As I mentioned in the previous post, the next day Jeannie and I headed to Nenana. Jeannie wanted to show me some of the tourist sights in town and as we got closer to Nenana, we were able to get phone service so we could make a couple of phone calls. Nenana is known for their Ice Classic. People buy chances and guess when the ice will go out on the Nenana River. Whoever guesses the date and time wins the prize money.
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| Nenana Ice Classic Tower |
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| Ice Classic Float |
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The float (above) is placed on the river ice. As the ice melts the float goes down the river on ice chunks. When it snags the wire attached to the tower, the float tips and springs the clock. We then went on to an view a fish wheel (working in the water & not working on dry land).
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| Working Fish Wheel |
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| What a fish wheel looks like on land |
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Jeannie and I visited an old trappers cabin and met the old trapper!
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| Original Trappers Cabin |
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| Sue & "The Old Trapper" |
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At the Alaska Railroad Station in Nenana, President Warren G Harding pounded in the Gold Spike for the end of the Alaska Railroad. There is also a commemorative plaque marking the 75th Anniversary of the Alaska Railroad at this site.
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| Gold Spike pounded in by President Harding |
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| Alaska Railroad 75th Anniversary |
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| Alaska Railroad Train Crossing the Nenana River |
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| Alaska Native Bridge Honoring Alaska Native Vets |
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In Nenana is the oldest mission in the area. St. Mark's Mission Episcopal Church was built in 1905 and is still used today.
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| St. Mark's Mission |
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| Inside St. Mark's |
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| Jeannie Theel at rear of St. Mark's |
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When we left the church, we went to the Nenana Cultural Center & Native Gift Shop (above). Dean Theel has had some of his pelts from trapping on display here. He's trapped wolf, lynx, coyote, and weasel (ermine).
After a substantial breakfast the next morning, Roger and I said our sad good-byes to Dean and Jeannie and hit the road for the last stage of our trip to Cantwell. On the Parks Highway, we viewed Minto Flats, where the Tanana River and Nenano River meet, and the Nenano River near Denali National Park.
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| Minto Flats |
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| Nenana River near Denali Nat'l Park |
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| Another view of the Nenana River |
We made it to Cantwell!!! 4,043 from Blythe, California to Cantwell, Alaska. These are the views that we have from Cantwell.
Here is Mt. McKinley - on our 1st day here at the Cantwell RV Park. We'll wait for a clear day to see the whole mountain. We can see all of these mountains right from our window and site.
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| Mt McKinley |
More photo's of our adventures to come!
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