Early morning pavement in front of us. Fueled with coffee and ready for the road. The new path beckons. My driver is experienced and knowledgeable. I can sit back and enjoy the view. I am heavily armed with camera and binoculars.
Going north. I’ve been drawn north all of my life. It is what brought me to Fairbanks. It is why I’m in this van today. The lure of the road north. The haul road. They started building this road after I came to Alaska and now I finally get to experience it. This road goes to Prudhoe Bay. It is hard to get further north than that.
What is that white splash on top of the spruce tree? An osprey. Look at those colors and the rocks and the sunshine illuminating the lake. Wonderful. Couldn’t see the white dotted line of the arctic circle but I’m sure it was there. The road, surrounded by wilderness. The clarity and brilliance of all of it. Many thoughts breezed through my mind. Fauna, flora, rock and crag. Engineering ingenuity. A type of salt that keeps the soil more moist to limit the dust. Lots to learn.
What intrigued me the most was the road. It’s narrow and dangerous because of the soft shoulders. It was built for the truckers and it’s important to alert them where and what you are so there are no surprises. A CB radio is essential. My driver keeps in contact with them, alerting them of our location.
Exhilerating to go on a new path, whether you are walking, flying, driving, riding or just exploring a new direction in your thoughts. It helps you see the world afresh. Expand your comfort zones and see what you learn.
We drove to Coldfoot and I flew back to Fairbanks. I recommend Northern Alaska Tour Company. LJ is an excellent driver and tour guide. Go on an adventure.
oil painting
Back in the studio, I capture some of my feelings about this experience on the road. Tundra, lake and mountain. We saw a few wildflowers. There was snow further north. The road beckons me to continue.
