Up next...Fairbanks to Anchorage - 367 miles and counting

Day 1: Making my way 367 miles from Fairbanks to Anchorage.  I'm riding the Parks Highway; it has a good shoulder; the same route takes about six hours by car.

Today was the "hilly" day according to the locals, and they were right - it was a chain stretcher.  I covered 59 miles starting at 11 a.m. and pulled into Nenana just after 5 p.m.

The most interesting place en route was Skinny Dick's Halfway Inn - a local tavern located midway between Fairbanks and Nenana - a pretty racy atmosphere.  I refilled my water bottles, bought some postcards for 25 cents apiece, and pushed along....

I also met another bike tourist, Jan.  Jan was from the Netherlands, and had been on the road for more than a year.  He was fully loaded with gear and supplies.

"Great Alaska Outhouse Experience"

Fairbanks Museum of the North wouldn't be complete without the interactive sculpture called "Great Alaska Outhouse Experience!"

Visitors were invited to sit inside the "outhouse" and imagine what the experience would be like in below-zero temps.  As you sat there, you could also look at all the paraphernalia on the walls, and search for various listed items in a "treasure hunt' of sorts.

Small patriotic statue on the side of the artistic outhouse

Fairbanks "Museum of the North"

A few pics from a short stop in Fairbanks at the "Museum of the North":

Fairbanks Daily Times (circa June 21, 1913)

Hand-made flag from a silk handkerchief, raised at the Summit 20,320 feet, 

Denali (Mt. McKinley) 1913

Part of the climbing gear.... a portable communion set.

Just as important as other gear, i.e., fur-lined goggles, single bit ax, galvanized sheet metal crampons and a portable stove.

Helen's Warning

FAIRBANKS - This is Helen; she's from France and working at the University of Fairbanks in the Biology Department.  "You keep a good pace," she said, as I biked up the hill with all my gear to the University "Museum.of the North."

Helen was riding a "fixie" - one gear, no brakes and, yes, it was designed that way.  "Oh, you should stay here longer," she said, as I explained I was getting on the road after the museum to head south.  "Watch for the wild fires," she warned. 

This Alaska - if it's not one thing, it's another.

I Get By With a Little Help from....Sean

This is Sean - he saved me.

I left Seward around 1 p.m. to hitch a ride back to Anchorage in order to take the train to Fairbanks.  

I got as far as Moose Pass and, while climbing a hill, held out my "HELP RIDE" sign.  Sean pulled over.  He was very easy-going.  In the Navy 8 years, owned a bakery, and now worked as an assessor.  Sean thought it "different" that I had such a loose travel plan, and he was a little taken aback when I phoned someone I had never met before, asking to spend the night.  But, he agreed, if it worked for me.....

Gulp!

This caught my eye in the Friday edition of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

The story is riveting and horrible.  The biker used his bear spray; the wolf would fade, but resume the chase.  Vehicles passed and nobody stopped. There was a hill ahead and the biker was losing steam.  He dismounted, used his bike as a shield, and a vehicle finally stopped.  

The biker climbed in to safety.  

Makes me sweat just thinking about it.

.

Sam's Sourdough Cafe, Fairbanks, AK

Nice breakfast this morning at the most popular place in Fairbanks - Sam's Sourdough Cafe.

Swung into Dave's booth.  He was sitting alone, looking like he was waiting on food.  "I tell you, the Parks Highway is the way you want to go," he said.  Dave was a Harley guy and retired career Air Force.  He wore a classic Harley cap and talked about a close run-in when a moose crossed his path as he was riding in the rain down near the Klutina River in AK.

"I'm originally from Wisconsin," said Dave.

What were the chances?

"Oak Creek," he said.  "If you haven't noticed yet, everybody up here is pretty friendly."  

Dave was right - the hospitality especially stood out at every train stop. When we pulled into each depot, EVFERYBODY was waving and smiling.  Kind of a mix of Twilight Zone meets Smallville, with a Steven Spielberg twist.

Train Ride to Fairbanks - Biking Back

On the way to Fairbanks, AK.  Taking the train north.  

I have a week and a half to make it back to Anchorage.

Thursday train to Fairbanks.  

Got on at 8 a.m. and expected arrival is 8 p.m.

Train conductor, Ian, needed help with directions, 

so I got out my maps and got him back on track.

Sisters, Abby and Hannah, from Anchorage - heading to Fairbanks for a few days.

View of Mt. McKinley as I ride up to Fairbanks on the train.  Pretty nice day!

Biking back to Anchorage with six days to accomplish the ride.