June 6 - to Denali, 120.6 miles

We had scattered showers in Fairbanks as we packed up to leave.  Our neighbors left before us, so we were able to load the motorcycle without first moving the mh.  We took off the windshield screen and found it loaded with yellow pollen.  There was some sort of sticky substance all over the ground in the campground.  We would have to remove our shoes so we didn't track it all over the carpet & floor.   We took advantage of the local Safeway to restock the larder before going to Denali, as we expect prices to be higher.  Then we took a little detour back to the University museum to buy a DVD.  I thought I might find a better price on Ebay or Amazon, but it didn't work out that way.

We finally got on the road, and what spectacular scenery.

Alaska Native Veterans' Honor Bridge

another view

 We stopped in Nenana and learned about the ice breaking predictions.   Last year the winner, predicting the date and time of when the ice breaks, won over $300,000. 

They build a log structure (tripod) like this and put it in a specified portion of the River.  They use chain saws to cut the snow/ice down a couple feet, then fill with water so the tripod freezes into place.  There is a cable placed from the top of the tripod to this tower.  Once the ice breaks, the tripod is pulled down river and the cable stops the clock shown in the window of the little building next to the tower.  It is all very regulated.  You can buy the opportunity to win.   For $2.50, you submit your date/time.  All the submissions get tabulated into a huge printed book.  They pay out half the proceeds to the winner(s) and use the other half for altruistic causes in the Nenana community.

 

 

 

 

 We parked in the visitor center and walked around the town.  When we were coming back, this moose walks onto the road.

She looks regal here.

Is she smiling?

 One of the locals said this was one lucky moose, as today was a potlatch after someone's funeral and they had just taken a moose yesterday for the feed.  Not to much later we see this Fire Department SUV coming down the street slowly with its emergency lights flashing.  It was leading a procession of cars, we assume it was the funeral mentioned earlier.

Nenana's claim to fame is that in 1923, President Warren Harding was the first US President to visit Alaska, and where he went was Netana.  To dirve the stake that signals the completion of the Alaska Railroad.

These (two) train cars look like they are parts donors.

more from Nenana

Nenana Visitor Center.  Karen was working on bead work when we arrived, but she was very welcoming to the area and town.  We were able to leave the mh in this lot and walk back to the river and around the town.

This was a unique gift shop called the Tailanika Trading Company and Museum (mile 276) in Clear, AK.  They had some unique displays (stuffed polar bear for one) and vehicles around the property.

"Got my snow tires," 

Pontoons ready for something.

Truck is modified for snow use.  Skis on the front instead of wheels and tracks on the rear. 

We were told to expect a 30 minute construction delay.  We hit the first one perfect, just coming up to the stopped cars as the traffic was being led up to us on the other side. 

 Great view while we were going slow, or for the stop later on.  With the bumps in the road, slow was the operative word.

We heard a "pop" when I put the slide out.  This rod is supposed to signal when the slide is out far enough.  Guess the welding held, but the metal in the support bar didn't .  David thinks it is ok to leave unfixed.  We just have to keep the rod from scraping and rattling.  We have a couple days here for him to figure that out.  We had something funny happen to the refrigerator door too.  Sometimes it won't open without lifting it from the bottom a bit first.  Strange, but not going to spoil the trip.

The campground spaces are very tight, we are parked on gravel and dirt.  Not to appealing, but it helps that it isn't full yet.  Thinking about it in peak season gives me shutters.  I went for a nice walk last night without considering the time.  It was about 11:30pm when I got back and I had no idea.  There were a number of people out and about.  Once thing I over packed on this trip is flashlights.  There is a nice path to get into the park.  Hopefully the rain is over as I can't figure out the shuttle.  I found a sign at one hotel saying it picks up there every hour, but the Denali web site and newspaper we looked at don't explain much as far as their courtesy shuttles at all.

snow still packed under the road

this picture looks darker than the sky really was.

I took these 15 - 20 minutes later, as I was still walking back to the space. 

Hopefully these folks drive their RV in the day time, or if we want the motorcycle we'll have to move ours to get it off.

The rain made more mud, but all is ok.  We need to leave on our bike ride now.  We'll either get wet or not :-).  It was about 70° when we got here about 6:30pm.  So warmer than Fairbanks.