Jul 1, 2011 - Anderson, AK

We drove from Fairbanks heading to Denali. Our reservations at Denali are for July 2nd. We decided to head out and maybe boondock somewhere close to Denali. On our way out of town we stopped at the Alaskan Bowl Company. They manufacture wooden bowls from Birch trees. They take one 24 inch cut and manufacture 3 to 4 wood bowls from the inside (all with the same grain) of the cut using a laser. The bowls are beautiful and expensive. The pictures tell some of how they make them. About 30 miles from Denali we saw a turn off for Clear Air Force...

Jul 5, 2010 - Off To Denali

This will be our last morning at Tatlinika Campgrounds as we want to go on down to the entrance area around Denali National Park and visit the shops, visitor center and other businesses at that location. We attempted to get reservations tonight at Riley Creek CG in Denali National Park for tonight but they are full up and so we called the nearest commercial RV park to the entrance to Denali. Unfortunately that place was full also, so we had to settle for a place 12 miles down the road South of the park entrance. That’s OK however as we have...

Jul 4, 2010 - The Fouth Of July at Tatlanika

The fourth dawned with a partly cloudy sky and to lots of noise from our nearest neighbors. A couple from Fairbanks moved into the spot next to us and they have 6 teen aged kids with them plus one other adult, 2 yapping dogs, a 4 wheeled motorized off road vehicle and a motorbike with noisy muffler. It will be a real test of our self control. The kids have pitched a tent in the grass across the CG road from the trailer the adults are staying in. This morning the father is busy tying up additional rain shelds over the tent as well as the...

Jul 3, 2010 - A Full Day At Tatlineka

We're up early on this 2nd day of July and Mike fixed Arlyce coffe for her so she could have a cup immediately upon rising. A bit of self defense here! A breakfast of bacon, eggs and toast gets us fueled up for the morning. Today is laundry day and we have a bunch to do. The campground has a small laundry as we checked that out in the Church's campground guide before we made the original reservations. That and intrnet access are important to have periodically. The walk up to the laundry takes us past the deck on the side of the lodge where...

Aug 3, 2009 - day 34

Day 33 I really wish I could get the days straight. The posting date is different from the trip date, is different from the blog date. Unfortunately the time it would take to figure it out is more than I’m willing to commit, assuming that I could. I’m sitting on my camp chair on the side of a grassy mound writing this. I’m surrounded by thousands of RVs, tents and people. I’ll have to lead up to that though so back to yesterday. I woke up yesterday in a hotel in Fairbanks. The owners were quite religious. The password for the wifi was...

Jul 30, 2008 - On to Clear & Anderson, Alaska

Well, still cloudy & sprinkling this am so no view of Mt. McKinley(Denali) so off we go to visit Anderson(my madian name), Alaska. Ran into our first really yucky road construction since we got to Alaska and it was BAD. the road wasn't really muddy or full of holes but kind of a clay spray that turned our white trailer black behind the truck wheels and really made a dirty mess of the sides of the truck,trailer and 4 wheeler. Oh well it was time for a wash job anyway and with us parking at a relatives house, the wash shouldn't cost as much...

Jul 27, 2008 - Bluegrass Festivel in Anderson Alaska

July 27, 2008 It rained all night and was still raining in the AM. We stopped at The Visitor Center to buy a National Parks Passport and had it stamped before leaving the park. We should have purchased one at the start of our trip around the US two years ago but figured better late then never. On our way to Fairbanks we noticed that the small town of Anderson, Population 400, was having their 21st Bluegrass Festival this weekend. The girl at the gate assured us that even though it was the last day, there would be performers up until 8 or 9...

Jul 8, 2007 - Anderson, AK a wide spot in the forest next to a river

After a week at Fairbanks, it time to go. We headed south on the "Parks Highway" with a short stop of acouple hours in Nenana we continued on to our destination, Anderson. But take a look at the photos in and around Nenana, it's a warm little town with lots of personality to it. President Harding came here in 1923 to drive the silver railroad spike to connect and finish the Alaskan Railroad. The spike is on display at the railroad giftshop and museum. Anderson is really just a wide spot in the forest but with 800 residents it's friendly,...

Jun 29, 2007 - Anderson, AK Homestead

On Friday we drove to Anderson to see the homestead. Anderson has a population of 300-500 depending on who's counting. We saw 6 people, 3 of which were passing thru. It is 290 miles from Anchorage. We located the 1.3 acre plot and took photos. Two of the roads are in and several lots are being cleared for buildings.