Ninety-three miles on down the road from North Pole we arrive in Delta Junction, the end of the Alaska Highway. It is Friday, July 29. We are not sure whether we are spending one or two nights in town. The beginning of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek had a lot of fun stuff to investigate. We will see what the end has to offer.
Delta Junction Intersection
I love this intersection. It is so-o-o-o Alaska!
Thermometer
This thermometer reminds me of the one in Baker, California, on I-15. Of course, that thermometer has the top range of temperatures highlighted and doesn’t even begin to get down this low.
How Cold Can It Be?
Really? January 6, 1975, was minus 72 degrees?! That will freeze your lungs!
Delta Junction
Mosquito Art
Outside the visitor’s center is mosquito art. We have heard a lot about the mosquitos of Alaska before arriving. Both Ed and I have to say we are very pleasantly surprised at the absence of mosquitos in most of the places we have been. We seem to find them out in the bush around the streams. I’m sure that people who are fishing or hunting are seeing many, many more than we are.
The End of the Alaska Highway
We still have to actually drive the portion of the Alaska Highway from Delta Junction to Tok. That will come when we leave here. We will then be able to claim the distinction of having survived the drive from end to end. Another bucket list item to get checked off.
Defense System
The museum at the visitor’s center has some interesting and unexpected displays. This one points out the strategic location of Alaska at the top of the world.
Farming History
Farming
Since any and all food products, for both animal and people, have to be imported by ship, plane, or truck, if not grown in Alaska, these necessities are very expensive by Lower 48 standards. This area of Alaska has the most potential for being suitable for agriculture. It has proved to have some big challenges. The majority of items are still imported, but in the summer the local farmer’s markets are a very popular event.
Farming
Trumpeter Swans
This beautiful display of trumpeter swans is the most eye-catching display in the whole museum. We have seen more stuffed, dead animals and birds than I think I have seen in my entire life leading up to Alaska. The taxidermy business is alive and well. It has given us an opportunity to see wildlife that we may have missed otherwise.
Pipeline Pigs
We even have a chance to learn more about the pipeline business.
Scraper Pig
This is a very interesting process. Who knew the lines had to be scraped?!
Scraper Pig
Instrument Pig
This is a surprise as well. I had no idea that a machine could be sent through the pipeline to monitor the existing conditions.
Pig
Three Pipeline Sizes
If you look closely, you can see the three diameters of various pipelines. This shows just how much volume the Alaska Pipeline is capable of carrying!
End of the Alaska Highway
Back outside we are now convinced we are staying only one night in Delta Junction. This visitor’s center museum is the sum total of things to do in Delta Junction. It is a wide spot in the road that could easily be missed if you blinked on the way through town.
We also have a very interesting campsite tonight. We have opted to stay at an RV park that advertised a full hook-up for $18. That is about half what it would normally cost.
The lady running the park has to be in her 80′s and appears to be living alone. There is evidence that she may have lost her husband in the not too distant past. After paying our money in cash, there was no registration card to fill out, no map of the campground, and no site number assigned. We just drive out into the grass field and pick a site we like.
The sites are pretty rough, but we find one that is fairly flat, has a good straight-in approach, pull through, and easy exit. Looking around, we are seeing some really tired, worn units, but we are also seeing some pretty fancy ones as well. When it comes time to hook-up the sewer, we discover the real issue. The sewer pipe is clogged solid! Yuck. There is also evidence of past sewage spills.
Okay. We can cope with this. Tomorrow we know for a fact we will be in Tok, Alaska, with a full hook-up in a nice campground. We will plug in electricity and not worry about the water and sewer. I am not going to go back and ask for a refund. This woman needs that $18 more than I do.
Delta Junction is no Dawson Creek! We are moving on down the road after a good night’s sleep. Being self-contained makes life good!