Moved to Interior Alaska

I struggled a lot with the idea of this blog.  Do I continue, should I start a new one...  Should it be time to withdraw?  For now, I shall update for those of you that still pop by...  Plus, these writings are a great reflection for me as well.

Luke and I made the move to Fairbanks at the end of June, on the 3rd to be precise.  My initial thoughts after driving the car off the ferry were, boy is it green here (Whittier, AK).  My gas mpg increased as I took to the open road for the first time in the car, prior to the move it had only been driven on the island.  On night number three of the trip, we stayed in Anchorage which was a short 60 mile (ish) drive from Whittier.  Why push it after a three day, two night on a ferry?  The following day we drove to Fairbanks.  The drive to Fairbanks was really green and beautiful.  The trees were a mix between deciduous and coniferous.  Wildflowers dotted the road the entire way.  In all, I saw a cow and her calf (moose) and a caribou.  Even though I had been in the car by myself, I yelled, "No way!" As the beige-ish mass had turned into a caribou.

Currently, I am getting situated in Fairbanks.  It has been an adjustment.  From my past experience, people differ everywhere one goes.  Fairbanks is no exception.  So far the folks that we have come across have been really nice here.  It has taken some getting used to the weather, the community, and the overall change.  Unlike the occasional trip to the lower 48 or Anchorage, it is fairly difficult to grasp that this is our home now.  Coming from the island, it has difficult to push aside the need to buy in bulk.  Also the sheer abundance and options of goods and services is nice and slightly overwhelming at the same time.

This is it for now.  I'll try to post more often as Fairbanks becomes more familiar.

Parking garage inside the ferry.  80 vehicles can fit.  It was pretty neat, you wait for them to lower the ramp (because the dock was lower than the Ferry's offload opening.  An operator inside lowers the ramp, four cars drive onto a platform, the operator lowers the platform, and then it is rotated so the vehicles can enter the parking area.  It was set up as a U shape.  You drive the vehicles to the right, drive around a U shaped parking area  and park so the vehicle is facing as pictured above.  The workers then strap your vehicle down and you go up the stairs to the purser's desk and get your room key or you find yourself a spot on the ferry to plant yourself.

While on the ferry, a boat in distress was identified and the ferry was the closest vessel in the sea to help was ours.  This boat, the Erica Renee, had a broken pump and was in the process of sinking.

The two-man crew frantically bail water out of the boat.  Meanwhile, workers on the ferry loaded a rescue boat to offer assistance.  Eventually, one of the ferry maintenance men, hopped aboard and got their pump going again and we were on our way.  We had to back track to help these guys out and were set back a couple of hours.

The chow hall on the Kennicott Ferry.  They had a pretty great menu, offering a different special every evening.  A meal for two went for $23-$26.

A fisherman's rendezvous.  Near of the port stops our vessel made.  This was somewhat of a last glimpse of life on the sea for us.  Sort of bittersweet leaving it behind.

Unlike loading in Sand Point, AK, the ramp on the ferry was the same level as the dock.  You just drove your vehicle forward and followed the signs.  We arrived in Whittier, AK.  The only way in/out of town is either from the ocean or through a one-way tunnel.  The tunnel is only opened from 5:30 a.m. to 11:15 p.m in the summer.  Imagine getting off of a swishy moving vessel after three days, then driving into a long, cool, dark tunnel to a new life.  It was certainly surreal.

Inside the tunnel.  What is going to be on the other side?  Entering it was raining and cool.  

Mountains!  The further we drove, the warmer it got and trees had more leaves.  My mpg on the car went from 15.6 to 31.8!  What a big difference it was to go from 25 mph driving to 60 mph on open roads.

What it looks like in Fairbanks.  Green, luscious, and HOTT!  Boy has it been hot here.  What a huge change, from 40's to mid-80s.  So far hiking here has been so different than what I am used to.  Unlike the mountains in Montana, it is really on the trails here and there are LOADS of mosquitoes.  It is too early to make judgments yet, but will keep you updated on hiking in interior Alaska.