August 10, 2015-Northern Alaska Tour Company/Arctic Circle Overnight, Coldfoot, Coldfoot Camp, dinner at the Truckers Cafe

COLDFOOT

Our alarm goes off at 3:30 am.  We're being picked up for our overnight Arctic Circle Expedition at 4:45 am.  Cost of this add on $739 pp.  This includes the night in Coldfoot, all the touring,  and the night in Fairbanks after.  We are able to leave all our bags except for a small carry on and my camera gear bag as we will return to this hotel to stay 1 night on 8/11.  This excursion is an add on for our land/cruise package I booked through Holland America.  We are dressed warmly in layers as I expect it to be cold.  I can't believe I'm up at this awful hour and functioning too.  On our way over to Northern Alaska Tour Company office we stop to pick up another couple.  At the office are 2 other couples.  Only Richard and I are staying overnight.  The others will be flying back to Fairbanks from Coldfoot tonight.  There are forms to fill out-waivers and information for our Arctic Circle crossing certificates.  There is coffee at the office.  Soon we're introduced to Sabrina who will be our driver/guide up to Coldfoot.  She explains to us that our seating in the van will rotate so we all will get good and not so good seats.  Most are not happy about this but I think it's fair.  This way everyone will have time sitting by a window or up front for better views of the passing scenery.  The weather is going to play a factor.  It is cold, light drizzle, and as we drive very cloudy.  We begin our journey going north on the Elliott Highway.  Our first stop is not long after leaving Fairbanks.  We stop at the Wildwood General Store in Joy.  Here there's free coffee.  Breakfast.  I buy a huge muffin, some water, postcards.  This is a cute place-family run-that is a welcome stop for a bathroom break, coffee to warm us up, and souvenirs and books on Alaska.  We have around 30 minutes here.

Our hotel's restaurant closed this early morning

Breakfast doesn't start until 5:30 am

Empty lobby area

Research map

Wildwood General Store-Joy, Alaska

It all started with this lemonade stand

Restroom facilities were not that bad

Inside the store 

Stairs going up where there are displays

Soon we have entered the Dalton Highway or Haul Road as the locals call it due to the truckers hauling goods back and forth.  It is now 175 miles to Coldfoot.  As we drive Sabrina fills us in with information on the flora and fauna, things like the tundra, taiga,  and permafrost.  So much to absorb.  We pull over to an area where we can walk over to the pipeline and hear all about it from Sabrina.  At mile 56 we reach the Yukon River and the Yukon River Camp.   You can buy food and use the restroom facilities.  Some who have ordered boxed lunches will pick them up and eat them here.  Finger Mountain is at mile 98 but when we stop we can't see it at all.  We know what it looks like from the information sign but the weather is really crappy with hardly any visibility.   At the Kanuti River we stretch our legs and another change of seats which we are doing each stop.

This picture taken from the van where you can see the clouds and the rain spots

Pipeline stop

Yukon River bridge

Crossing the bridge

Pipeline

Motorcycles

Dalton/Haul Road

Patch of blue sky

Zij zag pipeline

Not much visibility-couldn't see Finger Mountain

Kanuti River

Then we are at the Arctic Circle crossing sign at mile 115.    Sabrina puts down a "red carpet".   We take a group picture that another traveler takes for us.  Then a bunch of couples pictures so we all get to stand by the sign.  Then Sabrina says she has a special treat for us so we walk over to where there is a picnic table and benches.  She serves us permafrost on tundra also known as whipped cream on a chewy brownie.  It is really good.  Soon a squirrel comes to join us trying to get snatches of the leftovers.  Everyone is snapping pictures of this guy like he's a celebrity!  He has whipped cream around his mouth, on his nose, and on his feet.  All of a sudden he grabs one of the plastic forks.  Sabrina tries to retrieve it but he runs up the tree with it.  We are all laughing hysterically.  Then he reappears, minus the fork!!  Sabrina also uses some water in a jug to clean the rear windshield.  Our tan/beige van is now looking medium brown from all the mud on the road.  Next stop is Grayling Lake-very pretty and we can see it.  This is now mile 150.  We have a short hike.

