July 1 Fairbanks towards Willow, AK

Very late start today. Laundry, grocery shopping, gas and water topping off, having to write my monthly market research article for Desert Mountain Stroll magazine. Smoky and drizzly in Fairbanks this morning. Not a good night's sleep due mainly to Tuck being very restless; panting hard. Did not leave Fairbanks until 3:40 p.m. 58 degrees, drizzle. Not sure how much more rain and smoke the day would provide!

Wound up driving about 170 miles to our chosen campsite. On the way down, we had two good-sized moose cross in front of us. Got a good shot of them on the road. Then, a couple of hours later, we went by a ten-percent active forest fire barely a quarter of a mile off the highway, just a mile north of the entrance into Denali National Park. We knew it had been going on for three days, so weren't surprised. Good that it was only smoke, not flames, and that the wind was blowing it away from the highway. No delay, but some drama. The Park is closed, and the campground in the Park where we stayed for three nights just eight or nine days ago has been evacuated. But, we sailed right through and were shortly thereafter enjoying the first smoke-free air we had seen and breathed for about the last two days. Spectacular, wide, valley with many lakes and big mountains on both sides. No view of Denali, though. Maybe tomorrow. We are too close to see it due to the mountains close to us.

Got to our iOverlander campsite, on the banks of the Chulitna River, north of Denali State Park at 6:49. Pretty spot. One other camper there but plenty of room for all. Since we are within two hours of our destination for day after tomorrow, Willow, AK, we may elect to spend a leisurely day right here all day tomorrow. Break out the flyfishing gear and see if we can catch any fish. Only downside to the site is being less than 100 yards away from the highway. It isn't quite as busy as I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix, but given the complete and utter solitude we have enjoyed over the last week on the Dalton Highway up to Prudhoe Bay, this place seems like Times Square to us.

Enjoy the pictures, and thanks for your interest!

Best,

Davis, Ann, and Tuck

Where we wound up for the night...

View looking upstream...

Downstream..

Nice truck!! (Honking front spare tire, one of two, hasn't been used yet! Knock on wood...).

Smoke from the Riley Fire, a mile north of the entrance into Denlai National Park...

Couple of "Bullwinkles" crossing the road. (We all know why...).

Smoke from that same fire...