Fairbanks and Top Ten

We're in Fairbanks tonight and headed back south tomorrow to Delta Junction. Yesterday's ride had plenty of climbing. Today was fairly flat with rolling terrain, but rain at the end of the day. Temperatures are warmer than in Anchorage. Tomorrow's forecast does not sound good with more rain and my understanding is that it's the toughest day of the trip (more about that with the top ten list).

Hotels and food have been good. The group is good, a dynamic mix all with different stories and experiences. Some have never toured before. Others are very well travelled.

I rode the first two days alone. Today I rode with almost the whole group at different times.

We just returned from supper, and we have the luxury of laundry facilities. Unfortunately I didn't realize until after I had already washed some shorts and jerseys in the tub so now I'm drying in the dryer.

The scenery has changed a bit as we've come north and moved somewhat out of the tundra. This is more what I expected with lots of pine trees closer to the road, but everything continues to be green, green, green. We have a botanist in the group and we learned the other day that the flowers here are so big because of the moisture and minimal darkness. There were begonias at yesterday's hotel that had blossoms bigger than my hands.

The group has had sightings of various wildlife. The most exciting is a bear crossing the road on today's ride. I have no idea why the bear was crossing the road..... :-)

Other sightings have included bald eagles, swans and several moose. I was with George, Nancy and Paul today when we saw a cow and calf moose. The cow was not happy about our presence at all and proceeded to lead the calf back into the trees. George and Nancy are quite accomplished riders. All three are from Salt Lake City.

Here's tonight's Top Ten List --
1. Tom Bodet and Motel 6 have nothing on the Caribou Inn in GlennAllen.
The Caribou Inn will leave the heat on for you! As I understand, year round whether you need it or not with no temperature control. It took me all night to figure out what the running water sound was coming from the wall.

2. If you decide to open the window at the Caribou Inn in GlennAllen to help with temperature control because of number 1, expect the Alaskan state bird to come flying in (even with the screens).

3. The Alaskan state bird (also known as mosquitos in the "lower 48") are as big as they say.
I killed one after making the mistake of number 2, honestly it must have been PREHISTORIC it was so big!

4. When the tour operator says the roads "Go around the mountains," DO NOT BELIEVE HIM. He is telling a whopping fib!

5. When the ride leader (aka the tour operator in number 4) tells you it's all downhill after the next pass in 4 miles, DO NOT BELIEVE HIM.
Yes, he is telling a whopping fib! It is true that the roads are not going over the mountains as they do in the West, there are plenty of hills and plenty of climbing. Tomorrow's ride is suppose to be one of those character building rides with a couple of 6% climbs and a steady 1 - 2% grade back to Delta Junction. Boy, do I miss my bike!

6. Riders are like sheep.
If one rider stops because she thought she saw a moose, the rest of the riders will stop even if it turns out to be just a stump.
If the lead rider pulls off the road, a tailing rider will follow. Even if the lead rider was just looking for some "privacy."

7. When you see a pay phone mounted on a telephone pole, assume it's a good sign there's no cell service.
Yesterday we were 30 miles from anywhere, and here is a pay phone mounted on a utility pole. None of us had any wireless service.

8. It's cooler (or perhaps colder) in Alaska than in the midwest.
I did more clothes changes on Monday and Tuesday than you can imagine. The cold weather jacket I invested in this spring has more than paid for itself. Today, I carried all three jackets and used all three jackets (cold, warm and rain).

9. When you get to the top of a climb, DO NOT assume that the other side will be downhill.
Trust your legs, they will tell you whether you're going up or down. I struggled yesterday, assuming I was having to pedal downhill. Apparently not. It was actually a slow up! How can that be?

And finally...

10. Michelle, Natalie, Sophia (The Girls) and I are having a great time. Wish you were here!

~ Lisa