Day 48
8/7/26 Friday
Say goodbye to Denali NP. We left Denali park about 11am. High clouds in the sky and very lights winds. Mosquitos were out this morning for the first time in many, many days.
Our campground was 29 miles into the park so we have wonderful views of wide open land and huge river valleys driving out.
Outside of the park going north there are many hotels and adventure outlets, shops and restaurants. We did not stop but it was humming.
Just a few miles away we crossed a very high bridge over Bison Gulch. We would follow this river for a several miles.
at Bison Gulch
49th State Brewery. The replica of the bus from the movie of the “Into the Wild” is parked here.
49th Brewery
Nenana Ice Classic. Annual event every spring in Nenana. There’s a clock in the tower and a line to the tripod they put on the ice. When the river breaks up the clock in the tower stops. There’s a contest to guess the exact time. The town businesses sell tickets and the winner wins the jackpot from ticket sales. You can enter from anywhere in the world from 2/1-4/5.
There’s hundreds of thousands of dollars paid into this contest. You can checkout more about it at the linking you’re curious.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DR5HpvEVi/?mibextid=wwXIfr
The town itself is quaint. There’s a railroad station (Alaska railroad) and museum. A couple of cafes, a bar and a grocery store. It comes to life for the festival during the Ice Classic.
Fairbanks terrain. All forested. Long rolling hills with big sweeping valleys on both sides of the highway. We left the mountains behind at Denali. Fairbanks is on the Tanana River which flows north into the Yukon. Fairbanks is the start of the Dalton Highway to Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean.
I have always thought of Fairbanks as being “lesser than” Anchorage for reasons I don’t even know. Maybe it’s the size of the city or the coastal location with mountains. But now that I’ve seen the location I think another reason why I really like it is just that… the mountains are far off in the distance, the gigantic river valley and rolling hills… the openness of it. The immense landscapes you can see for miles. It reminds me more of Billings in landscape which is often poo-poo-ed in Montana because it’s not in the part of the state with “scenic mountains” out the door. Just my thoughts on northern Alaska.
Laundromats & Showers. I love that some laundromats include showers. You have to read the reviews to make sure you get a good clean one. The young woman running this laundromat was lovely. She calls your name when your shower has been cleaned and is ready for you. You’re allowed 15 minutes of hot water if you need that much. It’s kind of pricey $6.50 but the extra $$ are worth it. We did have to wait at least a half hour.. it’s a popular shower facility apparently. There are 6 showers. Laundry runs while you are getting cleaned up…. how about that? Shoutout to B&C Laudromat Fairbanks.
Complimentary Salad anyone? The young woman managing the laundromat who greeted me with the friendliest of voices and expression, asked if I’d like some salad. Salad?? Yes, she said she made it and described all the greens and healthy ingredients as she showed me the huge bowl! Never have I ever… !! She was so nice between cleaning showers one after the other. Her 8 year old daughter was hanging out watching cartoons and making colorful cards…one of which she gave me with her name on it. Charli.
Just in case you haven’t been to a laundromat lately, being this clean and friendly is not common. Clean maybe… but not particularly friendly. All sorts of people come and go at the laundromat. There could be a special blog just on that. Haha! I did already describe the awful one in Wasilla with the grouchy employee.
Parking lot camping. We are camping tonight in a long term parking lot at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. As we parked there was one other van parked too. This parking lot has electric outlets along the parking row dividers. I’m guessing it’s to plug your car in during the freezing winter temperatures! Have you EVER seen a University with free parking anywhere? Much less overnight??? Thank you U of A Fairbanks. Another feather in your bonnet!
in the parking lot.
Two Arctic Fox ran through our corner of the parking lot just as we were going to bed. I was not quick enough for a photo though.
Tomorrow our goal is Beaver Creek YT. Back to Canada. It’s 316 miles. We shall see if we can get that far…roads pending.
cinnicrew 