I arrived at 5 mile camp, and enjoyed a little bit of a hike around, mosquito free, to the Ghost Town camp center. An abandoned bunch of buildings with stories left behind.
I left 5 mile camp and did drive to this camp’s dumpsite, trying to figure out why it was closed, and as I looped around, I found the Ranger who I met the other day, to ask. He said he wasn’t quite sure, but the tank was full and unfortunately not available. I said oh, I’m coming around to get my certificate, the one that proves I went to the “Arctic Circle.” I guess I need validation to have been there, because it was a heck of an effort, so yeah, and damn, I want my well deserved certificate. He said I’ll be at the ranger station in another 45 minutes. So I stopped for gas at Yukon River Camp, where you have to leave your credit card at the camp host, go back to fill gas, take a photo of the total pumped, and show it to the camp host to make payment. Things are a bit different up here. My clerk was “Rusty” who used to live in Prescott. This woman was well into her 70’s, perhaps older, with rusty red hair. She has been a server her entire life and people would call her over and call her “red.” So Rusty’s not her real name, but she responds to that. She told me to go to Sally’s to get a special dye that keeps these darker colors in your hair. How funny, since I can’t keep my natural brown in for more than a few days before it turns into a silver/gray/blond mess. I couldn’t help but buy a long sleeve shirt which you can always use, and a peanut butter cookie, made in house. Rusty was sweet and I enjoyed my visit with her.
I stopped at the ranger station where Ranger Bob showed up. Long tall Bob, who talked to me about Wiseman, and who owns one of the houses that I passed by the other day! I told him about the old man Alaska who owns the house, near Finger Mountain, and he said yes, that’s my friend, “Old Man Alaska” and of course no names were exchanged, but he asked about that picnic and if that was still up, and about when I entered Wiseman, the other day. I said yes, of course, and they invited me over for beer, water, brownies, and cupcakes, so we laughed about the small encounter. Oh my goodness, an even smaller world, as Bob is a volunteer now for the BLM lands, and a former forest ranger. He was quite personable and very friendly as he filled out my special certificate, with my name, along with Jo Jo, as having made it to the Arctic Circle. I’m definitely official now. and I have inside connections, and friends, should I go back to Wiseman to enjoy the aurora borealis, someday.
So on the road I go, and I kept driving and driving with many familiar roads judging the roller coaster, up-and-down side to side, avoiding the ice heaves, and deep pot holes and I did an excellent, and exhausting job. As I got closer to Fairbanks, I checked my iOverlander app to determine my next overnight. Which, unfortunately led me to several spots that I didn’t care for. They were either paid sites or along the highway, and I’m trying to watch my budget, or mixed in with marginal reviews. So I did a mile or two backtracking, where I found a road that took me down to a stream under a bridge. I didn’t quite take it to the stream with compressed rocks, but found a pull out that had not one but two fire pits which I had to drive on top of in order to fit, allowing people to pass by. And this is where I spent the night. It was actually quite perfect as I walked to the stream relatively mosquito free, picking up some unusual and beautiful rocks. It was quiet, it was calm, and I thought I hit the lottery yet again.
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