Chicken, Alaska

After our few-day visit in Fairbanks, we started down to Tok.  Somewhat of mixed feelings since we knew our Alaska adventure was coming to a close.  Tok would mean the start of leaving Alaska.  To us Alaska is one word, WOW !!!!!!!!

We decided we would make one last side trip, leaving the 5^th wheel in Tok. Of we went to Chicken.  After all, who could possibly leave Alaska and not go to Chicken.

It is a 60-mile drive north, out of Tok.  The drive is rewarding as the scenery turns into vast, deep, rolling tundra.  Beautiful drive, with pull outs to photo and enjoy the journey.  The road is somewhat oddly rolling in places, however, mostly OK.  At the end of 60 -miles, you start to see some civilization and signs.  Chicken was a commercial gold mining town at one time. Evidence is left in the form of machinery and buildings left to slowly be overtaken by the land.  There was a huge gold dredge lying next to the road.  There are tours to participate in.  We were surprised there are lots of   campground sites, in-season, with some water and 20 or 30-amp electric.  There was minimal Wi-Fi.  They offer an area to pan for gold.  Go figure.  The little town basically shuts down completely in the winter.  There were a couple of stores and restaurants.  We decided to stop at a tiny building called The Café.  There were hand-made signs on the front sharing some of the menu.  We were attracted to the sign Gluten-free.  They provide a nice selection of items made Gluten-free.  Really nice people running this establishment.  A very nice lady was taking the food orders and explaining the menu.  She needs to eat Gluten-free and is a supporter of organic foods.  So, she makes the trip, several times a month, to a private farmer toward Fairbanks to purchase her supplies for the menu.  She lives the winter months around the Palmer area and is in Chicken for the summer.  We enjoy supporting and getting to know the Folks who run these little businesses.  Since the town is call Chicken, there are several very large metal, painted chickens on duty in the town.  A fun picture.  All part of what makes Alaska, WOW !!!!!

If one were to be very daring, from our point of view, you could continue the drive a long distance to Dawson City. This is the road crossing a river without a bridge.  There is a very large barge ferrying personal and commercial rigs (huge) across the swift waters to the other side.  We had opted not to take our rig.  We had spoken with several other travelers on the way up to Alaska and decided that we would pass on it this time.  Maybe next time, when we return to experience the most rugged portions of Alaska and try our hand at panning for gold.  We read about areas open to the public on BLM land and who knows what a trip off the beaten path might provide.