Well -- after getting to bed really late in the oil field camp --- Howard was up about 7 and went to have some breakfast. My eyes were not as willing to open up that early but I think they did actually open up (somewhat) about 7:45 AM.
I too, went for breakfast. We ate in the cafeteria where the oil field workers also eat all their meals. There was everything that one's little tummy could desire. Bacon, sausage, eggs, hash browns, red potatoes, fruit of all kinds, cottage cheese, cereal, pancakes, DONUTS and sweet rolls, coffee, tea, milk - both chocolate and white, and more and more and more.
And it was at breakfast that we met John & Rita. They too, were very interesting and have traveled all over the world and are planning a trip to Greece in August. They have been there previously and actually were in the cave on Patmos where the Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation!
We were told by the office person to pack a brown bag of food for our trip back down the road --- so we ended up with a lot of cheese, some muffins, pudding packets, sweet rolls. The workers all come to the PrudHoe Bay Hotel to do this. They eat all their meals at this very clean and spacious cafe.
We are ready to leave so did a drive around tour on our own. The streets in Deadhorse (the actual town where the oil camp is) were filled with potholes and the speed limit was 7 1/2 mph!!
And we saw more Lynden Transport vehicles --- there were several of these there and also up and down the 'Haul Highway'! Really dirty - all of them but that is the result of that highway!!!
And there were a lot of piles of snow -- but we are in the Arctic Circle - so I guess that is to be expected!!!!
And then there is all this very large equipment!! A man's dream!!
And to my Canadian friends -- my apologies for complaining about your gas prices!!!! We are at the top of the world, in the oil pumping fields and we had to pay $4.77 per gallon!!!!!
I'm not sure what all of this is --- but it must be important or it wouldn't be here!!!
Now the BIG disappointment of this very long drive!!! We are within just a few miles of the Arctic Ocean and we cannot get to it!!!! IF the tours were already running for the season there is a 24 hour waiting period to clear security!!!!! So near & yet SO FAR!!!!
This truck ran off the road and is stuck in the muck!!!! None of the guys around it knew what had happened and why it happened but there it was ----- off the edge of the road!!! Guess that part of the muck was not frozen hard enough!!!
So we might as well head back South down the long and bumpy, but beautiful, Haul Highway!!!
More of those beautiful snow geese!!!
And
miles and miles of snow!! And just think - not ONE of those snowflakes is a match to another!!!
Musk ox along the road! We saw some herds of these critters out in the fields but it was great to see them up close like this!!!
These two giants were right on the edge of the road - probably 10 feet from our car!!! Now that is a face that only a mother could love!!!!
We saw herds and herds of Caribou. Most were far out in the fields but this one was quite close to the road and with the help of my zoom lens I could pull him up real close!!
Another one of the amazing Creatures that God created!!!
And the mountains just never cease to amaze me. Before the mountains were formed.......
Just before returning to Coldfoot Camp we stopped by an old quaint little town called Wiseman and this is where we met with this spunky little creature!!!!
One of the cabins in the town of Wiseman. We have seen several of cabins like this all along the way and just wonder at the dreams that the people that built these must have had. I am sure there is a plethora of stories that could come out of these walls - if they could only talk!!
AND - there are a lot of cabins that people apparently are still living it --- notice the stack of wood that is right close to the door!!
And apparently some of the cabins did not fair so well!!
The winters here are brutal - getting as low as 80 degrees below zero with no sunshine or very little for months on end. There are those people that do have propane or some sort of alternate heat but the majority of people in the countryside use wood!
We are back in Fairbanks! Now to find a motel and hit the hay!! Traveling by car can be very tiring!!!
And so ends another day enjoying the gorgeous landscape and the beauty of the world around us --- and the midnight sun!!!! Even though this picture was taken at about 11:30!!!! Close enough!!
And apparently some of the cabins did not fair so well!!
The winters here are brutal - getting as low as 80 degrees below zero with no sunshine or very little for months on end. There are those people that do have propane or some sort of alternate heat but the majority of people in the countryside use wood!
We are back in Fairbanks! Now to find a motel and hit the hay!! Traveling by car can be very tiring!!!
And so ends another day enjoying the gorgeous landscape and the beauty of the world around us --- and the midnight sun!!!! Even though this picture was taken at about 11:30!!!! Close enough!!
Stocking hat # 9!!!
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