Moose in the morning.


The leaves are changing color.


This – and the 1 mile advance sign just to the north – are the only button copy signs I know of in Alaska.


Heading back down to Anchorage. I made this photo black and white because there just wasn’t all that much color to begin with!


A small shack in Manley Hot Springs.


Not quite the road to the hot springs, but close.


This is where we had stopped to change the flat tire the night before. Sure looks a lot less bear-filled during the day.


The Elliott Highway has a stretch in the middle with several consecutive old-style white mileposts.


In Alaska, when the highway department needs a roadblock, they just install a pair of moose.


The moose walk off the job.


What, we blew another tire? How did we do that?! And this one wasn’t just a leaker- it was all out shredded. Gotta love the cheap tires that rental vehicles come with: even 4x4s.

We broke down literally half a mile from where the road becomes paved again – and, luckily, about a mile from a mining camp, from which we called a tow truck back to Fairbanks. (AAA to the rescue!)

Three hours later, we’re riding back to Fairbanks and we have to buy two new tires. Well, crappy used tires, that is.

Expense report submitted to the rental car company!


100 miles of free towing – we used up nearly all of it!


Time to paint some stripes.


And we’re back to the four-lane highway 2.


Dang tire!


I don’t remember where this is, but if there was ever any digit on it, it is long gone. It may be intended as a trailblazer for both 2 and 3, as it does point in that general direction.


Button copy sign, in context.


Mountains to the south of Fairbanks.


This gantry may very well be old enough to refer to a pre-freeway alignment of route 2. It points to the freeway in an indirect manner, so it has survived.


A polite request.


Rainy day in Fairbanks.


Fog in the mountains.


Snowing to the east.


The new scenic route marker.


And the old style.