Today(Thursday) was the first of two off days for the team so our family hit the road. We took off around 9am and traveled North up the Elliott Highway. It was a very scenic drive as all roads are around here in Alaska.
We went about 100 miles and stopped by the Artic Circle Trading Post and then traveled as for as the paved road would take us. Once we reached the junction of Elliott and Dalton Highway we had to turn back. You see, the next 415 miles on the Dalton Hwy would take us to Deadhorse and the upper region of the Artic Circle. One problem with that traveling, the roads are not paved and very rugged. That stretch of road was created for the pipeline and private vehicles are not recommended. In fact, most rental agencies only have 1-2 cars they allow to be driven on that highway.
Once we turned around we started the trip back and stopped off on three areas to fish. We hooked a couple of trout, but nothing more to show. In fact, once again there were no sightings of moose, bear or anything of the sort. Wait, we did see on porcupine, that was an interesting creature.
Tomorrow(Friday) is an off day as well, in fact it will be the last "off day" we will truly have as the other days are travel days. We play Saturday evening at 5:30pm and finish a game that was suspended due to darkness(strangely enough) and then pick up the regular scheduled game at 7pm. Our final game for awhile in Fairbanks will be Sunday night at 7pm. We then take off for Kenai on Monday. A fun 11-12 hour trip awaits us. I have been told the drive is really nice and I am looking forward to it. The fishing is said to be the best as well. Kirkland will be happy. He now has five trips and one fish.
I bought my fishing license yesterday. Finally broke down as I was getting tired of "helping" Kirkland. The state really sticks it to visitors. Alaska residents get a yearly license for only $24 while out of state is $145, I think. I only got the 7 day to get me thru the Kenai trip. Does SC stick it to out of state people wanting to fish?
It is around 8:15pm and the earliest we have been in the apartment in a long time. My daily routine is up around 8:30am or so and some time checking email, voicemail and spending time with the family. A quick lunch around noon and then off to discipleship with the team at 1pm. Discipleship usually lasts until 2:45pm and then we are off to the field for clean up/field prep at 3:30pm. Our pre-game and early outs take over at 4pm and then batting practice at 4:45pm. The game begins with first pitch at 7pm. By the time the game is over, players are fed and the field is closed down we get back to the apartment around 10:30pm. Then the fun starts.....I can't get to sleep. The sun is beaming and it's usually around 1am before I hit the sack. Back up the next day. I now know what the term "Alaska Glaze" means.
I can't wait for some food back home......don't know how Alaskans make it. The food here is rough. We even found one of the Top 500 North American restaurants yesterday and it was bad. Now I an not a picky eater and I will eat most anything. Just can't figure it out.....maybe it is the shipping process are something, just has no taste. Perhaps we got spoiled in California for those first two weeks......the dirt even tasted good there.
We went about 100 miles and stopped by the Artic Circle Trading Post and then traveled as for as the paved road would take us. Once we reached the junction of Elliott and Dalton Highway we had to turn back. You see, the next 415 miles on the Dalton Hwy would take us to Deadhorse and the upper region of the Artic Circle. One problem with that traveling, the roads are not paved and very rugged. That stretch of road was created for the pipeline and private vehicles are not recommended. In fact, most rental agencies only have 1-2 cars they allow to be driven on that highway.
Once we turned around we started the trip back and stopped off on three areas to fish. We hooked a couple of trout, but nothing more to show. In fact, once again there were no sightings of moose, bear or anything of the sort. Wait, we did see on porcupine, that was an interesting creature.
Tomorrow(Friday) is an off day as well, in fact it will be the last "off day" we will truly have as the other days are travel days. We play Saturday evening at 5:30pm and finish a game that was suspended due to darkness(strangely enough) and then pick up the regular scheduled game at 7pm. Our final game for awhile in Fairbanks will be Sunday night at 7pm. We then take off for Kenai on Monday. A fun 11-12 hour trip awaits us. I have been told the drive is really nice and I am looking forward to it. The fishing is said to be the best as well. Kirkland will be happy. He now has five trips and one fish.
I bought my fishing license yesterday. Finally broke down as I was getting tired of "helping" Kirkland. The state really sticks it to visitors. Alaska residents get a yearly license for only $24 while out of state is $145, I think. I only got the 7 day to get me thru the Kenai trip. Does SC stick it to out of state people wanting to fish?
It is around 8:15pm and the earliest we have been in the apartment in a long time. My daily routine is up around 8:30am or so and some time checking email, voicemail and spending time with the family. A quick lunch around noon and then off to discipleship with the team at 1pm. Discipleship usually lasts until 2:45pm and then we are off to the field for clean up/field prep at 3:30pm. Our pre-game and early outs take over at 4pm and then batting practice at 4:45pm. The game begins with first pitch at 7pm. By the time the game is over, players are fed and the field is closed down we get back to the apartment around 10:30pm. Then the fun starts.....I can't get to sleep. The sun is beaming and it's usually around 1am before I hit the sack. Back up the next day. I now know what the term "Alaska Glaze" means.
I can't wait for some food back home......don't know how Alaskans make it. The food here is rough. We even found one of the Top 500 North American restaurants yesterday and it was bad. Now I an not a picky eater and I will eat most anything. Just can't figure it out.....maybe it is the shipping process are something, just has no taste. Perhaps we got spoiled in California for those first two weeks......the dirt even tasted good there.
2 comments:
I was in Denali again today, taking the shuttle bus to the Eielson Visitors Center at mile 66 (or near) on the park road. It's about 4 hours one-way, and I did a good hike at the end scaling the nearby slope/hill/mountain. It was a 1000-foot rise in elevation in a very short span, so no one was running up it. I did run down it though an hour later as the rain came over the back side of the mountain and chased everyone down.
Wildlife seen from the bus today included my first bears (sow and cub), and a huge male moose with big paddles/antlers, some caribou, lots of friendly ground squirrels (look like mini prairie dogs), snowshoe hares, a family of Dall sheep running down a mountain, and a red fox that decided to lead our bus down the road for 10 minutes.
Back in Fairbanks tonight to join the G-family for some Friday fun tomorrow.
Mike,
Sounds like you are in need of some Sardi's or some Zaxby's or some Creekside!
Looking forward to hearing more stories when you return in a few weeks.
Chris
Post a Comment