"Tok"en Stops on Our Way to Tok

On Saturday we re-located to Tok, stopping along the way to change drivers and to see sights we will most likely never see again in our lifetimes.

Our first stop was a scenic viewpoint at Milepost 288 for those of you familiar with the Alaska Highway system.  The Milepost  book told us that from our view overlooking the Tanana River we could see 3 great peaks of the Alaskan Range: Mount Hayes, Hess Mountain and Mount Deborah.  At this point, we had sun and a clear view.  Time to stop!

Our next stop was only 13 miles down the road, at Milepost 275.  From here we had a clear view of the Alaskan Pipeline crossing over the river. 

 This was also the site for Rika's Roadhouse and Landing, a state historic site and restaurant.  It was named as a Swedish lady named Rika who managed the roadhouse, had a garden, cows and also ran the post office and liquor store from this location.  She was one busy lady!

Inside one of the museum's rooms was this old radio and phonograph player made by Zenith.  

And here is a view of the post office boxes in one of  Rika's rooms.

The two carved moose were official greeters for the restaurant.  I would have loved to bring one home with us, but he would have never fit in my suitcase.  I was especially fond of the one with the Alaska cap with a moose on it.

I thought of our daughter, Lisa, and her husband Ken when I looked up at the ceiling in the gift shop and saw the bison with the Coke cup.  They are Coke collectors.  The bison was so quiet I didn't even hear him slurping his drink. 

Below is one of the original structures, made of sturdy logs and a steeply pitched roof.  One of the information signs in the buildings told us that Rika patterned her barn after the barns in her homeland of Sweden.

As we headed back to our campers, we noticed this very old truck that has seen better days.  Maybe when the wheel gave out they just left it there to spend the rest of its days.