Friday morning we left the Westmark Inn & RV Park knowing that we had the worst of our drive behind us. The road was much better with less dips and gravel spots. The purchase of a bra for the car and a rock deflector were a good purchase, we could see where quite a few rocks nicked up the deflector and the bra was filthy. We looked forward to finding a car wash at our next stop; which was going to be Tok, Alaska.
Just like other days after we've left the campground, we weren't on the road long before we saw a caribou off the side of the road. This one was one of the most skittish that we've seen. As soon as it saw us, it dashed off into the forest.
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| Caribou running into the forest |
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We only had to travel about 20 miles from our campground before we were at the US Border. Our trip through customs was much easier going back into the US than going from the US to Canada. All we had to do was show our passports and answer a couple of questions and we were back on the road again.
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| We made it into Alaska! |
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| Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center |
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Just a few miles into Alaska is the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. We decided to stop in and check out the viewing deck for nesting swans, Native Athabascan cultural exhibits, and topographical map model.
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| Roger and Cache (Bear Proof) |
View of the Refuge from the deck of the Visitors Center.
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| Nutzotin Mountain Range |
After leaving the Visitors Center, our journey for the day proceeded toward the Alaska Range and Tanana River.
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| Tanana River |
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| Alaska Range |
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| Alaska Range & Tanana River |
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The pictures can never do the scenery justice, however; I will forever be in awe of snow capped mountains. We decided to spend the night at the Tok RV Village. We had applied for a job there last fall and they had already hired their Workkampers for the season. Just before we left Blythe, Rose the owner, called and asked if we had accepted a job yet because she had a cancellation of one of the couples. We had already accepted our position in Cantwell but; I told her that we would stop by for a visit.
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| Tok RV Village |
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| Tok RV Village Office |
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| Our site at the Tok RV Village |
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A short 100 miles or so from Tok, we made it to Delta Junction. After beautiful scenery, wonderful wildlife and some dips and gravel roads, we drove the entire Alaska Highway from Dawson Creek to Delta Junction!
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| Welcome to Delta Junciton |
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| The end of the Alaska Highway |
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| 1,422 Miles from Dawson Creek to Delta Junction |
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When I went into the Visitors Center, the staff gave me a certificate stating that we made it all the way from Dawson Creek to Delta Junction on the Alaska Highway. Now it was on to North Pole, Alaska where we wanted to spend a couple of days checking out Fairbanks.
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| View of the Alaska Range |
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When we got to North Pole, Alaska we went to the Riverview RV Park and set up camp. After we got set up, I set out to go back to North Pole and scope out the Santa Clause House. North Pole is exactly like it sounds, it's a town that revolves around Christmas year 'round. There's a huge statue of Santa Clause standing right next to the Santa Clause House which is full of beautiful Christmas ornaments, gifts, and everything revolving around Christmas and Santa Claus that you can possible think of.
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| Welcome to North Pole, Alaska |
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| Santa checking his list - twice |
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| Santa Claus House |
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After a good nights rest, Roger and I decided to go shopping for supplies, find Labcorp for Rogers blood test, and check out Fairbanks. We had a beautiful day to scope out the city - if you can believe it, it was 71 degrees today. Tomorrow, Monday, we will leave the campground for a visit with friends from the Iron Range of Minnesota who've fallen in love with Alaska and now live 40 miles from Fairbanks.
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