We stayed at Denali RV Park in Healy. Nice, simple park close to Denali National Park.
We had cloudy weather, so we could not see Mt. Mickinley (Denali) very well. There were others that took a plane ride around the mountain, and they got some great views.
The group had dinner at the Grand Denali Lodge high on a ridge. The views were fantastic from the bar area. Drinks were good. The buffet was so so.
We hiked the Savage River Loop, which was a nice 2 mile hike up one side of the river and back on the other side.
Pam and I also hiked the Horseshow Lake Trail. Nice hike with 350 feet of elevation gain. Cool beaver dams and walks along the Nenana River.
We stayed at the Fairbanks / Chena River KOA; this was one of the nicest KOA campgrounds we have ever stayed at. It was in North Pole Alaska. This was our first big city on the caravan, and there was a lot to do.
Pam and I attended the Arctic Lightning Air Show at Eielson Air Force Base. They flew F-35A Stealth fighters, and we got to tour many aircraft. It was very impressive. I posted 5 videos to a playlist on YouTube. We went inside a refueling tanker and could go down into the controller bay where you lay down and guide the fueling boom. Really cool. We walked through a massive C-5M cargo plane and watched a re-arming demonstration attaching missiles to a F-35.
Paddle Boat Cruise up the Chena River on the Discovery III. Started with a family style lunch for over 600 people – there were 15 charter busses in the parking lot. It took 2 paddle boats to carry everyone. There was a sea plane takeoff and landing demonstration as well as a sled dog demonstration.
The next day, we went to see Gold Dredge #8, where we learned all about the Alaskan pipeline, and then took a train to the old dredge. There, we panned for gold where Pam and I both stuck it rich! We ended up with $31 dollars’ worth of gold. We were able to tour inside the dredge.
The next day, Pam and I drove to the Aurora Ice Museum where we took the tour including Appletini’s in glasses made of ice. It was 27 degrees in the museum and it lasted 45 minutes. You can stay over night in the museum for $600, which includes a regular hotel room if you get too cold.
We only stayed 2 nights here. We had water and 15amp electric, but no sewer and no dump station.
The first night, we had pizza at the Big Delta Brewing Company where they made the pizza with Barley crust from the Alaskan Flour Company – see below. Both the pizza and the beer were very good.
The next day, went to the visitor center to get a group picture at end of the ALCAN (Alaskan Highway). They had some cool info on the pipeline and a pipeline pig. They had a few large mosquito sculptures which are big and plentiful up here.
While at the visitor center, a guy from Minnesota drove up in his 1967 Mustang that he and his brother in law are driving to Fairbanks Alaska and back to Minnesota. He wanted everyone to sign his orange Mustang. Brought back good memories of my 68 Mustang.
In the afternoon, the group went to Alaskan Flour Company farm where we got a very good tour. This 4 Generation family has been growing Barley and other crops since the 1980’s. The now supply mixes and baked goods to local communities. They also have an online store.
Caravan Stop #7 – 110 miles. We stayed at the Chicken Creek RV Park. This was by far the hardest drive with the worst roads. Took 5 hours to drive 110 miles.
Gold Panning and struck it rich (3 flakes). An old timer named Steve, and his grandson taught us how to pan for gold. They literally took a shovel of dirt from a pile and plopped it into my pan. In the end, I had 3 flakes of gold!
Drove to Eagle Alaska to visit the small community and get a city tour from the local pastor. Very interesting place. The mail is flow in every day which includes most supplies. Population of 87 today.
Chicken Creek Saloon – Panty Cannon. One night we went to the saloon for an evening drink where the bar tender, who has a master’s in quantum mathematics, loads a cannon with gun powder and stuffs panties / underwear into it and fires it straight up in the air. We had 3 guys and 1 gal who donated. Using a scissors, their partner cuts the under garments off (cuts both sides) and pulls them out. Wow – what a bang! Below is a 3-1/2 minute of the process, and a short video that just has the firing in slow motion.
Caravan Stop #4 – 107 Miles: Baby Nugget RV Park in Watson Lake, YT. Our first stop in the Yukon Territory of Canada.
Another short 2-night stay. We visited the Northern Light’s Center where we watched an IMax movie about the northern lights. Very informative.
We also visited the “Sign Forest” which started with the construction of the Alaskan Highway by a soldier. The caravan added a sign, plus we found signs from New Richmond, WI; Huson, WI, Casa Grande, AZ and more. I added my name to a Green Bay Packer’s sign that had no names on it.
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