Tatlinika Trading Company Campground

We stopped at this campground for the night. They had a wonderful gift shop.

As you entered the front door this old couple greeted you.

Outside was a gas pump.  Wish we could have filled our tanks.

Gas from that pump was 26 cents per gallon....oooooohhhhhh remember when.

Transportation for the winter months.

Skis on the front.

Tracks on the back.

Another old truck that was sitting there, not sure if it was used anymore.

A group of old bicycles. Even one built for two.

They do protect the wildlife in Alaska.

Their toy barn. A plane with tires and floats, boats, four wheelers....ahhhh the life.

After we left the campground, we were looking at other possible locations, we decided this one was a bit wet. But beautiful views.

The mountain and trees reflected in the lake.

We are off again heading on down the road.

Our destination is close at hand...next visit Denali with me.

The Beauty of Alaska

Found an eagle sitting on an old tree...he is magnificant

The Irises are in bloom

Blue bells are blooming

Wild roses

Wild rose bud

Water is still and has a wonderful reflection

Of course Bear and Spring are enjoying each mile. They are so excited when we get to someplace new and they can get out and snif...

Trees here sometimes grow big bumps on them. So people have taken them and become creative. Here is a bull moose

A giant mosquito, think some are this size.

Beautiful flowers with a bump post and railing.

Then we arrived at the north pole. Everyone has something at their business connected to Christmas. Note the Candy Cane sign..for a welding shop.

We went to Santa's Shop and visited with the reindeer

Not sure who is who here, I called names and they ignored me

Ahhh but then I found Santa. I sat in his lap and tickled his beard, hoping for a nice gift, he laugh that "ho ho ho" and said a lump will be in your stocking..if I had known that I would have pulled that beard!!!

Note here he is no longer laughing.  He didn't even give me a candy cane...what's wrong with this picture?????

Rika's Roadhouse

Of course the first order of business is a lunch. She crab soup and a sandwich with a piece of pie. YUMMMY

The roadhouse has a lot of history and around it are very old reminders of the past. This old truck probably hauled many, many loads.

Looking in the passenger area, the seat was framed out of wood, and the firewall was also wood. Never realized before how much wood was used to produce a vehicle.

Part of the history of this old area.

This is the back view of the roadhouse.

A frontal view.

A bit of the history, which I will let you read.

At the road house, a scale was installed to weigh the freight before they were charged for a fairy ride.

I love to sew and this old sewing cabinet caught my eye.

Of course there was the old treddle machine. 

Then my heart just skipped beat with this modern stove. Fill it with wood, then whip up a delicious dinner.

More of the history for the Rika Roadhouse area.

This building was used by those stringing the wire and setting up the communications.

Very interesting place, we stayed the night and went on down the road.

Pioneer Village

In Fairbanks they had a Pioneer Village set up with interesting old homes that had been moved in, along with Harding's Railroad car.

This is the railroad that Harding, when he was president toured Alaska in.

Here is the back end where I am sure he made his speeches from

An old paddle wheeler that is call Nenanna. It has quite a history on the rivers.

They brought old homes in from around Fairbanks so you can see the types of homes they lived in during the gold rush.

Here is a bit of the history of the home above.

Another of the old homes that is now being used as a shop.

An old church was also brought in and set up.

A close up here of the stain glass in the window above.

A bit of history of the house below

Quite a house for $800 don't you think?

Here is where you could get a tub bath for 50  cents.  Now there is a bargin.

Lovely place to relax after a long month grubbing for gold.

Also there was a saloon/dance hall. You know those miners needed to be relieved of their gold.

A very nice wood carved statue is located in front of Pioneer Village

Now just a bit of added interest...this truck was on a used car lot. Anyone looking for one like this, only
$20,995.