August 20, 2015

Arctic Circle Wayside Camp area

Alaska Highway-check.

Now....

Arctic Circle-check. Huh?

After completing our run at the Alaska Highway and hanging out around Fairbanks for a couple of days, we were reviewing our maps and discovered we aren't too far from the arctic circle. So...we decided to give it a shot.

Now, as we camp at the Arctic Circle wayside camp area, I feel that we are really beginning our typical mode of travel. That is, look at the map and figure out where we may go the next day. The Alaska Highway wasn't nearly as difficult as we had been lead to believe. But, as we camp the Arctic Circle, I must wonder, what may keep us from going further.

This has been a journey of enlightenment and different from camping trips we have taken before. In years past, as we have traveled in our Hale Iki, we have taken time and explored the side roads. On this trip, once we left Bremerton, I felt like there was no time for the unexpected turns, or journeys. After a few days, I had an, 'Ah Ha' moment. John's aspiration is to drive the Alcan. Oh. Ok. I get it. This is a life quest for John - a bucket list item. I suppose it's a guy thing, to drive the Alaska Highway. For me, it's a great trip into the Yukon and Alaska. But there were no side trips. Maybe next time we can take some of those short hikes, and see more of the local life.

The sunset here, in the Arctic Circle Wayside Camp area, seems to last forever. And it's a mighty fine and beautiful sunset. The sky stays red for over an hour. The special attribute of the Arctic Circle is that, at the summer solstice, the sun does not set. There are 24 hours of light. As I write, in mid-August at 10:30 PM, it is still light enough to see everything beautiful thing around me. And the sunset is still a glorious red and orange. As I sit writing in the camper, I am deterred from venturing outside due to the incredible bear activity around. The grizzlies are getting ready for winter and eating every berry and root they can. I'd hate to get in the way of a hungry bear, even with my trusty 'bear-banger'.  I just don't feel like taking that kind of chance.  And John is zonked out, so there is no protection coming from his corner.

We have been incredibly blessed on our journey. Good weather, for the most part, and reasonable driving conditions. We have seen some beautiful places and met wonderful people.

This has been a day of intense driving, on the Dalton highway toward Prudhoe Bay. Narrow, dirt and mud roads. Long haul trucks zooming toward us. No shoulder to pull off to. And pot holes. Some were deep enough to hide a small car in. Rain, mixed with sleet and snow.  There are a number of stretches that are paved, but there are still those pot holes. And the frost heaves. In the Arctic tundra there are frost heaves, where the road has been frozen the thawed, then driven over. Frost bumps. Who knew?

So now, sitting inside of the Arctic Circle, we are considering a drive to Prudhoe Bay. Yes, the Arctic Ocean. Have we assumed that we are invincible? No. We certainly didn't plan on taking a journey to the Arctic Circle. It was just a thought a day ago and we agreed end to give it a shot. We did well enough that we may go much further. We will stop in Coldfoot AK, (really, that the name) about 100 miles north of here, and survey our plan. Is Hale Iki set? Are we set? That will be determined in the morning, after the bravado of a couple of cocktails is history.

For now, it's time to leave on the fleece and climb into our sleeping bag. Who knows what tomorrow may bring. -----