June 22: Today began with bright sunshine and mild temperatures as we gathered for our weekly worship service. Dave and I were in charge of it this time, and we had great participation by Motorcaders from a variety of denominations: Southern Baptist, Church of Christ, Catholic, Mennonite (background, but not active), and Methodist, that I know about. The setting for our service couldn’t have been lovelier: outside in the gorgeous weather amid lots of lush, green trees! Afterward, it was back to coach and “towed” washing, which Dave spent most of the day helping do! It takes quite a long time to wash a vehicle the size of ours, and a few in the group are larger. He and the others finally got most of the rest (that weren’t washed yesterday evening) done, though.
When that was finished, he and I went to the local “grocery” store, where we found everything from fresh produce to refrigerators to dog food to lanterns and kerosene! BTW, when you’re shopping here, you find that prices run about 30% higher than in the “lower 48.” Then it was back to the coach for an early dinner and off to bed.
June 23: Today we drove back onto the Alaska Highway and had a scenic, smooth drive all the way to Fairbanks. Just a few miles into the trip, Dave and I saw a moose cow and calf browsing in the right-of-way, but they scampered away before we could stop for a photo. The calf must have been very young—it was one of the smallest we’ve seen so far. We drove the Alaska Highway until its terminus at Delta Junction, where we stopped for photos. We later received a certificate for having survived the “trials and tribulations to reach mile 1422, The End of the Alaska Highway at Delta Junction, Alaska.” From Delta Junction, the pavement continues as Alaska Hwy. 2 to Fairbanks. In great contrast to our trip on the Top of the World Hwy., this drive from Tok to Fairbanks was delightful: lovely weather and fairly smooth pavement all the way!
Our campground here in Fairbanks is right on the Chena River, and there is a paved bike/walking path nearby that goes for miles in each direction—great for exercising ourselves and walking Beighley, too! At dinnertime, we enjoyed a delicious dinner at a local restaurant, featuring a choice of salmon, halibut, chicken or steak. Dave and I both had fish (he had halibut and I, salmon) and each was really good!
June 24: Most of our group went on a bus tour of the city and its various points of interest, but having been on a tour of Fairbanks several years ago, this time Dave and I claimed a “day off.” We drove into town for lunch and some shopping, then napped before a drivers’ meeting later in the day in which, amongst all the camaraderie, our leader reviewed plans and schedules for the remaining days we are here. The antics at the drivers’ meeting seemed a lot like a gathering of high school students. It included the usual buffoons who are still the same buffoons 50 years later. (At this meeting there was no throwing of food or spitwads.) Afterward, Dave, Beighley and I went for a long walk along the bike path and thoroughly enjoyed stretching our legs! All in all, it was a good day.