Whitehorse.There were several tour caravans that came in right after we did. Clearing skies and moving down the road to the first stop, Haines Junction.These dogs don't want anything to do with water. I couldn't get them to even touch it.We're at Kluane Lake and it is huge.
This is the official headquaters for Kluane Lake.

  7/7/2008

Whitehorse to Beaver Creek       

   Click on this link to use the active Google Earth

                                      Map.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=62.3819,-140.8751&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

  We pulled out of Beaver Creek early in hopes of ending this day early in Tok, Alaska. It didn’t matter at all. Shortly after getting on the road to the border and Alaska, the road disappeared, (once more).  Suddenly we were on a combination washboard, gravel and rock surface with tons of dust following us. This lasted for a while then we were back on the pavement. Then we were back on the washboard, gravel and rock, then back on the pavement. As if we were wondering what else could be thrown into the mix, it began to rain. Now dust was replaced with mud, coating the front of the trailer until we got back on the pavement where it was promptly washed off by the rain and spray off of the rear wheels. In these conditions our speed was cut down to about 25 to 35 mph. Then it was cut to…zero. The State of Alaska has extensive road work going on drilling rock and blasting it loose and building new road surfaces. Most of the construction zones were down to one lane so we had to wait at one end until the “pilot vehicle” escorted the oncoming traffic by us, then it would escort us. As a result it took us over 3 hours to go about 112 miles.

         This was still in the easier gravel areas.    This is corrugated pipe used for drainage under the roadway. The State just drops off supplies where ever that feel like it.   

              Escorted by "Pilot Vehicle"         

      Drilling holes for blasting the rock .                           

                      The Teflin Wildlife Refuge.

           Here's two views from the observation deck.

The trip up to Fairbanks from Tok was easy and except for one part at Delta Junction where more road work was being done, this stretch was as good as anything we'd seen since leaving the lower 48. We stopped for lunch at Big Delta, at Rika's Roadhouse, an original roadhouse that has been maintained from the old days but has a restaurant and of course, a gift shop. We took a few pictures and they  will be put up later today or tomorrow. Big Delta is where the Alaskian Pipeline crosses the Richardson Highway right behind the roadhouse. We shot some pictures of it as we crossed the Tanana River again.Our RV Park is actually in North Pole, Alaska which is right between Eielson AFB and Fairbanks. This  special little place has the  whole town decorated as if was Christmas...year round, after all...the name of our RV Park is "Santaland". They even have raindeer. We are going to be here 7 days touring the area, so we will put up lots of photos.

   The Tok RV Camp was one of the best we've seen.

         Another view from the front of the camp.

              This is the last of the Alaskian Highway.

                  Crossing the Gerstile River Bridge.

                             Entering Delta Junction.

            The is the end of the Alaskian Highway.

                                         7/11/2008

                                North Pole, Alaska

Yesterday was a day to get some maintenance chores out of the way...or at least work on getting them done. I made a trip into the south Fairbanks area to the RV Service Center to set up an appointment on the morning we are planning to leave for Cantwell, Alaska which will be the 16th of this month At that time we will get the wheel bearing re-packed on the trailer and also at least one trailer tire replaced. Upon inspection yesterday I noticed the beginning of a tread seperation on the RF tire. Maybe one too many potholes. Also I took the Tahoe in to the Chevy dealer for a once over and oil and filter(s) change. Also spent some time cleaning the front of the trailer. I've got a lot more to do on that part though. Tonight we are heading into Fairbanks in search for a dinner of King Crab. We'll take the camera along and see if we can get some good photos.

                 The Chena River Pump House                                

  This is where we went for King Crab and it was outstanding. The Pump House before the turn of the century was a real pump house for this area.  Now it is one of the best places to eat we have seen.

         Inside dining in the masive diningroom.

     A view from the deck  across the Chena River.

  Dining on the deck next to the Chena River.

  A painting of the Senator Bar....which is between the deck and diningroom...titled a "wildlife refuge "

 The Senator Bar has a pool table that was built in 1898 and has been kept in perfect condition. 

            Patent plate from the end of the table.

             This is the first thing when entering the

                                           Pump House.



Boating on the Chena River with a dog on the bow.

               A window table with carved chairs.

Dredge or a drag line for dredging the river bottom

                                                  the old way.

         Painting from the Pump House website:

                     http://www.pumphouse.com/

                                            7/13/2008

            Champange Brunch at the Pump House

                                                Sunday

I'm sorry, but I'm one of those people that has always loved a good Sunday brunch, no matter where. Well, this morning we struck the mother lode in buffets. The service was  just perfect, too. Our outstanding waitperson this morning, Cara, comes up from Spokane every summer to work at the Pump House. For any food and beverage types out there, this is a great gig.

The first serving line is boiled shrimp, smoked salmon, cheeses, quiche, peppers and vegges.

Under these beautiful heated stainless steel chafers are  pecan-crusted french toast, waffles, roasted potatoes, scrambled eggs, egs benidict, sausage, bacon and more,  plus carved roast beef and ham at the end.

              The  desert  table looks very inviting.  

 The painting above by Sandy Jamieson (The Wildlife Refuge) (above the pool table) made me want to go back and get a fresh view of this magnificant bar. It was early, but there were several people there.

 All of the furniture in the bar and restaurant is in keeping with the period of the gold rush days.

Cara took our picture just as the big sternwheeler "Discovery III" came by. We ate on the deck this morning. It was a very fun time.

We even had some excellent music out on the deck. Tim plays blues, west coast jazz and Latin styles.

Well that about does it for week four. When we got back to camp we did some cleaning (car and trailer) and watched a little TV, then it started getting a little colder and rainy but our little  ceramic heater makes it rather cozy inside. Sounds like some hot chocolate could be in order.

Tomorrow starts week five...two more full days here in the Fairbanks area.  Not much time to see everything we had planned.  Ummm, maybe we 'll have to do this again someday.