Day 24 - Fairbanks to Talkeetna. Distance today 293 miles. Total from Indianapolis - 5,569 miles.

The morning brought a change to the Iron Horse Alaskan Adventure.  Heeding medical advice, Stu made the prudent decision to withdraw from the group.  There will be more on Stu's plans later.  From here forward, five guys will advance on their way home.

Appropriately under gloomy skies, with a light rain falling, the six had to say their goodbyes.  Leaving Stu in Fairbanks, Mike, Fred, Ron, David and Joe would work their way south towards Denali National Park.  

They will spend the night in Talkeetna, Alaska.

When they arrived in Talkeetna they had no cell phone service and very limited internet access.  These photos were sent one at a time.  That process was very slow.  Check back on this day, images will be added when the group reaches an area with better services.

Road construction and more warnings of safety for motorcyclists.

Hello, who's calling?  Uh, that would be Mother Nature.

Mike took advantage of the port-o-let in the construction zone.  

Ron was so kind to hold the door closed for Mike.  Must have been a bad latch on the door.

This trick, never gets old.

Just outside Cantwell, Alaska the guys spied this giant Igloo.  This structure was built in the 70's as a hotel.

Unfortunately because of not being able to meet building codes the building/hotel never opened.

This building is so large it is visible from airplanes at 30,000 feet.  Vandalism has taken its toll over the years.

At the entrance of the igloo.

Did anyone check these guys for spray paint?  Toilet Paper?  Silly String?

David

Mike

The five are sitting on the wall at a scenic over look.  

What you are seeing is the South Denali Viewing Point.

Joe, in the same location.

Joe

These guys had lined up a special adventure for the afternoon. 

They found the bed and breakfast and hurriedly dropped their gear.  Next up, off to the airport.

David, Joe, Fred, Ron and Mike reached the airport.

They chartered a sightseeing plane for a tour of Denali National Park.

It is difficult to tell what specie of animal that is in this picture. 

 The guys saw these two Moose hanging around in that marsh below the plane.

After returning from this tour they all thought that taking pictures was a huge waste of time.  

The beauty of mountains, glaciers, sky, snow and well, everything did not translate well to the camera.

That would be Mt. McKinley, or Denali.  Either name for this mountain is correct.

David and Fred appear to be enjoying the plane tour.

Collectively the guys agreed that this was the coolest thing they have done so far.

In some areas the ice in the glaciers was estimated to be one mile thick!

David, Joe, Fred and Mike with pilot Doug (pictured right in the middle of the group).  Doug with Talkeetna Air Taxi or TAT for short took the guys up on their flightseeing tour of Denali.  He was full of information and has been flying in Alaska for 27 years.  Having taken skiers, fishermen, hunters to destinations in and around Talkeetna Doug was full of interesting stories.

Sunshine B & B - located in a White Birch woods.

David, Joe, Ron, Mike and Fred arranged lodging in Talkeetna at Sunshine Lake Bed and  Breakfast.

Even though the cabin the boys had reserved had their own kitchen and grill, Nancy the owner, insisted that the fellas dine in her kitchen!  She fixed a delicious meal.  Everything was made from scratch.

 Fred, Mike, Joe, Nancy, Ron and David

The guys thoroughly enjoyed their stay at Sunshine Lake Bed and Breakfast.