2015 Summer Journey
Delta Junction and BeyondAlaska Crossing, part 15
July 13, 2015…Day 17 in Alaska
For those who just want to check out the pretty photos I’ve created a slide show video, click here:Richardson Highway,Alaska
We made our exit from River View RV Park; it was a quiet night with no further lost of the area electrical power. It was amusing to watch these high end motorhome people cry the blues when the power dropped out, it was a caravan group. The grid was only down for than hour.
The highway opened up along the Tanana Valley River, we pulled into a wayside that sported some information signage, smoke from a distance fire could be seen from here.
Our first moose sighting of the day would be just another few miles down the road; we pull onto the shoulder along with other travelers.
Old Richardson Hwy crosses the Tanana River and the Alaskan pipeline can be seen crosses over the river.
Entering Delta Junction about 01:41pm, I entered the parking area for the Buffalo Center Drive-in and also the Sullivan Roadhouse is located next door. Here Richardson Highway changes to Richardson Highway#4.
Julie and decide to wander around the Sullivan Roadhouse before eating.
Near the front door is a rather an unusual wood burning stove.
The next few photos will be of the inside of the roadhouse, this is of the front room area.
Entering the next room displayed many items such a piano, wood burning cooking stove, snow shoes, old wind up 78 rpm record player etc.
To my surprise the director of this museum let me play the record player; I wind it up and let it go!
They packed a lot of by gone era items in this place, much more than I can write about.
We were told by the director that out in the back are several pieces of equipment, some that were used in building the original ALCAN Highway.
Wandering back to the front of the museum one could gaze upon the many flower and vegetables that are planted in log planters.
We thanked the director for all his information, but it was chow time. We no sooner made our order of buffalo burgers with all the goodies, Julie sat on a bench and some clown tried to make the move on my gal.
A bank was next door with temperature readout sign indicating only 79 degree; it indeed was a very comfortable day.
We’ll be going through Fort Greely Military Reservation, there was a good size road construction going on here.
Once out of the road works a clear view of the Alaskan Mountain Range south to us.
The speed limit had jump up to 65 mph, our truck hadn’t gone that fast in weeks. Even though the Alaska Range was still a long ways off it was none the less a magnificent view.
As luck would have it another moose sighting, only this one was a little shy and disappeared into the bushes.
I also took advantage of the moose stop to photography what look like a distance glacier, my best guess this is McGinnis Glacier at McGinnis Peak, I to use my big lens (600) to pull in this glacier shot.
Shortly down the road, hey what do you know another moose, a young bull moose this time! He was down below the highway in pretty much a mud hole; this was just before Donnelly Creek campground with Mt. Pillsbury in the distance.
Moving on and passing through the Black Rapids Training Site, where the US Army does it cold weather training.
A wonderful sight from the road came into view of the distance Rainbow Mountain, the Delta River and Trims Camp.
Just before reaching Trims Camp, you guess it another roadside moose enjoying diner and a bath at once. She was completely unfazed with photographing her.
It had been raining intermit for awhile, but the sky looked like it was going to get serious.
A small cession in the rainfall occurred as we motored on by the Rainbow Mountain, some very nice coloring of the mountain side.
Along Richardson Highway is a turnout with a stone craving of Wilds Preston Richardson and a information board about the “Gold Rush Women”
Our day was getting on the long and Summit Lake Rest Area was just ahead with the Gulkana River flowing near it. We wouldn’t be the only ones using this rest stop for the “night”, a couple good folks from Germany were here with their rig.
Thanks to everyone for reading my TCTRs, all comments are welcome and if you have any questions ask them here or PM me.
Thanks, Alex Blasingame, aka c.traveler2./ travelingman21000
