The next morning Jason and I were up to go to the airport and fly up to Fairbanks. Earlier in the year Horizon had started service between the two cities, and we had always wanted to take one of the flights up there. And in true Horizon spirit they decorated a couple of their aircraft to represent a couple university sports teams in the state.
It was a quick flight up there and while it was cloudy, I did get some nice views of Denali poking above the clouds.
The flight up to Anchorage was wide open. There were probably only 20 people max on the plane. When we got up to Fairbanks it was very cloudy, but when we got below cloud level I could see the gorgeous colors. Fall had already settled on the area.
Arriving at the airport we saw how small it was. Jason and I grabbed some souvenirs from the gift shop, and then then walked outside. It was cold. We didn't realize the bus would come and we could ride into the actual city. But I also happened to check the flight loads back to Anchorage: almost all full. So we decided it would be a good idea to start trying to get back. We missed the first couple flights (including an Alaska Combi flight) because they were full. So we went to the cafe and Jason bought us some chili dogs. It was by far the best chili dog I've ever had.
Jason and I did get lucky, however, and got out. Two people happened to no-show, and we got their seats. We were pretty happy. We enjoyed the flight back home, and to celebrate I even tried some of the free Alaskan Amber that they served. Jason was proud of me for even finishing it before he did.
We had "plans" to get up early and catch another Horizon flight, to Kodiak Island, but we halfheartedly said "screw it" and went back to bed in the morning. Instead, we caught an afternoon flight up to Barrow, making a stop in Prudhoe Bay. Prudhoe Bay is pretty much just a town existing to support the oil company there. It feeds the Alaskan Pipeline that travels down to Valdez.
The temperature was hovering right below freezing, when we arrived in Barrow. I wanted to go eat dinner at Arctic Pizza, with Jason, but we couldn't find it. So we just wandered the town for a while, and walked out onto the beach of the Arctic Ocean.
It was pretty muddy, and there was snow on the ground. We trekked through the part of the town close to the airport, but didn't have time to go to the main part. But we did get to see a big whale skull outside the city hall "building".
I hope to make it back to see the rest of the town (and maybe a polar bear too). But we didn't have much time. If we didn't make this flight, we were stuck until the next morning. And who wants to be stuck in Barrow?
We didn't go through security until we boarded the aircraft; that's how small the airport is. But we got boarded up, and once again had to stop in Prudhoe Bay. We got back to Anchorage, and into the motel around midnight. And thus ended my fun flying experiences around Alaska, for this trip. Now it was time for my boring work training.....
(Point Barrow)
