North Fork Chena River Boondocking

MM 38.2 Chena Hot Springs Road, Fairbanks, AK – June 14 – 18, 2014

Before we left Rika’s, we had to walk over and check out the baby goat again. It had been cold last night and we wanted to make sure she was OK. She was fine and so we continued on our way.

EJ told me our first stop was going to be the Knotty Shop and I thought she was getting frisky.

Turns out the store was all about burl wood, and carvings and ice cream. Oh yes, we had a coupon for free ice cream so we had to stop. Here are some statues made out or burled wood.

And some more burled wood as part of the building structure.

The North Pole was calling EJ and she felt obligated to answer. Do you know how many days are left until Christmas?

EJ was very disappointed she hadn’t seen a moose yet, but then she got to see one up real close.

So then it’s time to say goodbye and continue on our way.

We had also gotten word from some of our fellow Loosey Goosey friends that they would be going to the same Chena River area we were. We had originally planned on spending the night in Fairbanks beforehand, but with this fresh news we, surprise, changed plans. We drove in to Fairbanks, got our shopping done and other necessary duties then drove straight to MM38.2 on the Chena Hot Springs Road.

Hmm. Things have changed. No longer is this place a challenge to find. There are actually signs directing you right to our favorite boondocking spot. Quite a few RVs are already there, but there is one primo spot right on the river left so we snag it.

The other LG friends start to show up the next day and immediately the women folk go into puzzle mode.

This is an idyllic place. We really like the views. It is a special place to us because this is where we saw the northern lights in 2011.

We see lots of moose spoor, but no moose.

One day we all decide to travel up to the Chena Hot Springs Resort and use the hot springs.

After an hour long soak in the hot springs and a nice long hot shower we decide to go on the powerhouse/greenhouse tour. While we are waiting for the tour to start, EJ gets to see a real moose and her baby just out for a stroll across the road.

We also got to see reindeer, which we are told, are really domesticated elk.

Then on to the tour.

Whew! Boy that was exciting. For a more in depth review of the tour we refer you to our September 6, 2011 blog. Click here to see it.

One day EJ and I decide to go exploring some other potential boondocking spots.

These are right on the river and have actual beaches. They are also pretty full. But EJ does spy this conglomeration of butterflies. We think someone spilled a sweet drink on the rocks and the butterflies were going nuts over it.

On the day before everyone else was scheduled to leave, the weather decided to misbehave. There was no wind, and it drizzled off and on all day. Accordingly, the mosquitos decided we were breakfast, lunch and dinner and attacked with serious fervor. However, not to be conquered by a miniscule insect, we all (except Sheila) donned our head nets, and sat outside in spite of them.

Dennis and Carol Hill showed up and saw our attire and immediate declared no way they were coming here.

Then the morning came when everyone departed, but us. We looked around and saw that we were the only RV left. Rain nor rising river shall keep us from one more day.

Next stop, Fairbanks.

Button, the baby goat

Rika’s Roadhouse Campground, Big Delta, AK – June 13, 2014

The Loosey Goosey Gangs plans diverged this morning. The rest of the group opted to move to a real campground and we were still in boondocking mode. They got an early start and we hung around just being lazy after all we had a whole 65 miles to go today. As we were walking back from a coffee run, we saw ClassC Mark and then Jon/Sue. They had just arrived from their Top Of World Highway trip and survived.

Since I had cleaned up Big Guy and the Element it, of course, began to rain early in our days journey.

One of the many braided rivers we’ll see.

Our first stop is Delta Junction, the official end of the Alaska Highway. At 1422 miles long, it’s been 21 days since we started at Mile 0. As you can see we are definitely taking our time.

Frank is holding our official certificate for reaching the end of the ALCAN.

One of these objects is an obsolete pig. And their take on how big the mosquitos are up here.

The Alaska Pipeline crossing the Tanana River on its way from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez.

As we pull into Rika’s Roadhouse parking lot we are greeted with a sign we rarely see.

It’s an Alaska State campground that no one appears to be using. No hookups, but it’s only 5 dollars a night. There’s also a dump and fill station in the park for an additional 5 dollars. The sites are all back in, but we choose an end one and circle our way into it so we don’t have to unhook the Element.

We set out to explore the grounds and find Rika’s Roadhouse.

Quite fancy for a Roadhouse. But there used to be a lot of commerce here. Ferry’s and Steamers served the area bringing in lots of passengers and goods.

The park does have a restaurant and we feasted on some pretty spicy chili. While there we got to see a production line of sandwiches being made for the weekend crowds.

Afterwards we continued our wanderings and met a young couple that were here for a summer job taking care of the animals. They were living upstairs in the roadhouse and had traveled from Illinois in this.

We asked them about the baby goat we had seen and they told us it’s name was Button and it had just been born this morning.

Hey', I think we found the original Jed and Granny Clampett truck.

Across the Tanana River we spotted an eagle’s nest high up in a tree.

That’s if for another Alaska day.

A Repeat of Tok (Part 3)

Young’s Chevron back lot, Tok, AK – June 12, 2014

EJ and I decided to do a little exploring after our morning latte. Turns out there are 3 espresso machines here in Tok. We’ve tried two of the three and they are quite acceptable. Evidently these long days require more caffeine to stay awake. 

We saw a flyer for the Outback Thrift Store. Outback, great! I’m thinking boots, hiking gear, tents and so one. That was so wrong with a capital ‘W’. It was a well used, little bit of everything junque store. The Outback meant all the stuff was out back in the yard. Well, some of it anyway.

The Outback did have the skinniest outhouse we’ve ever seen. I guess it’s just for thin and non claustrophobic  people.

Then we explored some of the neighborhoods. We found one place that had old VW vans, a Corvair and what looked like a Nash Metropolitan. We found a gift shop that EJ hadn’t been in yet and they had some very well done stuffed animals.

Later that afternoon, Young’s Chevron even fired up their garbage burner for us. The flames were coming out the top and sides but turned to smoke by the time EJ got the camera. Hmmm, that’s one of the Loosey Goosey cars parked right next to it.

Time to get organized, we are actually going to leave Tok tomorrow (we think, any bets?).