FosseOdyssey

PArt of our RV adventure is traveling to all 50 states. While in each state we intend to play golf at least once.   So far, we can cross off California, Arizona, Hawaii (oops no RV but lots of golf) and now Alaska.  The RV park we are staying at has a mini 3 hole course...more of a warm up for the course we played in Fairbanks. The North Star Golf Club is Americas most northern course.  It is a lot like golf courses near Yosemite.   Lots of  foreststion and one of few courses in Alaska with grass greens. Only 46 more state golf courses to go.  

Forty miles outside Fairbanks is a natural hot springs. The Chena Hot Springs are fed by deep underground water heated by earth to a  temperature of 106.   Ok maybe not chillin in the sense of Temperature...more on the relaxing scale.   Thank goodness we brought lots of ice cold water. The history of the spring dates back to Gold Rush days when weary Gold miners came to relax and soothe their tired muscles.  And most likely used by the indigenous tribes prior. This is a really nice rural resort with hotel rooms, rv park, horseback riding. And only 7 miles away is the Angel Rock trail which has a great view of the valley from the top.    If we come back to Alaska we would definitely stay here for several days.  Hike the trail, enjoy the Springs and maybe even get a massage.

We visited the University of Alaska museum.  They had a great gallery of Alaskan history.   Surprisingly enough women were part of the Klondike gold rush in the 1890's.  Ethel Berry known as "The Bride of the Klondike" led a fascinating life....mining for gold to eventually moving to Taft, CA where she and her husband Clarence found more gold - "black gold - OIL" and formed Berry Petroleum.  Amazing we came to Alaska to learn about Californians We also had our first up close and personal grizzly siting (lucky he was stuffed).  Not sure our bear spray would work on a grizzly this size.  The museum also has "Blue Babe" the worlds only mummified steppe bison.    Totems poles are still being carved but more protected as works of art.  Though originally carved to display a clan crest, hold cremated remains or celebrate a dead leaders life. After museum went to salmon bake and musical comedy show.  And of course got to take a Salmon ride

Everyone has to stop and visit with Santa while in the North Pole.   This little town was homesteaded in 1944 by a farmer , Bon Davis.  In an effort to attract toy manufacturers, the name North Pole was selected.  After all ....who doesn't want a toy made from the local elves.   Unfortunately not a field of dreams ending, as no toy manufacturers came. In the 1950's Con Miller, a local North Pole trading post operator acquired a reputation as playing Santa to the children in local Alaskan villages.  Con named his trading post the Santa Claus House.  Stop by the house, buy a few trinkets and you and Santa can discuss the meaning of naughty and nice.   Remember he checks his list twice.

We always like to visit local Farmers Markets when we travel.   We headed out to the Tanana Farmers Market early Saturday am.  It had all the essentials....produce, food tents and local artisans.    The growing season in Alaska is limited but we bought some local kale and kohlrabi.   While buying an early lunch, the cashier asked if we were going to the Golden Days parade and Rubber Duckie race. Well sure...let's go! The Golden Days festival goes on for 5 days in Fairbanks.  This festival celebrates Fairbanks Gold Rush history.  Small town parades are so fun, lots of community participation and pride. This parade was no exception.  It featured local school  marching band, bagpipe group, community groups , the hoosegow float complete with fluzies and the famous Felix Pedro along with his pack donkeys. Felix is the Italian immigrant who started the Alaska gold rush in 1902, when he struck gold in the foothills outside Fairbanks.  He is famous for the saying "THERES GOLD IN THE

While in Watson Lake we had to visit the Sign Post Forest.  Our mission was to locate the Dos Palos city sign (the town we grew up in).  My in laws put up this sign in 1983 while on their RV trip to Alaska.  Even though there are more than 77,000 signs we found the Dos Palos sign within 5 minutes.    My father in law must have had a ladder handy, as it was at the top of a 10 foot post. If you don't know the history This forest was started in 1942 by a homesick US Army GI, Carl Lindley  while working on the Alaska highway.  Carl erected a  sign pointing to his hometown of Danville Illinois.  Others soon followed suit and the Sign Post Forest was formed.  It's actually designated as an official Yukon Historic site. The signs are not just city and street signs. Travelers have erected many unique and unusual items with their names and dates....snowboards, shoes, helmets, license plates, toilet seats and even a bedpan.    Besides US and Canada there are signs from throughout t

The Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 created a need to provide more security for North America.  A route was needed to haul goods and equipment from the lower states to Alaska.  It was decided to build a highway and finish it in under 1 year. Random facts *ALCAN is 1523 miles from Dawson Creek BC to Fairbanks *11,000 US troops utilized *7,000 pieces of equipment *133 bridges built *8 months and 12 days to construct Here we are in Dawson Creek at the Mile 0 - the start of the highway.   The "must take" photo opportunity.   Of the 133 bridges only 1 is left.  Located in Kitkatinaw Park (20 minutes outside Dawson Creek) We were able to drive (not in the RV's) over the bridge.  It is definitely an engineering wonder. Glad we were able to celebrate the 75th anniversary.

We stopped at a rest stop outside Mt Vernon WA.   While eating lunch a fellow traveler returning to Canada asked if we wanted their limes and avocados. Canada doesn't allow us to bring  tree fruit across the border.  We started talking to him about our trip to Alaska.  FIrst stop in BC in Cache Creek.  Well that's a problem, he says.  There is a massive wildfire and Cache Creek has been evacuated and the road to Prince George is closed.   But the good news we can reroute to the east and take Hwy 1. Maybe an extra 100 miles but highway driving. Thank goodness for the internet. We found a new RV park in Clearwater- Dutch Lake RV Resort.  OF course they also had a few smaller fires a few miles from the resort and it was smokey from the cache creek fires.   But the lake was beautiful....coffee on the dock at sunrise was spectacular. Thank goodness for friendly and informed fellow RVers.  Moral of story, listen to news and be flexible.  Oh, and the limes and avocados were p

First stop Redding.  For those who have ever traveled Interstate 5, you'll know it's not the most scenic drive of the Golden State. I-5 begins at the SanYsidro  port of entry at the Mexico border. It continues north into Washington before ending at the Canadian border near Blaine Washington.  Obviously a massive highway construction project ...built in stages between the 1950'sand 1980's.  YIKES!!! We are older than most of the interstate.  Trivia  question- What does this have to do with Redding you ask? The last segment of I-5 opened just north of Redding.    While here we visited the world famous Subdial Bridge   The sundial bridge is a cantilever spar cable  stayed bridge.  This pedestrian/bicycle bridge crosses the Sacramento River. It's a working sundial and one of largest in the world, PST time. The gnomon' shadow is cast upon a large dial to the north of bridge. Ok...this trip is a vocabulary lesson.  ( Hope the grandkids are reading this.).  A Gno

First day of retirement...a special shout out to my community family.  Not only did they treat us to a delicious lunch, but gave the perfect gift.... The Most Scenic Drives in America. Included within were sticky notes with suggested trips.  We will definitely take your suggestions •John- Grand Canyon, we want to go river rafting there •Leslie- Connecticut-we are definitely going east and do want to visit Mystic Seaport and Yale •Cindy- Louisiana definitely "laissez les bons temps roulet" - let the good times roll. •Melissa- Florence and Bandon..wish we were there now.....escaping the summer heat.  Can't wait to visit the Oregon coast • Choua- Yosemite a visit to see Bridal Veil, another spectacular drive •MLiz- Austin Texas a trip to all the state capitals is on our wish list A recent quote I read said it best...RETIREMENT IS NOT THE END OF THE ROAD ....ITS THE BEGINNING OF THE OPEN HIGHWAY.   Thanks for being a part of the journey

Getting ready for future hikes.  Joined a hike group to see the Avila Beach Lighthose .  A "moderate" 3.6 mile hike on the Pecho Trail.  A beautiful blue sky in May.  This is not a hike for newbies, lots of up and down trail.  Our guide was a host of random info.  For those native Californians...QUIZ time: 1. What is the state rock?  Nope....not gold, it's serpentine 2. What is the state lichen?   Before you even answer that, do you even know what lichen is?  And it is not a plant.  You'll have to google definition or give Jerry Brown a call.  He signed the bill in 2015 designating  the Lace Lichen as the official state lichen. The next 2 questions are easy for native californians 3. What is state flower?  Yep, still the poppy 4 what is state animal? Think about our flag.....the grizzly 🐻 Moving on to the main attraction of our hike - the lighthouse.  Built in 1890. Decommisoned in 1974.  Local volunteers have restored and the tour is really interesting.  Th