We are staying in Fairbanks through the weekend. We decided to stay in town because of the several things we wanted to do, and we needed to do laundry. The dirty clothes bag was taking too much room in the Casita.
We have definitely experienced some of the things that makes it Alaska. In addition to the frost heaves I mentioned earlier, we also got some up close and personal experience with mosquitoes. You know the mosquitoes are well fed when you squish them and get blood on your finger. Gross!!! But it’s happened repeatedly. We haven’t broke down and bought head nets yet mostly because they look dorky. I think the diesel exhaust from the half-million dollar (or more) RVs parked next to us may keep the mosquitoes at bay. Our Casita sure looks small by these huge rigs.
We also are enjoying the late sun. I literally haven’t seen the night sky since Fort Nelson, BC (sometime around July 8) when Mike had to put down the awning in a crazy lightning storm directly overhead. It wasn’t our best move to have Mike outside in the storm waiving around a metal rod but the awning was about to make us fly away like Dorothy. And since we started in Canada instead of Kansas, who knows where we would have landed? It does get dark here, for 2-3 hours, but I haven’t been awake during that time.
We’ve also seen a good number of moose, mostly along the road. They’re rather silly-looking though really big. Luckily, we aren’t the only dorks pulling over to take pictures; we’ve seen plenty of trucks with Alaska plates doing the same thing.
We’ve also taken advantage of some outdoor adventures. Yesterday, we braved the mosquitoes and hiked Angel’s Rock Trail to the top of a hill with interesting rock formations. The hike was mostly fun. We had lunch on a rock near the top, but not near the edge of the rock. The dog and I are too clumsy to get too close to the edge. We ate all of the reindeer sausage sticks we bought from a meat place outside of Delta Junction where they process and package the meat they raise. Mike tried the yak sausage there too. On the way down the trail, we accidentally got off-route and ended up scrambling through a steep wash-out area. It wouldn’t have been so bad but an older couple followed us down the trail and it was a harder scramble for them. When we found the true trail again, Mike scampered back up the hill to tell them that the trail was close. Like us, they had been concerned about being lost and were happy for the information. We think they were British, and the gentleman said to Mike “Chivalry is not dead.”
After the hike, we went to the Silver Gulch Brewery. The menu was fancy and local, and the food was really quite good. I ordered Alaskan hushpuppies, which had halibut, shrimp and coconut in it. Mike had the nachos, which were a cut above normal nachos. We also really liked the beer. This time, the pilsner was the best. Really, a pilsner? Interesting.
There’s not much of a mountain view here but Fairbanks is in the middle of a wilderness and there are trees and lakes aplenty. The Chena River floats through town, and we see paddlers on it from our campsite. It’s supposed to be an easy float through town, and I want to do it. The annual Golden Days Festival is underway this week to celebrate the town’s history in gold mining. I’ve been enjoying it. Yesterday, after the brewery, I saw a log splitting contest, log sawing contest, and a drawing to win a gold nugget. I learned that dogs are allowed where the events are being held so Mike and Iris will join me next time. I’m excited to see the parade this weekend.