Arrived In Tok

I left Fairbanks on Monday morning and the first stop I made was North Pole, Alaska.   As you might imagine, NP is totally focused on Christmas.   The street light posts are all shaped and painted like candy canes, the streets all have Christmas-related names: Santa Clause Lane, White Christmas Dr., etc., holiday banners along the streets and a festive atmosphere all year.

At the intersection of Snowman and Santa Claus Lanes I spied the Santa Senior Center.  I thought that was a fitting place for a retiree to stop for coffee.  About 12 jolly seniors were hanging out having brunch, drinking coffee, exercising with dumbell weights and just chatting up a real storm.  I met Marilyn Moyers who manages the gift and book shop and chatted with her for awhile.  I stayed for about 40 minutes chatting mostly with all the women who swarmed upon me as a man ambulating without artificial aid.  I kinda felt like "fresh meat"!

I bought 2 books: one about a senior guy traveling solo around Alaska solo (wonder why that appealed to me.).  The other Marilyn recommended: it's a collection of short-stories by women who describe their decisions to move to Alaska and their life experiences here.  She was really pushing it b/c part of the sale benefits the center.   It sounded like an interesting topic anyway, so I bought it.  

The center is really a very fun and "happening" place.  There were a couple of other guys there but they seemed rather overwhelmed by all the energy pouring from the women who were chatting up a storm everywhere.  I hope to get up here again soon.

Heading south to Delta Junction where I spent last night, I passed by a river that was one of the first original sources in the discovery of gold up here.   God I look old!  Oh, it's only b/c I was squinting into the sun, right?

Further south, I stopped at this overlook to have lunch, contemplate the beauty and serenity of the place and to feed the birds.  Unfortunately I learned that the birds don't really care for 100% whole wheat bread.  I figured they'd be ravenous after a long winter.  Picky, picky aren't we, little birds?

Everywhere I stop, people are super friendly and eager to talk.   And talk.   And talk.   Sometimes it's difficult to break away, but they always have good life stories to share, and that's a blessing!