2019 Alaska Trip - Day 124 - Travel Day From Chena River Wilderness To Fairbanks

Our next destination is the Clearwater State Recreation Site near Delta Junction where the Alaska Highway begins (or ends depending on which way you are going). It was only about a 150-mile trip, but at the last minute we decided to do an overnight in Fairbanks.

We took our time getting ready, and then we did our farewell hugs and handshakes with Rowdy & Missy. Their trail (aka "road") had dried out a bit in the last few days, but there were still big puddles and muddy areas.

I should have taken photos on our arrival day, but I took some today as I led Linda out in the Jeep.

Just imagine it being twice as bad as that when we arrived. We both were much more confident today.

Rowdy said the trail back was bone dry all summer, and then heavy rains went through in the days before we arrived. With the rock base, it doesn't drain, so it has to dry over time.

Again, it's not an official road, so Rowdy maintains it himself the best he can, and he's been dragging it the last few days to help much of it dry out.

So, if you come for a visit as a Boondockers Welcome guest (under 30 feet for RVs), just understand it's not a state or borough maintained road, and conditions can change quickly. But if we could make it, chances are you can, too.

And we're so glad we took the risk. We had a great time, and it wouldn't have been the same parked out by the road or down at Gabe's Boondock Camping.

Of course, our RV and Jeep are a little muddy, and that's one of the reasons we decided to stay in Fairbanks tonight. The expensive RV park in town, River's Edge Resort RV Park has a car/RV wash area in the park, and though we eschewed that option several days ago due to the price, we decided to bite the bullet today to have access to the wash and to get full hook-ups and do laundry before heading out for a series of campgrounds with no hook-ups.

After leaving Rowdy & Missy's place, there was a large, paved pull-out where we stopped and hitched up the Jeep. We had removed the tow bar from the motorhome for the drive in and out just to make sure it didn't drag or get covered in mud, so it took a couple minutes longer than usual to re-install the tow bar before hitching.

Shortly after we were back driving, there was a cow moose along the road moving at a trot after a small motorhome had stopped for a look. For a moment, we were concerned it would run out in front of us, but it stayed put long enough for us to safely pass.

Farther down Chena Hot Springs Road, about half way to Fairbanks, there was another cow with a large calf.

As we approached, they immediately made a right turn and sloshed through the marsh into the woods.

Soon we were on the last twenty miles of horrible bacon-like pavement on the Chena Hot Springs Road, and we were relieved when that was over.

We made it to River's Edge and they had plenty of spots open. It's a well known park in Fairbanks for hosting many of the RV caravans that come through each summer, and it's often full. But not today.

They assigned us Site C-12, and with our Good Sam discount, it was only $54 instead of $60 for 30 amps. They do have 50-amp sites for $65, and many campgrounds and RV parks in Alaska don't have a 50-amp option.

One thing I've come to like in Alaska is the fact that they have no state sales tax, and it's nice when the price is the price. The towns are allowed to charge a tax, but most of the time we haven't paid one, and it always makes me look at my receipts as I've been conditioned to expect to pay 6% -10% more.

Rather than park, we went to the RV wash. There is no bay, just an outdoor concrete pad with a drain, and it's a coin-operated pressure wash and soap brush just like a do-it-yourself car wash. But that was okay and did the trick - because Linda went so slow on Rowdy's trail, it wasn't too bad..

I washed the rig while Linda got a couple loads of laundry going.

Then we parked in our site, and I got the utilities hooked up while Linda set up the inside. Then I returned to wash the much dirtier Jeep.

Whew, with that out of the way, I dumped tanks and filled our fresh water tank so we'd be ready to go in the morning. Then I grabbed the camera to document our stay as I always try to do.

We had a pull-through site with trees, ....

and we were just a couple empty sites over from the Chena River.

If the park were full, you'd be quite close to your neighbors, but we didn't have that issue for tonight.

There was a little green space with picnic tables along the river, .....

so it was a nice setting although the park is near the airport and there was quite a bit of plane noise and road noise.

I walked along the river and past the fence that separates their lodge and the riverfront cottages from the RV park all the way to the end at their restaurant, Chena's Alaskan Grill. They were between lunch and dinner service, but the outdoor deck looking inviting.

Well, it looked inviting except that it's located next to a bridge over the river, and the current bridge construction noise eliminated the ambiance.

The restaurant menu looks enticing, and I would say it's probably fine dining for Alaska with some hefty, but not outrageous prices. If staying at River's Edge Resort, however, you get a 15% discount.

For us, we'd already spent enough on the campsite, the vehicle washes, and laundry, so we settled for our leftover Keto pizza and were quite happy with that.

After taking advantage of our great Verizon 4G signal for the remainder of the evening, we called it a night.

Linda is a little concerned about getting a campsite without reservations on Labor Day weekend, so we hope to leave early tomorrow and snag one of the 17 sites at Clearwater State Recreation Site. Stay tuned to see how that turns out.