The Great Alaska Pipeline, The Arctic Circle...and Mosquitos!

The day began as my alarm went off at 5am.  I just got into Fairbanks yesterday afternoon...and after a brief walk downtown, I went to bed super early.  The plan for the day was to take a guided tour up to the Arctic Circle...checked in for my tour at 6am...and off we went at 630.

It was a medium sized "coach/bus" and I was 1 of 23 fellow explorers venturing to the Arctic Circle.  Our tour guide/driver was Alan, a super nice, very talkative older gentleman.  He was full of stories and some VERY detailed information about Alaska history, politics, wildlife...just about everything.

The first stop, about an hour and a half into the drive, was a little...and when I say little, I mean LITTLE, place called Joy.

  A little leg stretch, a blueberry muffin and a visit to the outhouse and we were back on the road.  Before I go any further, I should say that this was an ALL DAY tour.  Lots of time sitting on the "coach/bus".

  A few more vista stops later and we get to our lunch spot, just after we crossed the Yukon River.

  A cold turkey sandwich and some doritos...another visit to the outhouse...and we were again on our way.

The sheer vastness of this land is incredible.  There are no power lines, just land...as far as the eye can see.

  OH, and the Great Alaska Pipeline.  The Pipeline follows the Dalton Highway (which was created when the Pipeline was being built, and is also the only road through the interior of Alaska that goes all the way north).  It was indeed a very cool thing to see.

A few more vista stops later, we reach the Arctic Circle...we reached this point about 7 hours after our tour began...lots of "coach/bus" time.  We literally crossed it, got out, took pictures, then turned around.  But at least I can say I've crossed the Arctic Circle (they even gave us certificates stating that fact).

  We cruised back the same route, stopping at a few more vista points before stopping for dinner.  Horseradish Crusted Halibut served over Polenta and steamed veggies was on my menu...and it was delicious.  By now the rain had started, but the view was still amazing.  Still more vista points...and we finally arrived at our starting point in Fairbanks...a good 15 hours after the trip began.

To backtrack for a second...now, I've experience some significant mosquito situations having lived in western New York. For those of you who haven't experienced this, or who haven't been to Alaska...let me fill you in. We've all randomly walked through a small swarm of gnats...swatted them out of our faces and moved on. Well...in Alaska, especially up on the wet tundra, it's like that...but they are mosquitos, and they are RELENTLESS! Ugh...needless to say, Deep Woods OFF is a GOOD THING up here.

It was an amazing and humbling day.  Glad to be back in my room, awaiting my next adventure tomorrow.  Oh and by the way...this is what it looks like outside my room at MIDNIGHT!