North from Tok

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Sorry for the long silence. I'm going to try to catch up in the next few days, but in the interests of getting posts up, they may be somewhat abbreviated, and more pictures than words. Perhaps not such a bad thing!
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I'm HERE! I'm really here! This song keeps echoing in my head, and sometimes I still can't believe it. Places that I've read about, dreamed about. I'm here! I'm really here!

I just wish it hadn't taken 35 years to get here.

I'm also supremely grateful to everyone who has pitched in and made it so that I could continue on this trip. I would not miss this for the world.

Now THIS is Alaska! The Alaska Range from the Johnson River.

Tok to Delta Junction (Alaska Hwy 2)

I left my off-road gravel pit camp and headed north again. There was no dead guy; indeed no guy at all. Just a rolled up tent that might have been shelter if someone really needed it.

Automated traffic control on the Alaska Highway

Along the Alaska Highway, they were doing road work, and this was the first time I'd seen an automated traffic signal for one-lane traffic control instead of a two-person team with stop/slow signs and radios. A little frustrating since these were timed signals (on one direction for five minutes: enough time to get traffic through and clear, then on in the other direction for five minutes). 

But what did I care? I wasn't in a hurry!

Besides! There are mountains! And rivers! And trees and squirrels! 

I kept wanting to stop and look, but, while there are plenty of places to stop (big broad parking areas marked by "P in 1500 feet" signs, most of them even paved), none of them were in places I wanted to stop! It almost has gotten to be a joke, that wherever there is a "scenic turnout" marked with binoculars, it's not.

It was frustrating to catch glimpses of the snow-covered mountain range to the west and not be able to fully appreciate its beauty by stopping. This is one of the downsides of driving by oneself: you have to pay attention to the road (potholes, dips, etc.), and other cars. This is fine, as long as one can stop, which I'm VERY happy to do. One just has to find a good spot.

I'm finding the best places to stop are picnic areas, campgrounds or places where there is "river access" (for boating or fishing). You're almost guaranteed an outhouse, a table, and some interesting scenery.

I finally saw one of these spots just after the Robertson River bridge, and made for it. 

Alaska Range from the Robertson River

Robertson River 

One of the reasons I wanted to stop (ok, ok, those snow-covered peaks were the other), was that these shallow gravelly rivers have interesting structures captured in their silt and sand, like glistening fluvial flutes, animal tracks, and all sorts of forest and other debris. It's kind of like beachcombing, but inland. 

Like miniature sand dunes — think particle physics...

Actually, quite a lot can be determined from these structures. 

Just like sand dunes, the shapes, periodicity, and sediment content of fluvial structures is dependent on the type of flow and velocity of the water that deposits it.

Cobbles give some hint of what the geology is like upstream, and it's always fun to see the variety of different kinds of rocks.

After one motorcycle camper left, I was the only person here. It is sheer heaven to be able to walk along the river and look at things, listen to the rushing of the silt-laden river, and not worry about rain (at least not yet). 

Curious circular structure; or angel wings?

There was one really interesting structure that puzzled me; it was a circular structure, that almost looked like an eye, with cobbles at the bottom.

The only thing I can think of is that it was initially formed as a whirlpool; with swirling water that created the structures, and then the volume of water rapidly decreased without destroying the them. 

I've never seen anything like this, so I don't know... anyone have any other ideas? 

I'm beginning to sound pathetic, but I could have stayed here all day. I ache to try to capture the look of these on paper. They are like Mary Wagstaff's "water" paintings, but in sand and silt instead of water. 

Hey, unlike water they stand still so should be a lot easier for a beginner like me!

Once again, I was going to have to tear myself away. But I'm coming to realize, now, after doing this many, many times, that there might be something even better ahead.

Sparkling, silt-laden river water

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Every day has a new adventure; if you stay in one place too long, you'll miss what's down the road.

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It was a really pretty day: blue sky, scudding clouds, and after the gray rains of the past weeks and months, I had to find the sunglasses!

Delta Junction 

Delta Junction is the northern terminus of the Alaska Highway. 

There is a good visitor center with very friendly people, a library with 24/7 wifi (more on that in the next post), an Army base with thousands of visiting soldiers from Hawaii "on maneuvers," and a pretty good little IGA supermarket.

For those not inclined to cook, there are a few bars, and smattering of eating establishments of the basic food variety: American steak, Italian pizza and pasta, and "fast food" (an independent burger joint that was the most popular place in town). 


In addition, there are churches, a gigantic park with ball fields and playground equipment, schools, and houses tucked back in the spruce forest.

I'll continue this in the next post. All I can say at this point, was that big mountains had been tantalizingly far away, and Delta Junction was no different. I explored a bit, and managed to get a few somewhat unsatisfying pictures.

This is the view from in back of the IGA market – the ?Delta River? is the big gravel expanse in the foreground. 

Doesn't it just make you want to keep going?