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posted: March 31st, 2017 |
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This page continues March 6th with our arrival in Nenana, Alaska. On the previous weekend there had been a big event for the raising of the tripod, for the 100 year old Nenana Ice Classic, but Kazuya works on Saturday and Sunday, so we went on Monday. Kazuya had never been to Nenana before so I wanted to show it to him. On our way home, we stopped at the famous (not really THAT famous) Monderosa Restaurant & Bar for a "Mondo Burger", which was our lunch. After that, we jump to March 14th, an absolutely HUGE moose in our back yard - again - and a Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) eating some sunflower seeds below our birdfeeder. Click on any thumbnail to begin.
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| March 6th Continues from Page 1 |
Okay, we went to Nenana because on the previous weekend (Kazuya had to work on both Saturday and Sunday), March 4th and 5th, was an event called "Tripod Days". There were several events and lots of partying and at 3:30 PM on Sunday the 5th, was the "Tripod Raising". This Tripod is a tripod (see photos in Row 2) which is set up on the ice of the Tanana River and wired into a clock inside the train station. When the ice breaks up, the tripod falls over and starts to move down the river, it pulls the wire and the ice has officially broken up. There is a big contest to guess the exact time and date that the ice will breakup and the tripod will begin to move. This is the 101st year of this event. The winner last year received $300,000. If you are interested HERE IS THE BROCHURE. So, the first image in this row shows an annotated map. The second shot shows us driving down Main Street in Nenana and the third shot shows the Nenana Train Station.
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 Map - Fairbanks to Nenana, AlaskaRC |
 Mar6th_34_Nenana Town_IceClassicRC |
 Mar6th_35_Nenana Town_IceClassicRC |
These three shots all show the tripod out on the ice. We parked here and walked around town. We bought two tickets and entered the Ice Classic - wish us luck!
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 Mar6th_37_Nenana Town_IceClassicRC |
 Mar6th_38_Nenana Town_IceClassicRC |
 Mar06_02_Nenana_ IceClassicRC |
The first shot in this row shows the tripod on the ice. The second and third shots show Kazuya walking up Main Street, Nenana, Alaska. The temperature now was -30° F (= -34.4° C), note that is a minus sign!
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 Mar6th_40_Nenana Town_IceClassicRC |
 Mar06_03_Nenana_ IceClassicRC |
 Mar06_04_Nenana_ IceClassicRC |
We walked up Main Street, looked around Coghill's Store (where the cars are parked in the first and second photo) and bought our entry tickets there and then we walked around a couple of blocks and back to our pickup truck. We were cold enough. The third photo shows a tower, possibly used for observing as the day for breakup becomes close.
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 Mar06_05_Nenana_ IceClassicRC |
 Mar06_06_Nenana_ IceClassicRC |
 Mar6th_41_Nenana Town_IceClassicRC |
Here is a shot of me on Main Street, Nenana. The second image is cropped out of the first photo to show that I have my thick mittens and my expedition parka on. The third photo is another of the observation tower.
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 Mar6th_43_Nenana Town_IceClassicRC |
 Mar6th_43Part_Nenana Town_IceClassicRC |
 Mar06_07_Nenana_ IceClassicRC |
Here is a final shot of the train station and a final shot of the observation tower. The third shot was taken from the river bridge. You can see all of downtown Nenana, as well as the tripod on the ice, near the left edge of the photo. I've outlined it for you to make it easier to find.
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 Mar6th_42_Nenana Town_IceClassicRC |
 Mar6th_46_Nenana Town_IceClassicRC |
 Mar6th_50_Nenana Town_IceClassicRC |
On our way home, we stopped at the Monderosa Bar and Restaurant for lunch. This place is only a few miles outside of Nenana, on the way back to Fairbanks. We each had a "Mondo Burger" - Kazuya had the one with cheese and I had the bacon one. These burgers are made with 1/2 pound (454 grams) of ground beef and are flame broiled, so they are NOT grease burgers. In the third photo, of me eating the burger, note well, that there IS NOT a puddle of grease on my plate, no grease running down my hand. The burger did not even fall apart as I got to the final couple of bites. It was really a great burger!
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 Mar6th_54_Monderosa Bar_BurgerRC |
 Mar6th_58_Monderosa Bar_BurgerRC |
 Mar6th_59_Monderosa Bar_BurgerRC |
The only wildlife we saw was this single moose. The second and third shots show the hardpack on the highway. One has to pay attention and be prepared to take quick action at any time if one goes into a skid. At -30° F, the temperature is not forgiving if you make a mistake. We saw three "accidents" in the 56.5 miles (one way) trip - a car upside down in the ditch, a huge tour bus with a large quantity of red fluid (transmission fluid maybe ?) running out into the hardpack, and a pickup truck jacked up with a tire missing, possibly somebody had a blowout or a flat and only then discovered that their spare tire had no air? Anyway, we were careful and made it without incident.
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 Mar6th_62_Coming HomeFromNenanaRC |
 Mar6th_68_Coming HomeFromNenanaRC |
 Mar6th_72_Coming HomeFromNenanaRC |
| End March 6th, Begin March 14th |
On March 14th we had a moose (Alces alces) visitor to our house again. The center shot really gives you a good idea of how large this animal is. That shed behind it is 12 feet x 12 feet. Then a while later we saw a Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) below our birdfeeder picking up the sunflower seeds that the other birds knock out of it.
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 Mar14th_01_Moose InTheYardRC |
 Mar14th_03_Moose InTheYardRC |
 Mar14th_07_Quail BelowBirdfeederRC |
Here are two more shots of the Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) below our Birdfeeder. These photos have been brightened up around the bird.
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 Mar14th_12_Quail BelowBirdfeederRC |
 Mar14th_24_Quail BelowBirdfeederRC |
Now the Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) must have eaten its fill of sunflower seeds and is wandering away. In the second shot it is taking flight. Note the marks of its wing in the snow. All of those other tracks are from the Common Redpolls (Acanthis flammea) that are always here.
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 Mar14th_29_Quail BelowBirdfeederRC |
 Mar14th_30_Quail BelowBirdfeederRC |
| End March 14th, End Page 2 |
| Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this page. Now, please go on to Page 3 for the continuation of this month's adventures. |
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