The verdict is in. We have a cracked exhaust manifold. We could travel with this but we’ve decided to get it fixed. It should be repaired by Friday and then we’ll start to head south.
In the meantime, we’ve been biding our time in Fairbanks. Yesterday rain pretty much kept us indoors so we just laid around and read. I am constantly amazed at how comfortable our living quarters are. One would think that two people and a dog, living in a 36 foot motor home with one bathroom for extended periods of time, would begin to feel claustrophobic and cramped–especially coming from a 4,000 square foot house with 4 bathrooms. Even when we have all the curtains closed, the motor home still feels spacious and easy to move around in, to sit and read, watch a movie or TV or even go into the bedroom to read or work on the computer. Or take a nap or go to sleep.
Today the sun shone and the temperatures went into the mid 60’s. Since we decided not to attempt the pipeline road, we knew the only place we would be able to see muskox and caribou/reindeer was at the Robert G. White Large Animal Research Station, operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks. This facility studies and breeds muskoxen, reindeer and caribou and opens to the public in the summer. The muskoxen were so cool to watch.
2 muskoxen
What a great face!
Caribou
We took some short drives around Fairbanks and stopped at Fox, Alaska at the intersection of Alaska Highways 6 and 2. It is nothing but a gas station, grocery/liquor store, bar and bakery. The bathroom is an outhouse. However, besides the gas, we bought 2 delicious sausage, egg and cheese biscuits, the best chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies to date and Michael’s favorite—homemade rhubarb pie. We picnicked at the Chena River Recreational Park. There I found a white crowned sparrow, an American Wigeon and a nesting raven. We sat at a picnic table, read, walked along the river and just enjoyed the beautiful day.
White crowned sparrow
American Wigeon
Tomorrow we plan to take a ride to the Chena Hot Springs, about 60 miles outside of Fairbanks. We’ve been told it should be a very scenic ride. Don’t know if we’ll try the hot springs or not.
Hot Springs….How can you go and not try it out. You may not get another chance. A perfect natural Hot Tub……Relaxing. It will make the trip to Fairbanks worthwhile.
Just curious: when you take these short drives around Fairbanks, is it in the motor home or the lunar rover?
The lunar rover (Tracker) of course. It’s easier to maneuver and uses a lot less gas. We just keep the motor home parked at the camp site & go about town or on short trips.