Day 247, 9/4/2011

"I love that the bus stops have flowers on them."

"Farmer's Market score! I love baby potatoes!"

-Photos and captions by Lois Dalle-Molle

Little Matt Flamme feeds the non-migrating ducks at the Chena River boat launch behind Alaskaland (Pioneer Park).

-Photo by Melanie Flamme

Side trip - Valdez, Alaska...


A black bear enjoys some sushi on a rainy afternoon in Prince William Sound.

Relaxation at the campground after a soggy day of fishing for silvers in Valdez.

Day 248, 9/5/2011

Wind rips down through the river valley near Delta Junction.

Side trip, Valdez, Alaska...

A drizzly drive through Keystone Canyon.

Worthington Glacier sticks it's tongue out at us.

Fall colors pop out against a backdrop of fog and mist in the mountains.

Day 249, 9/6/2011

The Pump House restaurant is a lovely riverside establishment where locals go year round to eat, drink and be merry. 

Just off Chena Pump Road, you can drive there of course, but you can also arrive via boat or snowmachine on the river and pull right up to the bar on the deck.

While I was here today the Riverboat Discovery just happened to pass by loaded down with tourists.

Day 250, 9/7/2011

Named after a bar from a Robert Service poem, the Malemute Saloon is the central attraction at Ester Gold Camp, a popular stop for tourists in Fairbanks. 

The comic sketches and songs by actors in period costume make for a fun and rowdy throwback to the area’s mining history.

Day 251, 9/8/2011

A harvest of baby Yukon Golds from the garden.

Side trip, the North Slope...

Matt heads north for a caribou hunt with friends the Schoemakers. 

Driving through Atigun Pass was more "exciting" with the fresh new snow.

Day 252, 9/9/2011

Our first frost.

All over North Pole, mosquitoes and bees are dying, puddles are crunchy with ice, and cobwebs are being swept out of woodstoves.

Side trip, the North Slope...


The fellas' golden igloo.

Day 253, 9/10/2011

The Aurora Borealis competes with the Milky Way and the full moon for the night stage.

Day 254, 9/11/2011

The 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony at the Northern Lights Chapel on Fort Wainwright.

After the ceremony, there was a procession to Memorial Lake next door where luminaries were lighted and placed by memorial markers all around the lake.

During this time, the firemen rang the bells on their trucks, which is done to symbolize a downed man during an incident.

Day 255, 9/12/2011

A gorgeous sunrise around 7am.

The geese are preparing to migrate.

Day 256, 9/13/2011

One of the birch trees in the front yard in all its fall glory.

The leaves will barely have enough time to completely go golden before a wind comes through and shakes it naked.

Day 257, 9/14/2011

The Bath House Emporium antique store on First Ave is filled with all kinds of Interior treasures, 

including old photographs, memorabilia and 

Alaska Magazines that are older than me.

Day 258, 9/15/2011

Bear Avenue.

Day 259, 9/16/2011

At a stop light this morning, I can see the full moon "setting" in front of me,

and the sun rising in my rearview mirror.

Day 260, 9/17/2011

Today Matt and I ran alongside almost a thousand other people in the 49^th annual Equinox Marathon.

This Fairbanks tradition occurs every September and is one of the toughest marathons in the United States. A cumulative gain in elevation of 3,285 feet is a lot to contend with if you’re just aiming to finish (like me) much less trying to win.

The race is divided into three types of entries, three-member relay teams, each running a third of the total 26.2 miles, marathoners who register as individuals to complete the entire 26.2, and the certifiably insane ultramarathoners who run 40 miles as individuals.

Here I am at the turnaround point, which is the end of the “Out-and-Back” atop Ester Dome. 

Angels from heaven (disguised as Lathrop Cross Country Team members) were waiting there with manna for us in the form of orange slices and Oreo cookies. Over 13 miles down and only half way there!

Here’s Matt following the nice and easy yellow brick road just after coming down the notorious “Chute,” an über-steep gully filled with big loose rocks. 

It’s an ankle twister waiting to happen, and you better hope you don’t go down, because there’s no stopping until the bottom if you do!

Next year will be the 50^th anniversary of the marathon, and fittingly enough it will be held on September 22^nd, which will be the actual day of the autumnal equinox in the year 2012.

Day 261, 9/18/2011

I found another little gem today for lunch. The small sushi bar called Ajimi in Fairbanks was packed when I got there around 1 pm. 

When I walked in the chefs behind the counter greeted me as if I were Norm walking into Cheers. I was in for a little bit of a wait, so they had me sit down on a bench. I looked across at the tip jar and noticed the little origami turtle made from a dollar taped to the outside. While I waited, the staff was falling all over themselves to make sure I was comfortable. A small lady came out of the kitchen holding a bowl and said “You try some miso?” Of course I happily accepted. And my “Lunch Box A” was tasty indeed, and worth the wait!

Day 262, 9/19/2011

Big Daddy's Northernmost Southern Barbecue is another restaurant that was featured on the Food Network.

Nothing fancy, but a fun atmosphere to get together with friends and chow down!

Day 263, 9/20/2011

Remember a few days ago I said that the leaves would barely have time to change before the wind came through and blew them all down?

Day 264, 9/21/2011

Starting a photo record of the bun rising inside our daughter’s oven.

Day 265, 9/22/2011

It’s beginning to look a lot like win-ter…

Day 266, 9/23/2011

The North Pole Patriots Homecoming football game.

Fans cheer as the home team moves up the field to tie up the score against the Wasilla Warriors.

The traditional fireworks are set off after every touchdown.

Day 267, 9/24/2011

The Army Aviation Association of America’s 2^nd Annual 5K “Run on the Runway” began this morning at Hanger 6 and circumnavigated the airfield on Fort Wainwright.

The proceeds from the “Quad A” race will go into a fund that provides scholarships for family members of soldiers in the Army Aviation community.

Day 268, 9/25/2011

Mexican pork chili over Korean rice with a German beer watching a football game.

Makes for a fine all American Sunday afternoon!

Day 269, 9/26/2011

This week we begin waking up to temperatures in the 20’s instead of temperatures in the 30’s.

It’s time to seal up the RV for the year. 

Farewell my friend, it’s going to be a long, dark, cold time before we see you again.

Day 270, 9/27/2011

Caught the aurora again last night off the back porch.

Day 271, 9/28/2011

A visitor.

The girls like the little grey mystery dog that shows up in the yard every few months. Looks like Kayla's dog Pumpkin likes him, too.

Day 272, 9/29/2011

The golden arches are held up by candy canes here in North Pole.

Day 273, 9/30/2011

Our first “snow” of the season arrived today in the form of flurries.

Day 274, 10/1/2011

Penny models the sleet that we got this morning.

The Bad Girls of the North craft bazaar.