June 20th to 21st - to Tok & Fairbanks

June 20th – Wed – to Tok
We left early and were 3rd in line for the ferry just before 7 which was making its first run after the weekly 5am to 7am maintenance. Dave was right behind us and hadn’t hooked up his car as he thought he would be waiting in the ferry line. So Margo got on the ferry with the car and Dave ended up waiting for 2 more trips as some tour buses were allowed on first.
The road was quite good on the Top of the World Highway to Chicken and the scenery was as wonderful as the first time we drove the road. It rained a bit now and then which kept the dust down somewhat. Again, we were 3rd in line – different rigs ahead of us! - when we reached the border crossing a couple of minutes before it opened at 9. We stopped at Chicken to check out the gift shop and have some breakfast. We were eating when Dave & Margo stopped so we waited for them while they ate and then we all drove into “old” Chicken before continuing down the road.
With an hour time change to Alaska time, we arrived in Tok at 1:20. We had selected an RV park last night which was on the far end of town so we drove through. We needed diesel and saw a station that advertised “free wash with fill up” so we pulled in. They also had an accessible air hose and Terry checked all the tires. Then we lined up for the wash area which had 2 spots with high pressure wash wands. The guy ahead of us had a large 5th wheel and was being very meticulous about spraying it which took a long time. When it was our turn, one of us sprayed while the other used a bucket & brush which made it go much faster. Dave was already done and on to the RV park (Tundra RV) when we finished. Rick made the mistake of filling up as he got into town and missed the wash so they were also at the RV park when we arrived.
Terry put out a couple of chairs to enjoy a drink in the sun but then we all went to Rick & Pat’s. The chairs were filled with water not too much later when a heavy rainstorm passed through. Terry unhooked so we could all go back to a large gift/souvenir shop in Tok. He bought a favorite jacket there 5 years ago and the zipper started to tear about a week ago. Unfortunately they had only one style of men’s jacket and it wasn’t quite right. We got a propane tank filled on the way back.
We all did our own thing for dinner and retired early. The RV sites are set in trees which help dim the late sunshine.

Jun 21st – Thurs – to Fairbanks
We had lovely sunshine with just a few rain showers to mess up our vehicles on the 189 mile trip to Fairbanks today. There are big mountains beyond the wide highway clearing at first but then it is pretty much the same, straight roads most of the rest of the way. We stopped at Delta Junction for the obligatory pictures at the “end of the Alaska Highway” marker at the visitor center, continued about 8 miles and stopped at Big Delta State Historical Park and Rika’s Roadhouse for a bite to eat. We wandered around the grounds and checked out old & restored buildings before eating – cinnamon buns again for most, rhubarb pie for Margo and a sandwich for me as I had cookies for breakfast. Then it was on to North Pole and Santa Claus House (after one wrong turn!) where Terry found a jacket and Pat & Margo sent postcards so they would be postmarked from the North Pole.
As we were following the GPS to the Elks’ club where we were going to stay, we ran into road construction and the road we needed was closed. After a slight detour through awful bumps, we found the Elks facility and decided we did not want to stay in the narrow spots with the noise from some plant nearby for company. I was trying to call a park that I called last night when we remembered Pioneer Park in town allows overnight camping. As we were driving there, I found the number for Chena Wayside RV in a state park, changed the GPS and immediately led us all into a dead end road!! We all managed to turn around, drove past Pioneer Park without being able to turn across traffic into it and stopped on a residential street to figure out what to do next. A lady told us how to get back on the street in the correct direction and we headed to Chena RV but this was definitely not our day. This time, we drove past an RV park and arrived at the address almost in the middle of the river. Terry pulled into a business to turn around, Rick couldn’t get into the left lane to follow us but Dave made it in behind us. I called the RV park again for directions to find the entry at the address in the Milepost is closed! She gave me instructions so once Rick was heading back in our direction, we pulled out, formed our convoy again and found the park. Keep in mind that we are in the city with traffic & stop lights and trying to get 3 long rigs through left turn lights!
We managed to find 3 sites close to each other and pulled in. The sites don’t have electric or water but we all have generators, full water and empty holding tanks so all is good. After walking up to register & pay, we and Rick & Pat went shopping at Safeway and picked up a coupon book for 2-for-1 activities in Alaska. We got Papa Murphy pizzas for dinner and beer to go with the pizza. Pat & I didn’t know how we were going to fit family size pizzas in our little ovens but I just had to squish in the sides and trim off a bit to square up the round baking sheet that they come with. Rick & Pat brought drinks over and then Pat went to get her pizza so we could bake it here as well and share the 2 different selections.
We tried to get our wifi to work with limited success. After Rick & Pat left, I tried the park wifi and it works great so I will post this long rambling blog.