http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , United States , Alaska , Fairbanks en-us Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:30:39 +0000 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:30:39 +0000 Spent the day yesterday puttering around getting ready to drive to Fairbanks when Mark got home. We got on the road by 430PM in rather poor weather. Rain and we just washed the Element Visibility was soso and just past Wasilla we stopped to wash the windows and headlights. Did that a few times. By the time we got to Talkeetna the roads dried up and stayed dry till we pulled into Fairbanks by mi http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-462549.html In June of 2010 I will be riding from the Arctic Sea in Deadhorse Alaska to the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. Any suggestions for procuring affordable transportation from Fairbanks to Deadhorse. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-460827.html We're Almost OffHome Base Alaska So we leave in 12 days to Saigon and the rest of Southeast Asia and we've got everything we think we need at this point. The backpacks came in last week as did my uberdorky secure fanny pack to carry both of our passports cards handguns etc. The fact that we're embarking on this rather extended vacation to the far east is becoming more real everyday. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-436321.html We did not have high expectations before our visit. Heavy smoke from area wildfires caused poor visibility and our eyes noses and throats felt it. Later that day the road was closed. We considered cutting our visit short and getting the heck out of there. However we stuck it out for a few days and were glad we did. Rain came a day later and helped the firefighters. The air cleared somewh http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-435961.html Yesterday we spent the day in Fairbanks. Kay I headed for the Riverboat Discovery the guys rented a car drove to the hot springs. I enjoyed the riverboat trip much more than I thought I would. It began with a seaplane demonstrating a take off landing for us. Although we had been around seaplanes several times on this trip this was the first time it was done just for us done so close you http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-434377.html Today was great Linda and I drove down toward Paxson to visit a place called the glory hole. It is one place where the salmon spawn and they are pretty fun to watch. On the way down we saw Duane in his truck going our same direction and stopped to have lunch with him in Delta Junction. We saw plenty of red salmon swimming upstream and as the days keep going by they will become even more de http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-426645.html Somehow I forgot to publish this one sorry folks...Yesterday I rode along with Duane in his big rig. He had a day trip down to Tok to deliver some fuel. Let me tell you I had such a great time going It actually worked out better to do a day trip instead of an overnight trip to Prudhoe Bay. The bed in the truck only sleeps one so I would have brought my tent and slept outside. So this work http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-426508.html I've arranged a way to buy a plane ticket home whenever I want to. Linda was nice enough to sell some frequent flyer miles and it makes no difference if I book a flight today or 6 months from now. So I plan on riding with Duane tomorrow we are going to Tok and back here to Fairbanks. So it looks like I'll probably fly out Saturday or shortly after that. They aren't the best times to be flyin http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-426029.html Real quick update...I sold the bike today for 1000. It was a little less than I had hoped for but I'll take whatever I can get. Now I'm working on a plane ticket home. It looks like I may stay here for a week before I fly home. That will give me time to ride with Duane and get stuff ready to go home. I'm glad things are finally happening. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-425503.html Last night I talked to a fellow KLR650.net forum member and he lives down in Wasilla. He told me a shop just opened in Fairbanks about 3 days ago and that I should give them a call. I checked out their web site and it said they are open sunrise until sunset every day and in Alaska that means 247. I was looking at their web site and their shop is only about 5 miles from the Emmert's. I ca http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-424797.html Thanks for being patient. Enjoy http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-423722.html What a nice change from being stuck in Dawson The Emmert's have taken such wonderful care of us they are some of the best hosts you'll ever meet. They feed us well we have good times of talking and fellowship and we have the privacy of one of the sections in their house. It is really a neat setup. There is one main common area in the house and there are 3 other separate sections. We've g http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-422748.html Wow the last 2 days were simply amazing. We waited all day yesterday with no sign of motorcycle parts as of 7pm. The visitors center in Dawson City closes at 8pm. We hadn't heard from Adrian yet either. Derek and I were starting to make plans for today and weren't too thrilled with out options. I decided to go to the grocery store at about 7pm and I was going to get some food before they http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-422209.html So Much has happened these last few weeks that I have been too busy to blog. Mostly I've just been distracted and due to my laptop dying a little I've only had computer access at the office in town...and when I'm in the office I'm working and not playing soooooooooooo I've been easily distracted. Please enjoy this overload of pictures http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-417933.html Have you ever been in a place in your life where you really have no idea what you are doing or even how you got where you are Well that's me at this very moment I have always been a fairly stable person with a somewhat rational head on my shoulders. Always had very stable jobs nice cars nice places to live. Imagine losing ALL of these things within a matter of months One might think...wha http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-415799.html WOWMt McKinley is the most amazing thing I've eer seen http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-412900.html PICTURES Here are some more pictures Enjoy http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-408957.html CHARACTER HANSHans is father to Cook Johnny and brother to Kit the wonderful scenic designer that helped found this place and get me my job. I have yet to meet this man but I have listed to his latest Childrens Song Album It's Our World The Green Album I gotta tell you Johnny got the album in the mail one afternoon and that night we blasted it from the kitchen speakers and listened to it http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-408875.html CHARACTER LEROYLeroy...is a cat. He is Johnny's cat. He is the largest cat I have EVER seen that was not a big tub of furry lard. I would not be surprised if Leroy weren't half puma. He's black sleek chill and will snuggle up with any dog as long as their chill. This cat is unflappable. AGENDA TODAYToday is technicall the day off meaning actors don't have rehearsal and people can take it http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-406264.html MORNINGSWhile getting out of bed will always be a battle for me mornings in camp are wonderful. It's nothing too special really but I find I really enjoy wandering around the kitchen with most of the company as we all struggle to become functioning people for the day. Most crawl out around 910am and we pull together our forms of breakfast most go for the cereal and bagles...I prefer to contin http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Fairbanks/blog-405929.html