United States
Big Delta State Historical Park

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    • Day 11

      Delta Junction

      August 23, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

      Rikka's Roadhouse is now a state owned historical site. Rikka came by the roadhouse and farm for the sum of $5. Her husband who founded the business was more interested in hunting and frequently went away for long periods leaving Rikka in charge. After a 2 year absence, he sold the property to her and walked away. Rikka became a successful businesswoman and bequeathed the property to the State on her death.

      Adjoining the property is the Tanana River running very swiftly. There is a suspension bridge over the river carrying the Alaska Pipeline, one of only 2 such structures in the entire length of the pipeline.
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    • Day 42

      Day 42 Ends @ Big Delta SHP

      June 13, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

      When we left Summit Lake, we figured we’d boondock somewhere along the Richardson. But Mui had taken a nap and felt refreshed enough to drive the 75 miles or so back to Delta Junction. That worked with my desire to camp at the Clearwater State Recreation Site, which the Milepost described as having some of the prettiest campsites in Alaska. Hah!

      The drive north was uneventful. We had a light summer shower for a mile or two ... the sun never stopped shining. We made a few stops, but we’d already dallied along the road on the way south, so I didn’t take very many photos.

      When we arrived in Delta Junction, we stopped off to top off the fuel and propane, dump the tanks, and take on potable water. Then we put the Clearwater SRS address in the GPS and got on the road. I sensed something was wrong when the GPS told us to get on the Alaska Highway! Hmmmm. Maybe there was another entrance. So we went along with Ms GPS’s instructions.

      Turns out, the GPS had routed us down the long way. Not only that, it said we had arrived when we reached a junction in the road, with no SRS in sight. Luckily, a friendly woman who told us she was used to helping RV’ers get “un-lost” in their quest to reach Clearwater, gave us directions.

      In the end, we arrived at the SRS ... and to total disappointment. Not only were the RV campsites no different than any others — just tucked into the woodlands — but also the one-way loop hole was horrendous ... and I mean really horrendous. With no choice but to keep going, we hoped against hope that we’d get to the “prettiest sites” eventually. No such luck. Perhaps tenters have better sites.

      So, we got back on the road, this time using the diagram in the Milepost, to get back to the Richardson. Now what? We had not seen anywhere in Delta Junction to boondock, except maybe in a parking lot somewhere. And we didn’t feel like going to the campground we’d passed on the Alaska Highway.

      By this time, it was 8:30p. So, we headed north on the Richardson to the Big Delta State Historical Park, which offers overnight RV parking. We planned to explore the park anyway, so this worked out for us.

      Now, we’re settled into the site near the fee station — $20/night. This place is little more than parking lot camping, too. But the setting is nice, with woods on the patio side ... a fire ring, and a picnic table. We have the best site and the whole place to ourselves. The remaining sites are back in ... every other one blocked off with a picnic table ... rather narrow. More back-in RV sites are across the gravel road ... no amenities. The rest area on the side road has a dump and potable water. Life is good.

      We’ve decided to stay an extra night here and explore the area from this base before moving on down the Alaska Highway.
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    • Day 43

      Big Delta SHP & Rika’s Roadhouse

      June 14, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

      I’ll start out by saying that we had a visitor last night. It was well past 11:00p when I heard a noise that sounded like a herd of elephants crashing through the brush. Turns out it was a porcupine coming to check us out. No photo alas. As soon as it noticed us at the screen door, it turned tail and crashed back into the brush.

      Our first stop this morning didn’t require a drive as it was the Big Delta State Historical Park where we are camping.

      This is an unattended park ... admission fees paid at a kiosk ... based on an honor system. Our camping fee of $20/night included two passes, so no additional fees due on our part.

      In addition to a barn, an outbuilding with a sod roof (that serves as a museum), and two buildings that used to belong to WAMCATS (Washington-Alaska Military Cable & Telegraph System), the main attraction at the park is Rika’s Roadhouse, which was built in 1910. It was purchased by Rita in 1923. A stopover on the historic Valdez-Fairbanks Trail, it served travelers until 1947 ... providing them with a place to sleep, a bite to eat, and a hot bath and other amenities.
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    • Day 43

      Day 43 Ends @ Big Delta SHP

      June 14, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

      After our late lunch at the Buffalo Center Drive-In — sorry, no photos — we returned to our campsite at the Big Delta State Historical Park for a quiet afternoon at home.

      It was a lovely afternoon ... temps warm enough to be outside without layers. Blue skies and sunshine. I decided to brave the mosquitoes ... with the help of my bug jacket.

      The Thermacell device and a couple of mosquito coils, placed strategically, created a mostly-mosquito-free zone. We deployed the awning, moved the picnic table under it, and I spent some quiet time reading and writing. We even managed to have a rare al fresco dinner out.

      A great way to end our day.
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    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Big Delta Historic District, Big Delta State Historical Park

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