yes virginia

There is a tall mountain. Some days it hides in the clouds and rain falls all day long. So you just have to believe.

Another gray day, so we explored Healy and environs. The Healy spur leads down to the Healy access road, crossing the river, passing the coal fired electric power plant and continuing west uphill and along the river. We turned after a couple messy miles and recrossed the river where a school bus with empty trailer waited for some rafters to arrive.

The spur road verso the landing area skirts the Alaska RR siding and tracks where you can watch observation cars go past. If you ignore the forbidding no trespassing signs posted by the RR and stay to the right, you can ascend a steep grade to what I assume are state lands. Thus- Healy access. I took the time to sketch the RR siding from above with the river crossing in the background. The power plant, located immediately across the river from the takeout, is not visible. Upon returning to the spur road, you pass the airport on the right. I stopped to photograph a plane for my fav. Aero engineer.

We ate at a pub/cafe/motel in town, ordering breakfast with eggs. We can't find raw eggs for sale locally, and are thinking conspiracy.

After lunch we drove north toward Fairbanks a couple miles, taking the Stampede road for about eight miles until it petered out to a track. Lots of tundra tours are offered back there, many on atv's. It is gorgeous. State lands with power and sewer extended along the road as the licensee demand moves in.

The rain just kept on coming.