Day 44

July 12, 2017

Left Beaver Creek YT on road that was some improved over yesterday but still had lots of places to catch you unaware that would attempt to launch the Unity into space with the resulting jerk of the Fit behind.  Then we’d slow down a while until we were lulled into thinking it was over to happen again.  Shortly after leaving Beaver Creek we spotted a black bear enjoying the sparse growth along a stretch of gravel above the road.

Arriving at the border of Canada/USA at Alaska

we drove another 30 miles to the customs station where we used our “Global Entry” card and we welcomed to Alaska.  When asked by us if the road would improve now that we had reached Alaska (USA) the agent answered “All part of the adventure, sir”.  Shortly we saw two swans on a lake 

The scenery has changed as we go north, some that looks like this.

But it did improve - some!  We arrived in Tok early, about 11:00 AM so we got fuel and took advantage of the free RV wash with fillip.  Boy did it need it.  Downside is we discovered after washing we have loads of tar/oil on the front and all down the driver’s side that will require some effort and tar remover when we get home.  The car we discovered later that day was in the same shape.  But they are both clean for our trip to Fairbanks tomorrow.

We had lunch at Fast Eddie’s and found the food to be very good.  Paul and Susan joined us.  At 3:30 PM we went to the Burnt Paw Gift Shop to view dog sled equipment and admire the 6-week old puppies, half Alaskan Husky and half Siberian Husky for sale at $950 each.  We were told about the Iditarod Race from Anchorage to Nome by mushers and 16 dogs and our presenter had participated in the first race in 1972.  

Then to Jack Wade Gold Company where we saw displays of god jewelry and gold nuggets, one of which weighed 56 ounces as well as several smaller nuggets.  The owner had found these large nuggets during gold mining operations in Alaska in the 1980’s.