08/07 A quick 4 hour ride up the very busy and flat Richardson Highway and I was in Fairbanks. The population here is 34,000 give or take but with the number of major roads I’ve been on and the amount of traffic in the middle of the day it seems like 100k people live here. I suppose the tourist population is high so maybe that’s it. Anyway, there hasn’t been much to see so far. The downtown area is a few miles from here and I don’t think I’m heading that way. The museum is about 2 miles from where I’m camped but I have a pit stop to make tomorrow before I can go there.
The creaking noise I’ve been hearing on my bike has gotten worse so stop #2 in Fairbanks was Beaver Sports bike shop (#1 was a Subway). They didn’t have time to look at it this afternoon so I have to run it over there first thing in the morning. After I get done there I’ll hit the museum and then ride back down to Paxson. This ends my trek up north. From here on it’s south and with any luck, with a tailwind 90% of the time instead of what I rode up here with which was a headwind 90% of the time.
Not sure the name of the place I’m staying but it’s alongside a river and they only charged $10. I think it’s a State Recreation Area.
The smoke today was almost non-existent but it was completely overcast and the clouds were low so I still couldn’t see anything. No rain though. The best part of the day was riding alongside the runway at Eielson Air Force Base and watching the fighters take off and land. They had a couple signs up reminding people that photography isn’t allowed so the camera had to stay tucked away. I just rode slowly and watched. I love seeing military equipment of any kind so this was a thrill being so close to the action.
Next stop was North Pole, Alaska. I was kind of looking forward to this place but just outside town and then all the way though it they had road construction going on and most of the exits were closed. I took a few pictures from the side of the road and kept on riding. If I get a chance tomorrow I’ll stop for a closer view.
Something a little strange happened when I was riding past Fort Wainwright Army Base just outside Fairbanks. There were no signs saying I couldn’t take pictures so when I rode by the front entrance I pulled out the little camera without stopping and took a picture. At least I thought I did. When I looked at the picture a little further down the road it was all white. Does technology exist that would block or interfere with a camera like that? I know they have license plate blockers but I’ve never heard of anything that would do this. I probably just had crap on the lens when I took it. I’ll give it another try tomorrow so if I go missing please call the military police first. 
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Here is an article on Neutralizing camera’s. “…the small-area product could prevent espionage photography in government buildings, industrial settings or trade shows.” Congratulations on finishing Leg 1 of the Scott Mullin show.
I have to reiterate Jason’s gesture that your adventures are our vicarious trip across the North America and soon the world. Thanks Man.
I knew it! The government has probably had this around for years. Or more likely Ken is probably right–I snapped a nice picture of the road. Stay tuned for Leg 2, “Scott vs. South America”.
Looks Uncle Paul carved that moose
If the picture after the tent is the one you were wondering about, that just a blurry moving picture of the road.
If I had to guess, you did a Hail Mary shot where you weren’t looking through the viewfinder, pressed the shutter, the camera didn’t have time to acquire focus and you, in your paranoia, quickly pulled the camera down, at which point it fired, getting a moving picture of the road.
The army doesn’t go for fancy equipment. They just shoot you. A bullet is cheaper than camera jammers and gives good practice.
I suspect you might be right. I’ve been careful to stop and focus at subsequent government sites. I’m sure they love that.
I’m assuming you purchased my gift from Santa while there?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burl
My grandfather was a logger/wood worker, and made some beautiful things with that type of wood. Were the prices pretty hefty?
You know I ended up going into this place twice and both times I meant to check on the prices of the things out front. The ice cream distracted me though. They had to be pretty expensive I’ll bet.
You made it to Alaska Brutha. I am so proud of you. Where are you riding to next? I think you told me but I forgot.
Thanks! Next stop is Ushuaia, Argentina.