BARROW / PRUDHOE BAY

Ulla, Ulla .. ! Wake up… !! We’ve arrived in Barrow !! You see ? They’ve succeeded, this obstinate Gypsy and that invincible Gallic !!

You’ve been sleeping for over 32 days and… for your information, we’ve been in Alaska for a fortnight already and what a surprise : there is no night any more. It’s day all the time as it’s summer now. You know, we’ve gone 8.500 kms, that’s 5.313 miles, the road was dreadful, with holes as big as beavers and rocks as big as eagles’ eggs.

Well, I was jumping so much in the car that I had trouble getting my eyes straight again. On the other hand, Ulla, the more things shake, the deeper you sleep…

…and by the way, tell me, dear Ulla, you did undertake to tell the story of our trip if we all arrived in Barrow in one piece and the equipment too, didn’t you ?

Yes, yes, let me wake up instead of mentioning Beaver holes and simply speak of beaver holes. On top of that, I’m freezing and yet we’re in summer !!

What is the temperature ?? Our compagnons said it’s 1,5° (38°F) and in winter -50° to -60° on average.

XL, in your opinion, who can live in this country ? apart from polar bears and seals ?

But the people you see in their wooden houses ! They’re called Eskimos !

So, XL, we’re really on the Top of the World then ?

Yep, I even heard that we are at the 72˚ parallel, and that in front of us is the Arctic Ocean! The Beau forts ocean! And there are mountains of ice about 8km away, but we cannot see them due to the precipitation… sad…

But for Chocolate Ice, Ill go!

No Ulla, there ice icebergs! Stop thinking about food; think about your promise… you need to put your feet in the Arctic water like you said!

Come on! Go!

But you know more XL, you should tell the story to our trip to USHUAIA

No Ulla, you’re more than 3 years old, im only 6 months old, but your right you were sleeping, so let’s look at the pictures, they speak for themselves!

North Pole to South Pole, that’s our goal… Imagine, this boat is made from Whale skin!

Ok, now were going to travel to Dead Horse/Prudhoe Bay because there is nothing to do here. It is a “dead space” meaning an area where the only reason to be here is for oil… It’s like a ghost town! We parked our house in the parking lot of a Hotel called the “Prudhoe Bay hotel” one of only 3 hotels in the region… And the only attractions are HUGE machines with HUGE tires to pass through the glaciers!
Don’t look for a tree, there isn’t any, they are replaced by electric poles… no dog, cat, or even kids! Just 2 Caribou for entertainment! Not even a supermarket! It looks like a truckers club, because everything is made to take care of the employees of the refineries, and the companies pay for absolutely everything from food to shelter. Our Companions just ate, and slept in the 4 round legged snail!

Thank god they had prepared for us water and dog food, because the only available food in the hotels was coffee, bread and butter!

5000 people work here: 12 hours per day, for 15 days, then one week off for them to go back home, mostly living in Fairbanks. It was really cool, we felt like if we were in one big family. And due to the toughness of their job, and the harsh climate, they were very welcoming!

… very cool Prudhoe Bay Hotel…

After 3 days on site without seeing night, or sun light, we took the road for “Dalton Highway”. The only road, or rocky road where we will find a gas and restoration station which is at 400km away (240miles)! So we can’t need anything during the route, but without stores, it will be hard to prepare…

Then we realize that the fastest we can go is 30km an hour… so it will take a while…

The Gallic has spare tires on the roof, and 75 Liters of diesel, and the Gypsy has 25 liters of water.

Time for adventure!

See XL, I don’t even want to sleep anymore, there is so much scenery, and the water makes me want to go swim!

No Ulla, we don’t have the time because it can get really cold, like it once happened here in the summer, -81 degrees! And soon winter will be here! There are no tourists here, our masters are crazy! There are only truckers here!

Yeah, but those truckers are nice, they always say hi to us!

All of a sudden, a big BANG and XL panics!!!

The Gallic says “Shoot, we popped!” Were hanging on the frame… This road is a roller coaster! Probably the Americans trying to protect their Oil… theory…

Now we have to wait for them to fix this so we can continue.

Ok, here we go. After traveling 160 km, we arrive at the feet of the mountain, its gorgeous snow and glaciers are right in front of us!

XL Look!

Yes it’s true, except for that big Scolo, which is following us since the beginning!

No XL, it’s an oil pipeline running from Prudhoe Bay to Fairbanks!

It’s true that if they had painted it in green it would have been camouflaged better in the beautiful environment… anyways, each has his own monster, and the Dutch have their Loch Ness Monster!

Ulla, look or were going to be here all night! There is a stream, so you will be able to go swim! I will go see how they will fill up the 2 water tanks so we don’t run out of water!

Fast, and tomorrow we will look at the Gypsy’s pictures together!

…. I’m trying to find the Arctic Circle, yet I can’t find it! Where is it Ulla, weren’t we inside? Look, maybe they know! I even saw Cotton balls in the grass!!! Wow, it’s Arctic Cotton, and it grows naturally!

fleurs ''arctique coton''

Next week XL and I will speak to you about Fairbanks the Alaska city, where gold diggers were coming in great numbers!

…………….until next week!........................................

Ulla, your still sleeping!! we are taking some diesel at the station.. Phew!! it was about time, we almost had dried up, you know in one hour we will arrive at Fairbanks . I hope that it is nice because I heard we had maintenance worries …then I looked everywhere and it was unbelievable, the 4 tires are chafed(grazed) like my legs; because of pebbles, you know Paris Dakar beside is " cat's wee " for me.

