I made a video of part of the lady's talk which was quite interesting. Reindeer and caribou are the same except caribou are wild. Her family runs this family farm for a number of years. Rearing these animals has been a life long effort for her father and now her. The diet is different since they normally eat lichens that are low in nutrients and they are constantly grazing on new areas in the wild. Here on the farm they support then on harvested grass and hay along with supplements and a special treat is the fresh mask the get weekly from breweries in Anchorage. Their farm has meet some resistance since Alaskan caribou ownership is restricted to native Alaskan people. Their herd was purchased from Canada and it took a it of legal fees and the Alaskan Supreme Court Ruling to secure their rights. The next stop was the musk ox farm but it had just closed for the season. The day is sunny and warn, just perfect for a t-shirt.
Pinnacle Mt. Farms was an unplanned stop, in fact I passed it up and had to turn around. I think it was the old tractors and the lama's that caught my eye. I meet Jill & Marvin Baker who are the owners and originators of this establishment. Its a grocery store, restaurant, rv park and more. Its a collection of interesting things including a number of birds, ducks, chickens, geese, guinea fowl, peacock and turkey. Marvin also raises pigs. Jill has a vision that includes a interesting place where families can bring their kids to get close to the animals. Marvin likes to have these tractors restored into good working order and about half are running and working as he needs them. They purchased the property about eleven years ago but did not start working on the place until 2003. They have put a lot of work into the place in that short time. They are know by their fellow lodge owners as a great place to eat, and proud of it. Marvin was gracious but had a date to get his moose that afternoon. They have 25 beautiful acres right on the Glenn Highway.
More glaciers, the fall colors of yellow are everywhere and clear skies gave me a wonderful feeling to have the privilege to be driving in Alaska. I began to see bit and pieces of the Alaskan Pipeline. It stretched over low mountains, across streams and under rivers. It made it way right thru forests like a steel ribbon. As large and long as the pipeline is its scale hardly does any more than highlight itself as another feature in this vast country. Aside from the views I finally got some additional animal sightings. A large female moose just was standing in the middle of the road when I came over a raise. As fast as I could I slowed down, grabbed my camera and he wandered off into the thicket of the forest. Sorry no shot of this moose. Then a few miles further a mother and large calf moose walked across the road. No hurry for them but out of sight before a camera shot could get them.
With all my stops, pictures and chats along the way by the time I got into Delta Junction it was time to eat and get a room for the night. Well at least I was able to have a nice meal but the rooms were all booked with moose hinters and construction workers. It appears that the military bases up here are in the midst of upgrading some missile defense systems with lots of contractors. No matter I gassed up at the all nite Delta Perto Wash. The lady Caitlin, said and they have wifi, deli, car wash, laundry and are nice people just use their parking lot for the nite. You can't imagine how busy this place is. Bob is the nite guy and has been in Alaska since 1974. He passed up a senior career at Travelers Insurance Company and Bank of America in their securities section to pursue his time in Alaska where his older brother was. In the early years Bob make enough money driving big fuel rigs in the summers to last thru the winters. His driving time is over with some blood sugar issues. Caitlin finisher her shift and stays a little longer at nite to complete studies on the internet. She is enrolled online at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. She is taking 13 hours toward a double major in wildlife and natural resource management .
Good nite, I am off to the van for some shut eye.
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