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Alaska - At Last

I was a bit apprehensive about crossing the American border
since the last few times it was a bit of a hassle. This time it was largely without incident for which I was glad.

It was great to finally be here after 5 days of driving.

The border crossing is a wonderful place to have a digital camera for there are a multitude of markers, flags and explanatory panels to read and photograph on the American side.

Recognizing the significance of this place and the Herculean efforts put in by the U.S. Army in constructing this road, I was more than enraptured with my surroundings.

The story of the highway's construction and more is well explained in the information panels
included in my photos .

Due to permafrost, the Alaska Highway is in its worst condition in the stretch from Haines Junction to the border. It is left to the Americans to explain the effect of permafrost on the road by means of their information panels.

From the border, the next point of interest is Tetlin Junction where I would have rejoined the Alaska Highway had I chosen to drive via Dawson City and the Top of the World Highway (how great is that for a name?)

Tok, located 50 km from the border is interesting for its eclectic collection of buildings and a gas station which seemed to have succumbed to a cigarette.

The Alaska Highway comes to an end 47 km further at Delta Junction. Similar to the border there is much information displayed here about the highway.

In particular, I enjoyed viewing the collection of construction equipment used at the time for the building of the highway . Looking at it now, it seems totally incapable of getting the job done.

Just for example, the small amount of dirt which could be lifted by the steam shovel would seem to make the job of completing the highway in 8 months implausible.

Many people think the Alaska Highway goes to Fairbanks but the signs make it amply clear that the highway ends here and if you drive to Fairbanks, as I did, it is on
the Richardson Highway.

My next destination of Fairbanks was another 95 km and I arrived at the campus of the University of Alaska- Fairbanks at 22:33.

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YOU TUBE - http://www.youtube.com/user/TravelsWithLobo

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