We are so happy to find a road finally after 850 kms of stony lane!

Xl, you know Fairbanks the fair in the banks of the time of the gold-diggers, because for them it was the city they obtained fresh supplies before big departure and on the way back they sold their gold.

Ulla, it is now that you say this, quickly come, they are going to dig its going to be great for our finances and our ST Martin bank will be reassured...

Nah, that time is finished…

It is a great city! They stop near a river , it is Chena; this is a great campground, it has full of trees and we do not see ourselves among them , to bad, it is so much better to sleep or to eat in the heart of the countryside …

Tell me it’s strange, it is almost midnight and the sun still shines, I’m not sure what is happening…

This is why I always sleep in the car… because this north pole is taking away the night and I don’t understand any of this… I mean did you ever hear of the midnight sun?

They are calling us to go to the river , hurry lets go, its midnight…

Oh you’re a coward Xl, you could have come to chase the beaver with me

Xl it is a coward! that's right, anything!! they are bigger than you, Ulla..

Here we are again during at least three days, because it is our chucks and springs that are broken, two of four.. Yes but our Gallic knows how, if he finds all pieces…

..... exhausting but I want to leave again, so…!

Ah yes we too want to leave towards Anchorage hurry Gallic…

Ok, ok but who serves me a drink??

Tomorrow we shall be under way, its a promise!

You Ulla you will be sleeping as usual..

… … … … … … … … … … … … … .. until next week … … … … … … … … … …

Ulla, Ulla wake up. there are roads as wide as in USA, they arrived at Anchorage, I am sure that it is the capital of Alaska

I heard the Gallic they want to go to the restaurant to eat huge crab legs, 40 cm long, longer than me Ulla, those things frighten me… don’t worry Xl, crabs are not on the street they live in the open sea in the frozen seas!

... legs of huge crabs of Alaska..

When are we heading South? This is a city and I prefer nature, lakes, rivers and other animals!

Ah they leave towards Omer tomorrow to see Glaciers, they even told me that there are eagles , look out for yourself small Xl… you will also see wild salmon…

To all those who read us … ….until next week

Ulla and Xl with big "Léchouilles"

Look Ulla, instead of snoring… the icebergs of the Arctic ocean went down… they are going to make a ballade on a boat with American tourists..

OH, there there Xl you had left with the Gypsy to take photographs while my Gallic took some diesel to Seward and when he left the station he hit a car with the back of the case, we had nothing but the other car! Then the "ouins ouins" arrived in force with two cars to make the official report.

Who are the " ouins ouins " Ulla?

They are the state troopers (Police) or sheriffs

Therefore, let me explain that here it is the police which is authorized to make the official report but on the contrary bigger democracy of the world is here asking us tons of questions I thought that they were never going to see each other again Xl because my Gallic introduced(presented) its European licence but this policeman even did not know that since the eighties it is legal (thank goodness seeing the price of the thing…) and on top of that he asked him how long his licence was valid, in my view it is the first time that he saw a European permit. " Anything "

They are strange. Anyways, in Russia its probably not be better because we lost 2 hours , on top of that 160 dollars of penalty and on top of that 2 points on the American licence which Gallic doesn’t even have "Anything "

We then went to photograph eagles they looked nice but I was scared and I was hiding between the feet of the Gypsy…

To make us feel better. Lets go fishing… but on a leash….

It is a very nice island, but with too many tourists therefore we went to a bar from " corsairs ’ where dogs are allowed and even the cigarette upsets nobody, to leave their trace of passage Gallic and the Gypsy hung a ticket of a US dollar with their name and address of ST Martin.. "Anything " and made "wee" in front of the door for our buddies of Alaska

I am hungry, and you Xl?

Lets go see the fishers and the famous Red King Salmon…

Oh did you see, there are oysters on the Cape Metal, on top of that the Gallic bought fish, Halibut of Malibu. Xl are they going to make a great dinner for us?

Ulla, big news, the Gallic has decided to leave to go fish and we will help to take back up lines! great no?

Yes but Xl we have to purchase a 80 dollar permit before we go.. therefore it is better to buy the salmon because on top of that it is not any more the season, it lasts only 4 weeks in this region therefore it is preferable to take back the road and to photograph for our readers, our friends.

We are finally august and they said that it was time to take back the road southward because in 2 or 3 weeks , snow begins, and the soils will be wet because winter approaches in big steps …

You know Xl we saw the world during 24 hour days because it is the summer but then it will be night during 20 hours in winter and on top of that, its going to be cold, can you imagine these poor inhabitants and these poor dogs …

We are going to cross from North to South through theYukon territory and we will see, listen and smell the most wild lands … tourists, you said tourists? “ouaff ouaff” there are none!, nature is still master of this place…

Goodbye ALASKA, you are the nicest province (state) of the USA!

And as in any country where life is hard, the inhabitants are homey and welcoming. Thank you.!

Currently here is the game of the month: the one who will find the good answer will be invited to pass a week with us in our home(house) on 4 wheels and will receive a postcard of the country and city were we shall be in, signed by Xl e t Ulla

... who am I? .what is my name? what is my use? ......... Write to us …

Look at the photographs which follow:

Next week .Meet you in Canada