Arrived in Fairbanks

We just arrived in Fairbanks and I am on a free terminal at the tourist office with a 10-minute limit. Must type fast!!!

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

We spent the day in Valdez after arriving by ferry yesterday. We are staying in a B&B which is a room in someone's home. I would prefer an outside entry, but we don't have that. We go through the living room and kitchen area on our way to our room. But we are the only ones staying on this floor and we have a bath to ourselves. The breakfast is good. We choose from many cereals, many juices, fruits, muffins, etc.

We went hiking today on a couple of trails. One was a roadway going out through a valley where people do cross-country skiing in the winter. The other was a narrow trail used by pioneers who settled this area to get past a large glacier without having to go over the glacier. Both were nice and interesting trails and gave us a chance to be outdoors in the sunshine and in the fresh air.

We ate both meals today and dinner yesterday at the same place. It's a halibut restaurant here in town that has a good special. They have a basket of halibut (4 pieces) with fries for $10. It's good fish and the fries are crispy.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

We drove from Valdez to Fairbanks today. It was a long drive of 364 miles. Some of the scenery was great, however. And the road was hardly traveled by anyone but us. We stopped to see the Alaska Pipeline a couple of times. And we stopped to see some views over valleys, past rivers, and to the mountains. We had lunch in a small place--a freshly made submarine sandwich. There weren't many places to stop along the way for services.

Some interesting comments about Alaska before forgetting:

1. We paid $3.41 per gallon for gasoline in Valdez. But most places, it is under $3.

2. The place we stayed near Homer, Bear Essentials Lodge, was "off the grid." They have no electrical service. They produce all their own power with a windmill, a generator, etc.

3. Retirees pay no property taxes in Alaska. Everyone in the state after living here for a year, gets a payment from the Permanant Fund established when oil was discovered. It ranges from $2000 upwards each year.

4. Trees have been just budding most places we have been. Slowly, they are leafing out. Here in Fairbanks, however, where it is hotter, leaves are out and trees have blossoms!

Well, my 10 minutes is up. Will post more tomorrow or the next day.