Hello again!
We spent the last couple of days in and around Fairbanks, Alaska. We went to the Univ of Alaska Museum of the North. It was a nice museum, good exhibits and a film about the Aurora Borealis - have to come back in the winter for that... it has to be dark to see the northern lights.
At the Visitor & Cultural Center we saw these large sunflowers and this Antler Arch. The sunflowers were 6 feet tall and the center of the bloom was the size of a dinner plate. If you zoom in you can see the pollen-covered bee!
We did an Arctic Circle Tour that included a stop at the Alaskan Pipeline.
The pipeline is 800 miles long, crosses three mountain ranges and more than 500 rivers and streams. It cost $8 billion to build in 1977. Construction began 3/27/1975 and was completed 5/31/1977. The first oil moved through the 48 inch pipeline on 6/20/1977. There are 11 pump stations to keep the oil moving along its 800 mile course. Much of the pipeline is elevated to protect the permafrost (so as not to melt it) but it does go underground at times.
We crossed the Yukon River - it is HUGE! The picture does not do it justice!
There is a little cafe on one side of the road at the river - it is also a gas station. yesterday when we got there they had NO GAS! This caused us some problems because we did not have enough gas to continue to the Arctic Circle and make it back to Fairbanks. Our guide Tony called the owner of the company and he agreed that we should continue on - he would meet us with some gas cans on the way back - hopefully before we ran out of gas. We were excited to get to continue - the whole point of this day was to go to the Arctic Circle. I was not too worried, even if we ran out of gas - it stays light very late - the owner would be able to find us... no problem!
The skies were a bit grey starting out but we did have some nice views along the way.
Today we drove to Glennallen. It is a very small town on the outskirts of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. It snowed on us along the way, in the mountains.
We were supposed to have another flightseeing but it was (again) put off until tomorrow. The weather is supposed to be better (if you believe the weather apps - which I DO NOT). Hoping for the best.
Here is the place we are staying.
Going to the grocery store is an adventure. This is what $74 buys you in Glennallen, Alaska.
Not much!
That's all for now! Take care and stay cool!
Sheri & Carsten
PS - there is confusion when we say we are from Houston - there is a Houston, Alaska! I saw a sign for it outside of Anchorage but had forgotten all about it until folks said "Texas?" ... never would have even thought about it.
Very interesting trip. Have fun and stay safe n warm. Good luck with the flights. That's Alaska for ya.
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