V's On Tour: Follow the Leader: Alaska Highway Version

So, we are just fascinated with all the new experiences we are having on this epic journey. The newest one is in the form of a kind of game. You know that childhood game of “Follow the Leader”? Yeah, well, the Alaska/Canada Highway (Alcan) version has a whole new twist to it. It’s called: “Follow the Leader AND Dodge the Potholes!” It’s a gas! It’s best to show by video:

The road from Haines to Fairbanks was an adventure! Not much writing or reading was done by either co-pilot at any time as whatever you were holding would be dancing all around the cab of the truck.

So, if we weren’t playing our new favorite Alcan game, we were rolling along a very dusty, gravely, often muddy “road” or stopped for a chat with the very friendly road crews that frequented our route. As they say in the North here:”there are two seasons in Canada/Alaska: Winter and Road Construction.” Good thing we weren’t in a hurry to get to our stopovers.

A very friendly traffic control person along the Alcan at one of many construction slow downs. We were here for at least 15 minutes. I got out and did squats and crunches next to the truck to pass the time.

Mother Trucker and her Backpack need a bath

Poor Mother Trucker and her Backpack got a serious sticky coating of Alcan dirt that is going to have to stay on there for the time being as there is just no reason to bother washing it off until we leave this part of the planet. Many, many more miles to go of these roads!

So, as we left Haines, AK in our rear view mirrors we were ready for more new adventures. The beauty of braving these driving conditions is that we are taken to some amazingly beautiful spots that we have really enjoyed. We stopped into the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve hoping to see some of those big beauties in the wild, but instead we found ourselves in the middle of a disembarkation of some river raft tourists that had floated down the Chilkat River to see the eagles. Some said they saw quite a few out there.

Once again, Agi and Bodi make fast friends with strangers who miss their dogs that couldn’t travel with them

Waiting in line to pass through Canadian customs

Next, we headed straight for the Canadian border to get to the Haines Highway that was going to get us up through British Colombia and then Yukon. It was supposed to be a short day’s drive, but the Canadians weren’t ready for our arrival just yet. We sat in this line for over 90 minutes before we were granted entry. The border patrol officer here was doing a much more thorough investigation of each vehicle and it’s passengers. Once again, we were ready with all required documents and all were scrutinized.

But, it was so worth it because the scenery just kept getting more breath taking.

Our first stop for the night was Congdon Creek Yukon Government Campground near Destruction Bay, YT. Lovely beachside campground but with so many bear warnings along the beach, we just made a quick look see and went back to our camper. The tenting area had electric fencing around it for the people in tents. We never saw bears there.

A quick stroll down to the bear-filled beach (so we were warned…) at Congdon Creek Yukon Government Campground south of Destruction Bay

After a peaceful night’s sleep, we got up and drove up to the Beaver Creek USA border and slipped back into the US for the rest of our Alaska visit. It was this day that we collected dirt and mud from the Alcan. Once again, we were delighted to pull into Deadman Lake Preserve Campground which is south of Tok, AK. This was a gem of a campground and lake. For the grand cost of $0, we had the pick of any available campsites, free firewood at our campsite and more if we wanted it, free use of their canoes, life jackets and paddles, clean potties and a interpretive board walk which we all enjoyed.

Not sure if you can see the dirt on my knees. That’s from touching the truck when helping the dogs get out.

Making fajitas on the fire

Vic working in Chapter 4

1.2 mile drive from the highway down to the campground. This was a great morning hike the next day

Interpretive Trail with plaques of various native plants, birds and animals

Free canoes for our use at Deadman Lake

A tasty breakfast before our next push to the north

We thought Deadman Lake Preserve Campground was one of the best spots we’ve stayed at. On our way back through this area going back to Canada, we will probably stay here again. I’m going to make a fun video of the dinner we made that night and post it on Facebook. It will be too long to post here.

In order to shorten the drive from Tok to Fairbanks, we decided to leave Deadman Lake a day early (we had planned to stay two nights) and stay a night in Delta Junction. The description of the campground mentioned that from here we could get a great view of the Alaska Mountain Range. The campground was situated across the street from the Tanana River which was mostly a huge wide gravel bed with the river flow deep in the middle. We could walk way out on the gravel flats and have a completely unobstructed view of the mountains. Breathtaking.

Alaska Range behind the Tanana River

Agi standing in the river bed

Off again, we ambled on north and stopped into North Pole, AK. You’d think we were there to finally meet the big guy and his flying friends, but actually our goal was to visit another Guy Fieri restaurant: The Country Cafe. We were delighted with an amazing brunch in a place we would have never found on our own. It is a family owned/run business with the husband and wife cooking their specialties in the kitchen and their son or grandson (I was too shy to ask) serving the tables. Vic had the croissant French toast and I had the Bulgogi sandwich. Both were AMAZING!!

We arrived Fairbanks,AK on Saturday and have enjoyed numerous big city fun things to do. Our RV campground is a typical privately owned place with full hookup. We got the camper and truck washed (sort of), laundry done, grocery shopped at Costco and Safeway, and got good hot showers that we desperately needed. We uncoupled the camper and truck so we could scoot around town and leave the dogs safely at the campground.

First, was a visit to the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Lots of history, science, and cultural exhibits. Next was the large Animal Research Center also with the University. We also visited the Fairbanks Visitor Center that had a wonderful life size village of a native peoples community. A bike ride to the Pioneer Park was a fun outdoor exhibit of various Alaska themed antiques. Tonight we are going to an Indian Restaurant for a treat, and yes, it’s another Guy Fieri spotlighted gem.