OUR WINTER HOME

We arrived in Casa Grande, our winter home, on the 17th of October. Before leaving Fairbanks we experienced the most beautiful prelude to Winter we've seen in years. The Fall colors were abundant. On departure the Birch Trees were completely bare, and no snow. It snowed the day after. In contrast, the temperatures here in Casa Grande have been in the nineties since arriving. Just a tad warm for a long time Alaskan, but we expect things to mellow out soon.

Modifying A Myth

GOLDEN DAYS 2011 (Part 1)

GOLDEN DAYS PARADE

Golden Days began as a way of collectively honoring Fairbanks’ past. It is then that we celebrate the discovery of gold here. Felix Pedro struck gold on July 22, 1902, in a creek 12 miles north of town.. The celebration of Golden Days is coordinated by the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce and always takes place in the July week that is closest to July 22.

(Note: Pictures can be enlarged by double clicking on them)

GOLDEN DAYS 2011 (Part 2)

RED GREEN REGATTA

Fairbanks residents searching for duct tape, during Golden Days, may find it in short supply as Fairbanks hosts its 15th annual Red Green Regatta. The regatta begins at the Graehl Park boat launch and ends at Pioneer Park .The public can view the regatta from the Wendell Street and Cushman Street bridges and along First Avenue. Celebrity judges will score this year’s watercraft based on innovative use of the handyman’s secret weapon (duct tape), imagination and integration of the Red Green theme. Entrants vie for water-worthy prizes. Winners and special awards, including "Best Viewed at a Distance," "Harold’s Debacle" and "Most Un‘fathom’able," were announced at the Governors Picnic.

GOLDEN DAYS 2011 (Part 3)

RUBBER DUCKIE RACE

And they're off! All 6,000 rubber duckies race for the chance to win cash and prizes totaling over $20,000. On race day the Golden Days Executive Committee drops the yellow duckies from the Wendell Street Bridge into the Chena River. The numbered duckies float downstream to the finish line. Prizes include: $10,000 cash, $5,000 cash, sponsored gifts from local Fairbanks & North Pole businesses and much more. Tickets may be purchased up until the start of the race. It’s a fun event; I like to be there to cheer my Duckie on!

Semi Annual Trip to Valdez

I always enjoy the drive to Valdez. Three hundred and sixty miles from Fairbanks, a traveler takes the Richardson Highway and passes through a floral wilderness abundant with views, and perhaps experiences, that will be remembered for a lifetime. We straddle and cross rivers carrying the runoff of winter's snow, all of which are abundant with sustenance to a wide variety of game and fowl. Harding, Birch, Summit, Paxton, Tangle, and Willow are just six of the more than one hundred lakes we see, each worthy of an overnight stay. Willow Lake, as previously mentioned is one of our favorites.

Moose along, and on, the highway require the driver’s constant vigilance, getting too close can spoil even your best day. Twins must be a popular item this year, we spotted three sets on this trip.

Located in the Chugach Mountains near Thompson Pass, the Worthington Glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska, passing within a few feet of the parking lot, and viewing shelter, right off the Richardson Highway. Incidentally, Thompson Pass is considered "the snowiest place in Alaska", with an average annual snowfall of forty-six feet. I drove this route once in winter, and the sensation was like riding a subway into oblivion, snow everywhere. From Thompson Pass (elev. 2678) we have a drive of only twenty-six miles to Valdez, Alaska. I consider these last few miles the highlight of the entire trip. This section of the highway passes through Keystone Canyon, following the Lowe River to its terminus, in Prince William Sound.

As we know, it really is a small world. This gentleman, with the fish online, was a member of our Halibut Fishing Charter. After some conversation, I discovered that I had sold his mother a Cadillac more than twenty years ago. They still have it; it has given them good service, was a classic then, and must be a "Super Classic" by now.

