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Wednesday
Way Far North
We started off Tuesday with one last trip to learn more about Denali. By the way, the whole beginning of Denali was to protect the Dall sheep which were being overhunted. What amazing efforts have been made since those humble beginnings and from my chair, it has been very successful in preserving this area…probably unparalleled anywhere else.
Fairbanks was our next destination. We had some options in this fairly small town, but chose to take some time just walking around the Pioneer Park. It was originally built as an amusement park and now seems to be a summer gathering place, with museums on site, as well as original buildings from town that have been collected and turned into a small town within the town, with gift shops, theatres, etc. The train car that Pres. Harding rode in to Alaska to drive the first spike for the Golden Railroad was in the park, as well as a steamboat, etc.
North Pole, Alaska is just about 10 miles outside Fairbanks, and that was just plain fun. The whole town is full of candy cane light poles, holiday-named streets, etc. You are greeted outside by the sleigh-driving Reindeer herd. Inside Santa's house, he awaits for pictures, and of course there were lots of possible purchases to resist.
We spent the night at Green Acres RV Ranch at Delta Junction, AK, and little did we know that just a few miles outside of town were the snow-capped mountains that to me just yell "Alaska". I was actually moved to tears. What a beautiful, beautiful sight. The day was full of similar yet such varied views. A lot of today we could follow the Alaska Pipeline, see where it went underground and then back up again several times. We stopped in Glennallen, Alaska, where Aunt Bess and Uncle Doug once lived, saw the Copper Valley Coop where Uncle Doug worked in the late '80's. I really wanted to go in and see if there was anyone there that remembered him, I guess I just wanted to feel a little connected. I wish I had listened more to their stories of Alaska when I had the chance. We saw forests full of pipe-cleaner trees, our first glacier, ate a piece of pie at the Sourdough Lodge, saw countless lakes (many of which were still frozen), braided rivers, snow markers that are probably 12 to 15 feet tall, was greeted by 3 moose and 2 caribou on the roadways, commented on lazy mountains and those more majestic, and then once again joined the City of Anchorage in time for rush hour. It was singing night at Rose Street (who are making us feel like family), and then we went to eat at the Moose's Tooth for "the best cheesy bread sticks I have ever had in my life" and home-brewed root beer.
I think I took about 400 pictures today, so I will let them do most of my talking (please be sure to go to the Photos Tab). I have many reflective thoughts about the last few days, but I will save those for another day.
- comments
sue kelley Sounds like you are having a wonderful time taking in all of God's beauty!!!
Janet Duggin I wondered if you would be close to where your aunt and uncle lived. Sounds like you are having a great trip!
citizen of Greenville did you bring me back any of those bread sticks?