Log cabins at the Pike River compound were the order of the day, after a tip from one of the locals.  At this stage of the journey, it was home sweet home.  The rooms were nice and clean.

This was our big day to attack the Arctic Circle.  Unfortunately, we woke up to rain, and several people telling us that we'd ruin our bikes if we rode them up there.  So we rented a Honda Pilot and started our journey up the James Dalton Highway.

The first segment was paved, and our spirits were high.  For once, we were driving in rain and not getting wet. 

We had a little excitement during the first ten miles, and we found out that there was danger around every curve.  While driving and singing "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall", a female moose came bolting out of the bush, and ran directly in front of our car.  We took defensive action, but she ended up filling our windshield with a lovely view of her posterior, and we swear that her hoofs kicked the front bumper (although we couldn't see any damage, Ms. Rental Car lady).

The pavement ended pretty quickly, and this is where the mosquitoes got bad and the road got worse.

Sure was some different scenery, and we learned of fireweed, which is the first vegetation to spring up after a forest fire.  The purple flower blanketed many acres along the route.

The Dalton Highway was built to support the construction and maintenance of the Alaskan pipeline (the locals, or at least the six of us) pronounced it 'pip i lini' .  It's route paralleled our road, and sometimes burrowed underground through a mountain.

Our first glimpse of the mighty Yukon River. 

Coldfingers vowed to kayak the entire river next year as his big journey.

Fuel and snacks were few and far between, and it wasn't much fun getting out into the rain and mud, and letting a bunch of mosquitoes into the car.  However, our first stop was rewarded by meeting the lovely Ingrid, a local Eskimo girl, who welcomed us warmly.  The best smile in Alaska!

This was Ingrid's shop, but check out the boarded up window.  Recently, a grizzly bear broke in through the window when no one was around, and trashed the place.  Three local hunters were called upon to enter the premises, and found the bear in the hallway asleep after gorging on the supplies.  The bear was sent to bear heaven (we're trying to keep this a happy story, OK?).   Now Ingrid is selling "bearly worn" sweatshirts with paw prints and smudges on them.

The road continued to get worse, with danger around every curve.  Look out for that road equipment!!!!

Check out the windows on that boat in front of us.  This road takes a heavy toll on all vehicles, due to the heavy truck traffic and the rocks that they throw up.  We told you that gas was in short supply, look at the spare containers on the back of the truck in front of us.

Our bikes would have been toast in this.

The pipeline inspectors......

The terrain started to vary, with less trees and more bushes and rocks.....frozen tundra????  Isn't that in Green Bay?

We made it at last!  The nuns on roller skates may have beaten us to it, but we made it.   

Nothing like a little blatant commercialism on our journey.  Hey Dave, do you think they'll underwrite the cost of our trip now?  If nothing else, this would be a great place for a new branch, don't you think?

We're getting a little worried about one member of our party.  He's really adapted too well to his new environment, and is talking seriously about moving.  We think Kathy would embrace such a move.

You can't tell by our professional poses....but mosquitoes are chewing us up in this photo.

Danger around every curve!

Here we're testing our new mosquito/fly trap.  It really worked, but don't tell Bob, who woke up saying..."I'm really thirsty for some reason!"

Yes, we went through a little mud, and it took several car washes to get it back to turn-in condition.

Upon our return to the hotel, we were surprised by a congratulatory basket sent by Kathy Eberle, to recognize our accomplishment.  Thanks Kathy, we all loved the champagne, chocolates, and strawberries!

Salute!

Everyone was caught up in the spirit!

Waldo says....you know Dave, I think that Viki would kind of like living up here too.

Guess what we're doing here?  Working on the web site of course.

The end of a long day.