The day after our fishing charter, I was cleaning some Pink Salmon I caught that morning, and I saw the same fellow. He was cleaning some salmon he caught. He said he had some pictures of me catching my halibut and would send them to me. He also had a video of a "Grizzly-Fish-Fisherman" encounter he managed to film. I will add these to this post when I hear from him. (wdmurr@gmail.com)

Alaska Salmon Bake

Entrepreneurial Restaurateur, Publican, and erstwhile "Odds Maker" Rick Winther has provided Fairbanks with a tourist attraction that continues to charm and seduce our summer visitors. The Alaska Salmon Bake, located in Pioneer Park, seems always to be packed with visitors from everywhere. The locals like to visit during to first week of the summer season, when a "special" allows dinning at half price. It was during this period that Lesley and I made our annual pilgrimage.

It’s best to come hungry, as you will note the price is quite steep. In previous years, Halibut was provided in place of Cod. With halibut selling for more than fifteen dollars a pound in the market,we always got our moneys worth.

Summer Trip To Denali

Earlier this month we made our annual trek to Denali National Park. While there I took a bus tour into the backcountry.

This photo has obviously been magnified. I wanted to give you a better prospective of what you are viewing in the following video. A Grizzly can run at a speed of 30 MPH. The video was taken from a distance of less than a mile. If my math is correct, that equals one mile in two minutes. Watch carefully: if the bear stops, stands and looks at us, should we proceed more cautiously?

A Mother Moose and her twin calves are confronted by a hungry Grizzly. I’m amazed by the respect and caution the bear displays in its pursuit. Equally awesome is the mother’s ability to end the chase by leading her young to water. Recommend viewing in Full Screen. Just click full screen button (lower right-hand side of picture).

The Redwoods, by Lesley

"This land is your land, this land is my land;
From California, to the New York islands;
From the Redwood Forests, to the Gulf Stream waters;
This land is made for you and me."

The redwood forests overwhelmed me. Those trees have been there for three thousand years. Henry VIII was only five hundred years ago. Dinosaurs roamed amongst the trees. Evidence of the redwoods living in the coastal plains up to two hundred million years ago is found there. I hugged those trees and felt like a real tree hugger! They are as beautiful as anything I have experienced and made me feel young.

As I went walking, I saw a sign there;
On the sign there, it said PRIVATE PROPERY;
On the backside, it said nothing;
That side was made for you and me...

So says a little known verse of the song by Woody Guthrie. We were shocked to find that the verse was correct for this famous section of the redwoods. The spectacular tree that has the road running through is privately owned. As we approached a voice said "Halt! Deposit five dollars at the kiosk. If you wish to drive through the tree, deposit ten dollars". This land is made for you and me!

Sedona Hike

A fellow member of the Palm Creek Hiking Club provided the pictures, and I created the video. “Hiking in the Sedona Valley”, hope you enjoy….

Returning Home for the Summer

We left our winter home in Casa Grande, Arizona, early on the seventh of April. We had reservations on the Alaska Marine Highway leaving from Prince Rupert, BC. Canada, requiring us to be at the terminal by 6:00 PM, on the fifteenth. With nine days to travel approximately 2800 miles, we planned to average about 300 miles/day.

Our return trip to Alaska would take us first to San Diego and then up the coast to Crescent City, California. From Crescent City we headed inland to Interstate 5, where we remained until reaching the Canadian border. It is a short 1000 miles through the Fraser River Valley and Canadian Rockies to Prince Rupert B.C. I say short because it is a spectacular and beautiful drive.

Our overnight accommodations were provided by Indian Casinos while in the US, and Wal-Mart in Canada. Before leaving Arizona I obtained a directory of casinos. Best purchase I could have made. Did you know they actually pay you to stop and spend the night? The parking is free, plentiful (often private), and sometimes comes with a dumpsite. Just go in, apply for a casino card, and enjoy $10 credit on their slots! The Breakfast Buffets are practically free as well. In Canada, Wal-Mart still welcomes you with open arms.

I like to think that while traveling, "the sun seems to follow us around". That was our experience on this trip. We had sunshine each and every day, during our voyage in Southeastern Alaska, and as the picture will attest, even in the Yukon!