First letter from Dad, Dated: June 3,
1962, From: Fairbanks, Alaska
Dear Lois,
Billy & Carla:
We finally made
it to Fairbanks. Everything went fine except for a couple of times, Neil got a
little P.O.’d. He even brought it up about dividing up our money again but it
didn’t work. He had to borrow money from Jerry to finish the trip.
We arrived
yesterday morning started out trying to find a job & place to stay. Are now
staying at the Riviera Boatel. It sure is a nice place and the people are
swell. They’re even trying to help us find a cabin or someplace where we can
cook our own meals.
Also, they’re
giving us names of people to see about jobs. Can’t do much on that score till
Mon. The Wheel tells everybody he’s practically an engineer & an electronic
expert. Don’t know who he’ s trying to fool, himself or somebody else.
The trip went
good, and we had no trouble with the trucks. Gas was high but not as bad as
some people think. In Canada the most we paid was, I think, 63 cents a gallon
(5 qts to our 4 qts). My expenses totaled $124.43 and I got about 16 miles to
the gallon. Neil got around 13 – 14 miles.
The Alcan Hiway
(sic) isn’t too bad to drive on providing you don’t try to go over 50 mph. The
first couple of days on it we had rain & drizzle. It took us 8 days for the
trip but would tell anybody else to take longer. There sure is some beautiful scenery
along the way, especially after you get past Dawson Creek. I took 3 rolls of b
& w film. 1 roll of colored & started on the second, sure hope they
turn out good. Tried to keep a record of the colored ones.
Didn’t see much
game but did see a lack bear and 2 cubs along the road, couldn’t get a picture,
not enough light. Also saw a moose that got hit by a pickup truck, lots of
rabbits, gophers & ducks that’s about all.
***to be
continued…
Note: The Boatel is still there. It's different now, but it's cool that my dad stayed there in 1962 and the people were swell! I'm sure they still are. :-) https://www.facebook.com/Boatelbar/
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