MATC ALASKAN TOUR 2007

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Our first close view of the Alaska Pipeline

Curious Tour Members read all the signs

Where the pipeline crosses under the road, the permafrost has to be protected from the heat of the oil, so large radiators are installed to take out the heat.

What a picnic the Fairbanks club put on!

Here we all are introducing ourselves by saying our names, where we are from and what kind of cars we drive.

JOURNAL #11

22 JULY 2007        MIEIR’S LAKE TO FAIRBANKS

No breakfast today! The café was closed, so Pat had given us muffins to distribute last night. We were only partially successful in this as when we returned from the café, some had gone to bed. Also Bakers Frazers and Garwoods were staying at another location.  Our next opportunity to eat was at Delta Junction about 100 miles away.

The road was pretty good for the most part, today and we made good time, stopping for scenes of interest and relief stops. We had a lunch scheduled at Big Delta State Historical Park and pulled in there about noon to find almost our whole group ahead of us. A bite to eat and a quick peruse of the museum buildings and we were on our way to Fairbanks. The air was warm, about 80 degrees, and the Cumulus clouds were building over the mountains. The scenery all this day was spectacular and we had several occasions to view the Alaska Pipeline, once as we left the park, it was suspended over the river on a long suspension bridge.

Approaching Fairbanks, near Eielson Air Force Base, we saw a moose in the brush by the road. We were not quick enough to capture it “on film.” We stopped to snap a shot of the “North Pole” sign as we entered that community on the outskirts of Fairbanks. When we arrived at the hotel, most of the cars were in. As we unloaded, a few more arrived. I made contact with Bill Wright, our host from the local car club. We arranged to  meet at the hotel, but there was some confusion amongst our people as to what time. We finally straightened that out with phone calls to all the rooms. About 5:30, Bill lead us to Pioneer Park, where his club had assembled with loads of food. As we rendezvoused in the main parking lot, it began to sprinkle. By the time we had moved our cars inside the park  and arranged them near the Aviation Museum, it was beginning to rain. We were gathered in a covered pavilion where we met and at a hearty meal with the Fairbanks club members while the rain poured buckets of water and lightening flashed. Those of us from Southern California were seeing more rain at one time than we had seen in years! After we finished eating. We all introduced ourselves and souvenirs of the gathering were exchanged between the clubs.  Some of us went to the nearby Aviation Museum which contains many artifacts of early Interior and Arctic Alaska flying.

On the way back to the hotel, Olsons and Smiths refueled. The rain continued in spurts, but stopped altogether shortly after we reached the hotel.

A Fairbanks club member presents a Fairbanks Gold Rush flag to Keith

At lunch, a playful Bison looks over our shoulders

The views of the Alaskan Range are spectacular as we leave Mieir’s Lake for Fairbanks. We have just crested a foggy mountain and descended into a sun filled valley.