For much of the highway north to Fairbanks we drove beside the Tanana River. The Tanana is a huge tributary of the Yukon. In spring meltwater stage it is 25 -30 times as wide as the Connecticut. We stopped at a scenic overlook to take a photo and started talking to an Asian family. They wondered what an Airstream was like inside, so Bob and  Barbara gave them a “tour”. On the way we also stopped at the visitor center for the Tetlin wildlife preserve. Finally we crossed the Tenana River bridge, stopped at North Pole, Alaska, to see Santa’s Post office and massive gift shop, then went on to our campground.