Thursday, July 7th Chena State Park, Fairbanks 68 degrees and sunny. Starting mileage 10960 Talking with several RTers this morning, convinced us to tag along on their journey up the Elliott and then Dalton Highways toward Prudhoe Bay going as far as the Arctic Circle about 115 miles beyond Livengood. They were leaving camp at 10:30, but we told them we had things to do and would catch up to them. Got fresh water back at Pioneer Park as we couldn’t get close enough to the water faucet at the State Park. Checked our e-mail while we were there. We then headed north out of Fairbanks on the Elliott Highway that was mostly paved and followed the Alaskan oil pipeline for the 84 miles up to the community of Livengood where the two highways split. The ... read more

Postscript to Saturday’s entry. We had dinner Saturday night at an all-you-can-eat, salmon, prime rib and snow crab legs place that occupied a corner of Pioneer Park. It wasn’t that great for the price we paid, and that is why I most likely forgot it. The place was set up for tour buses to bring in hordes of people and since they were not there at this time, we could go right through the serving line. We did find a couple of RTers inside and joined them for dinner. That was pleasant. Sunday July 3rd through Monday, July 5th Pioneer Park, Fairbanks Alaska; Fair and 57 degrees. Starting mileage 10925. Started the day by driving to Creamer’s Field that is now a 2000 acre Migratory Waterfowl Refuge. Prior to 1966, this was a dairy farm started ... read more

July 1, 2011, Friday Teklanika Campground, Denali National Park Left Rosie II at 8:30 after repacking our lunches, drinks, and snacks. Rained in the night and it is currently 42 degrees. Foggy out. This day is an excellent example of how capricious wildlife viewing can be. It was raining and grey out when we walked to the bus stop. We drove the same road at approximately the same time and saw one hoary marmot on a rock next to the road and Dall sheep on three different mountain sides in three different places. Since the bus driver had nothing to talk about as far as wild life goes, she pointed out the wooden sign that is chewed up by bears every time it is put out. They solved the problem by putting long metal spikes all ... read more

Wednesday, June 29, 2011 Started our 11th week driving from Riley Creek Campground to Teklanika Campground, Denali National Park As usual was 51 degrees and very overcast. Starting mileage was 10739. Stopped first at the Mercantile to check our wifi before heading up the road. Before we got to Savage River we saw a huge bull moose in plain view calmly eating the willow tree leaves. Valerie went to take his picture and the camera said it needed new batteries. By the time Valerie had the camera reloaded, the moose had moved. So, Valerie now has a “moose puzzle”. One shot of his head and antlers, one shot of his body, one shot of his rump, but no shots of the magnificent beast completely as we saw him. Sigh!!!! When we got to the pull-off overlooking ... read more

Friday, June 24, 2011 9:13 55 degrees with high clouds mostly clear, sunny and warm. 10401 starting mileage today. Continued our drive down the mountain looking at the wild flowers blooming on the side of the road. A couple miles from where we camped, we found Jim, Diane, and their dog Rocky, , camped at the lower campground. Disappointed we didn’t camp together, as we enjoy their company. Talked with them for a bit and then continued on down the mountain and turned at the fork onto Fishhook-Wasilla Road. Obviously, Fishhook was once a community, but we didn’t see evidence of one. Came to the small, unattractive, community of Wasilla, which is mostly spread along the Parks Highway and found a place to have our toenails cut. Hadn’t had them cut since we left home and ... read more