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We have to start by apologizing for not posting the last few weeks. We kept saying we would post on our last three weeks in Alaska, and we didn't get it done before heading down the road. At that point, we were in Canada and never got reliable WIFI to be able to post. We know, just excuses..So here's a catchup post on our last few weeks in Alaska and then we'll post another one later this week about the trip home.
This July was the hottest on record for interior Alaska and very dry. And that results in fires. Great big ones!. The Railbelt Complex of fires in Alaska was the biggest in the country in July - over 600,000 acres. One of the fires was about 30 miles away. While most were caused by lightening, the Rex Creek fire was actually a coal seam fire. These smolder for a long time (even many years) and then break out when conditions are right. Rex Creek grew from 2500 acres to over 25, 000 acres in one day! Fortunately, the fires were not in populated areas, for the most part. One family evacuated to the RV park and siad the fire was within 250 yards of their cabin.
Orange sun on a smoky evening
Warning sign on the Parks Highway
Fire burning across the Nenana River
The week after the Red Green Regatta trip to Fairbanks we took in a great bluegrass festival. Anderson is a little town off the Parks Highway, right near the Nenana River. They have held a bluegrass festival for about 20 years. Friday was quite cool - lots of blankets and jackets in use (in JULY!) It was also pretty windy. Fortunately, most of the time the wind was blowing the smoke away from the festival area. We arrived in time to see the first performer Friday night and stayed till regular performances ended at about 10 or so. They were getting ready to start up the dance band and keep going till 2 am, but Saturday was a work day and we couldn't camp out and stay over.
Dancing in front of the stage - it was a good time!
And in front of the beer stand
We love fairs! This one in Fairbanks was small but enjoyable. We almost didn't come because the smoke has been so bad up this way. Fortunately, the rains started and knocked some of the worst of the fires down a bit. It rained a bit on our fair outing, but not enough to dampen our fun too much.Tom started out by giving blood - he got a t-shirt from the northern most blood bank in the US. This was the first day of the fair, so many of the contests had not yet been judged. Lots of kids were grooming their 4H project animals - sheep, calfs, bunnies, chickens, you name it..
We did get to see the quilt show (Sally took this one in) and we saw the winner of the lego contest. Good music, lots of fun exhibits.
Notice the kimchee for $3 - Korean at the fair in Fairbanks
A "postage stamp" quilt - over 1000 tiny squares...
Lego contest winner - celebrating 50 years of statehood
Getting her sheep ready for showing
Of course we took one last trip into Denali. And were we ever lucky. Tom had been waiting to see a wolf all summer. On this trip we saw two (or maybe one wolf twice). The second time, the wolf walked right across the road behind the bus... We sampled all kinds of berries at Wonder Lake - the blueberries are best. Soapberries taste just like ... soap?
Tom also got to see a lynx - a very rare sighting. Sally was sitting on the other side of the bus and the driver's seat blocked her view until it was too late. But still a very successful summer.
Our last pictures of Denali. Spectacular.
Also spectacular - a close up of a wolf.
The last couple of weeks found Tom playing one last time at Panorama Pizza and one last set at the Bake. Turns out Tom's last night was "Girl's Night Out" at the Bake. That's Jake's sister playing with Andy who hosts open mic night each week. And no, Tom was not a GNO participant. He did sing Sweet Home Alabama in honor of our long trip home!
Girls Night Out at the Bake
Tom's last appearance at Panorama Pizza
We've had a great time in Alaska - and a lot of it was working with some nice folks at Denali RV Park and Motel. CJ and Monie we hope to see in New Orleans this winter. Bob and Carol maybe next spring in Oregon. And Ken - hopefully we'll be back in Healy in a year or two!
Ken and the office crew.
Roman had already gone back to work cleaning.
A final pot luck over at Denali Park Hotel
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