On June 10th, we ventured west to Haines Junction. The 6 of us visited the Da Ku building and its interpretive exhibits. This exhibit of the Tutchone people reflected the lifestyle and traditions of First Nations. The artwork, beading, and stories were amazing. There are many similarities between this group of natives and the Navahos of the southwest. Language and customs seem to illustrate that both came from a common area across the Bering Sea.
"Mama, there is a strange man watching me."
"Don't worry son, I'll take care of him" Traveling northwest we experienced the Kluane National Park and Reserve. Large mountain peaks seem to surround us in every direction Bear, moose, and golden eagles were spotted on this part of the trip. The Dall sheep have not yet made an appearance. That evening we found the Lake Creek Campground...beautiful setting on a flowing river. It included a shelter with a wood stove. The evening was spent playing Mexican Train while staying warm by the fire. The next morning the boys cooked a full breakfast on the wood stove.
Around 11:40 that morning we crossed into Alaska. 5079 miles and 29 days on the road, breathtaking scenery and many history lessons are now a part of our journey. The landscape is harsh, the weather can be unpredictable, the people are self-reliant and gracious....and gas and groceries are much less expensivethan their Canadian neighbors!
Later that day we met in Delta Junction where photographs we taken at the official end of the Alcan Hwy.
We spent the next night in Tok, Alaska...a crossroads for the group. Do we head to Chicken or continue to Fairbanks? Since the Chicken Stock Festival was occurring in Chicken, we chose the road less traveled, heading north to Fairbanks. After camp was set up Linda, Jeannine and I started a marathon round of MN Canasta, while Phil, Dave and Bruce walked to the local bar. About 2 hours later the boys came back with sheepish grins and pink flamingo glasses. Bruce had received the call from Mary and Dylan regarding Alan's future brother or sister. The pink flamingos were not the entire story....it was the Skyy Vodka bottle in sapphire blue that announced Alan's baby brother will arrive in early November. The Ebersole family is very excited. Making a stop at the North Pole allowed us to have a short visit with Santa Claus and a preview of what the elves are manufacturing for all the good girls and boys. A short time later we arrived in Fairbanks to another campground on the river. A riverboat tour the next morning delivered us to a fishing village for a short tour and demonstration. We learned about fishwheels, the process of preserving the salmon, and tanning hides. The First Nations people were tremendous recyclers. Everything had a purpose, nothing was wasted as they survived the 7-8 months of winter which included temperatures at 60 below. A highlight of the boat trip was meeting sled dog teams that are being worked and trained for next years Iditarod. The dogs are amazing....all they want to do is run. The course can be treacherous depending on the weather. Our final evening in Fairbanks was spent visiting friends of Phil and Linda. It was a fine evening, topped with fresh salmon. What a treat! Patty's home and garden were beautiful and it was a delightful way to conclude our time in Fairbanks.
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