 

Permafrost on tundra treat

Unexpected visitor

Our last stop is COLDFOOT at mile 175.   Richard and I will spend 1 night here.  Cost unknown as part of our Holland America land/cruise add on.  There is a building here which has some exhibits and Sabrina tells me I can return this evening around 7:30 pm for a lecture/discussion/film.  This is where the others will fly back to Fairbanks, weather permitting.  Richard and I will staying overnight in a separate building from the cafe.  We see truckers getting fuel as the next fuel stop is Deadhorse.   Sabrina says you can no longer drive straight through to Prudhoe Bay.  Fear of terrorism means a background check has to be done on you for permission.  There are tour companies in Deadhorse that will do tours up to Prudhoe Bay for those interested in dipping their toes in the Arctic Ocean.  I am very surprised about the quality of the Dalton.  I expected a much rougher drive.  Parts are paved but lots of it is just gravel.  But the Dalton is not in bad shape like I thought from reading about it.  We have passed lots of motorcyclists, a  camper vehicle or 2.  But most of the traffic is the big rigs.  My husband who drove an 18 wheeler in his youth is reliving those long gone years.  Sabrina returns with bad news for the other 3 couples.  Due to the weather-mainly no visibility-they will not be flying back to Fairbanks.  Another driver will take them back.  A 5-6 hours on the road with a dinner stop means they will get back to Fairbanks around 10-11 pm.  A very long day for those guys.  I sure hope we can fly back tomorrow but weather is never a sure thing.  Safety is the most important consideration.  We say our goodbyes and 1 couple mentions they will be on our cruise which starts on 8/16.  Maybe we will see each other again.  It has been a great day.  Would have been better with nicer weather but it was fun, nonetheless.

 

Covered porch-Truckers Cafe

White building is where the sleeping rooms are located

Coldfoot Camp-Truckers Cafe

Coldfoot Camp.  Richard and I are given the key to our room, #3, by the guy at the cafe.  We trudge through the mud over to the bunkhouse building.  This was built for those building the pipeline and the truckers and some tourists now.  Our room is very basic.  2 single beds with a private bathroom with shower.  More than I expected really.  If you like luxury this is not the place for you as is all the other places we've stayed at in Homer, Seward.......  We are not fancy people and as long as the beds are comfy and the room is clean it's a positive with me.  I give Sabrina a nice tip as I feel she has really done a good job.  Richard and I will have dinner in the Truckers Cafe.  There is a room designated for truckers only-cute.  They can smoke in there.  As a former smoker it doesn't bother me and I don't see anyone smoking.  There is a covered porch so maybe that's where the smokers go??  The cafe does a dinner buffet but there is just too much food for me.  I ask and am told I can have a bowl of the homemade turkey rice soup with a roll.  It was delicious and hit the spot for me.  My husband gets that also.  Bill $9.40  There is no charge for coffee or tea.  The buffet had chicken and steak entrees, roasted potatoes, mac & cheese, 3 kinds of veggies, bread & rolls, tossed salad, turkey rice soup, 4 kinds of desserts.  Everything looked great and I'm sure the truckers appreciate it.  We are very tired as it has been a long day.  We decide to not go to the center for the film.  We are in bed by 8:30 pm!!

Basic room but the beds were comfy and the room was clean and warm

Sink and closet

Bathroom

Shower

Area where you can sit and watch TV

Room with books, puzzles

Peanut butter bars and coconut macaroons

Vanilla cupcakes

BBQ chicken and grilled flank steak

3 kinds of veggies

Soup

Tossed salad

Salad toppings and dressings

We had bowls of this yummy turkey rice soup

Tomorrow we do the 2nd part of our excursion.  Our driver/guide will be picking us up at 5:30 am.  Oh well, I'll catch up on my sleep when we get back to Fairbanks.