Fairbanks to Anchorage

Outside the motel was a clock and thermometer. When I first awoke the temperature was 26 degrees. Please remember the Americans are the only retarded country in the world still using imperial measurements and Fahrenheit temperature scales. This is a totally stupid scale – what the hell is it based on? The Celsius scale is based on water – the most common compound on earth and 70%, or more, component of all life on the planet – zero being the freezing point and 100 being the boiling point (taken at sea level, yes). So we have this ridiculous scale running from 32 for freezing to 212 for boiling, so where is the sense in that? Any answer other than “none” is wrong.

Anyway, I managed to work out that t-shirt and no jacket would not be a good idea as it was below freezing. I also noticed the snow in the night had covered all the tracks I had noticed before I fell asleep – so we’d had about 5cm – a light dusting in local terms.

I got myself something to eat at the Denny’s next door to the hotel because I thought I had better start out full ready for the drive to Anchorage – about 318 miles. Having ensured that the car & myself were fully fuelled it was time to slide my way out of Fairbanks.

Once I had got myself on the south bound Highway 1 I could concentrate on keeping the Grunt Monster going straight forwards as opposed to sideways. This was not due to over-zealous use of acceleration but the fact that ice on roads with a bend in them will tend to make things slide sideways. Having cleared Fairbanks things improved until well into Denali National park – where they got “a bit slippy” again. I did take the opportunity of daylight to stop at some of the scenic views on the way back and it was well worth it.

The roads cleared up as I headed further south with just another dodgy patch as I hit Willow again and then everything was plain sailing into Anchorage.

I was also really pleased with myself in finding the hostel first time when I entered Anchorage’s urban sprawl. The variable speed limits do help as they can be 65, 55, 45, or 35mph depending on whether one is on open highway or in town. (If one is approaching a school bus stop and the lights are flashing the speed limit is 20mph.) As most people stick to speed limits (the fines are quite harsh I am told) then it does give one time to read road signs and get in the correct lane.

When I arrived several people I had met were still there and asked me how the trip went. I spent quite a while chatting to Eric about the places I had been and he was embellishing parts of what more, or different, can be had in different seasons. Like in summer when they get 23 hours of daylight in Fairbanks, or in winter where they get 3 hours of daylight. He was most enthusiastic about Alaska and that was why he stayed there – because it is special. I have had a taster of what the locals can get hooked on and can understand why.

I had a different dorm this time, but I had it all to myself so I wasn’t complaining. After getting everything sorted out and packed for departure I had something to eat and checked emails. I also checked my flight and hostel bookings to ensure there hadn’t been any changes or alterations – there hadn’t, so I went to bed and slept soundly.

I knew I could afford to have a lie in tomorrow as my flight wasn’t until 17:10 and I didn’t have to get the car back until 15:00, so a leisurely start to the day would be fine.