Off early to visit North Pole, Alaska, leaving behind smoky Fairbanks. We stop at Santa Claus House where they sell everything for Christmas. Santa and Mrs. Claus are here and deliver a personal message to Hailee and Hudson!! Very well done schtick.

Next door we can see the reindeer farm – some of these caribou have huge antlers.  Antlers can grow an inch every day!

We drive through more smoke, but stop at a viewpoint for the Alaskan pipeline. We learn that the pipeline zigs and zags to allow for expansion, as well as earthquakes.

Then it’s on to our overnight site a boat ramp 10 miles outside of Tok at mile marker 1303.6, the Tanana River Bridge.