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At 4.00am my brain became suddenly alert! I hate this jet-lag, I can't cope with it. The alarm is set for 5.00am as we are leaving at 6.45.
Today will be spent travelling the 450 miles from Anchorage to Fairbanks with a few interesting stops along the way. Breakfast was once again at the Slippery Salmon.
I thought it very strange that our first stop should be at the supermarket, Fred Meyer. However, we needed to get some mosquito repellent so this was the opportunity. I should have remembered the mosquito problem after watching 'Birth of an Iceberg' where they did an experiment to find out why some people are more tasty than others, but I didn't.
Our route takes us through the Matanuska Valley and over the Tahneta Pass to the Matanuska glacier. Once again the scenery is spectacular despite the grey sky. We learn two things about driving in Alaska: if you have more than 7 vehicles behind you, you have to pull in to let them pass and, if you are driving a coach, you have got to stop at every railway crossing, even if the lights are not flashing or barriers lowered.
The Matanuska glacier is the largest glacier in Alaska that can be reached by road. It is 26 miles long and 4 miles wide although it is really difficult to appreciate its size, especially as the part of it is covered by the moraine. It's really beautiful as it curves gracefully back along the valley.
We saw the effects of permafrost, which refers to ground that stays frozen for two years or longer. The spindly spruce trees look like saplings although some of them are 100 years old or more. This is because the roots can't penetrate the ground which also results in them growing at odd angles and looking strangely drunk. We encountered several long stretches of road works as another effect of permafrost was 'frost heave' which causes the road to buckle. Because of the long winter, all roadworks have to be carried out in the summer months, just when the tourists arrive.
We stopped at the Caribou Restaurant in Glennallen for lunch before continuing to Gulkana glacier in the Alaska Range.
We had several sightings of the fascinating Alyeska Pipeline which stretches the entire length of Alaska from Prudhoe Bay in the north to Valdez in the south. It was completed in 1977 at a cost of $8billion. The pipe is 48 inches in diameter and follows a zig-zag path to allow it to expand and contract with temperature changes. The pipeline slides over its supports with the aid of Teflon coated shoes resting on crossbars between the posts that hold it above the ground. This enables it to withstand earthquakes up to 8.5 on the Richter Scale. Oil flows through the pipe at 5-7 mph. It crosses 3 mountain ranges: The Brooks Range, Alaska Range and the Chugach Range. It crosses more than 800 rivers and streams including its own suspension bridge over the Tanana River.
We stopped at Rika's Roadhouse then passed through North Pole, before completing our journey at The Bridgewater hotel.
The highlight of the day was seeing a total of 5 moose, including a mother and calf that ran across the road in front of us.
And finally.....
Fairbanks is a city of extreme temperatures and has been known to reach 30c in summer and -40c or even lower in winter. You can actually break your hair off by walking outside with wet hair!
Today will be spent travelling the 450 miles from Anchorage to Fairbanks with a few interesting stops along the way. Breakfast was once again at the Slippery Salmon.
I thought it very strange that our first stop should be at the supermarket, Fred Meyer. However, we needed to get some mosquito repellent so this was the opportunity. I should have remembered the mosquito problem after watching 'Birth of an Iceberg' where they did an experiment to find out why some people are more tasty than others, but I didn't.
Our route takes us through the Matanuska Valley and over the Tahneta Pass to the Matanuska glacier. Once again the scenery is spectacular despite the grey sky. We learn two things about driving in Alaska: if you have more than 7 vehicles behind you, you have to pull in to let them pass and, if you are driving a coach, you have got to stop at every railway crossing, even if the lights are not flashing or barriers lowered.
The Matanuska glacier is the largest glacier in Alaska that can be reached by road. It is 26 miles long and 4 miles wide although it is really difficult to appreciate its size, especially as the part of it is covered by the moraine. It's really beautiful as it curves gracefully back along the valley.
We saw the effects of permafrost, which refers to ground that stays frozen for two years or longer. The spindly spruce trees look like saplings although some of them are 100 years old or more. This is because the roots can't penetrate the ground which also results in them growing at odd angles and looking strangely drunk. We encountered several long stretches of road works as another effect of permafrost was 'frost heave' which causes the road to buckle. Because of the long winter, all roadworks have to be carried out in the summer months, just when the tourists arrive.
We stopped at the Caribou Restaurant in Glennallen for lunch before continuing to Gulkana glacier in the Alaska Range.
We had several sightings of the fascinating Alyeska Pipeline which stretches the entire length of Alaska from Prudhoe Bay in the north to Valdez in the south. It was completed in 1977 at a cost of $8billion. The pipe is 48 inches in diameter and follows a zig-zag path to allow it to expand and contract with temperature changes. The pipeline slides over its supports with the aid of Teflon coated shoes resting on crossbars between the posts that hold it above the ground. This enables it to withstand earthquakes up to 8.5 on the Richter Scale. Oil flows through the pipe at 5-7 mph. It crosses 3 mountain ranges: The Brooks Range, Alaska Range and the Chugach Range. It crosses more than 800 rivers and streams including its own suspension bridge over the Tanana River.
We stopped at Rika's Roadhouse then passed through North Pole, before completing our journey at The Bridgewater hotel.
The highlight of the day was seeing a total of 5 moose, including a mother and calf that ran across the road in front of us.
And finally.....
Fairbanks is a city of extreme temperatures and has been known to reach 30c in summer and -40c or even lower in winter. You can actually break your hair off by walking outside with wet hair!
- comments
Hickster I'm finding your blog fascinating; all the facts and history. Don't know what morraine is though. Will have to look it up. R
ceebie Glad you are enjoying it Mrs H. A moraine is just the accumulation of rocks and other debris carried and deposited by a glacier. It's usually at the sides but if you look back at Portage, it has one running right through the centre which is the same depth as the ice. They are also deposited at the end and can be an indication of how much the glacier has retreated. I learned that when we visited the Columbia ice field in Canada.
Phil Good grief. You can even reply to comments! Very flash. Now, how about some videos? Just kidding! We are pleased it's going so well. We were a little worried about you getting there on time after that business in San Fran. New roof sorted. 6-8 weeks. :-) You've beat us this time. Enjoy yourselves. Awaiting your next instalment.
ceebie Sorry, Phil. Tried to upload a video just for you but the site doesn't seem to like my iPhone video format. Will try again when we return.