Made in Alaska

People ask us about stuff that is "Made in Alaska".  Alaska is just like all other states, it's cheaper to get things "Made in China"  After all, China is closer to Alaska than the other 48 states. I guess shipping is cheaper since it doesn't have to go as far.  But the one big money maker here in Alaska is it's OIL.  And I guess we all buy some of that every time we fill up our cars with gas.  Oil, since it's "Made in Alaska", benefits all Alaskans.  Every year during the month of January each resident gets a check from the Alaskan government.  It can range from 700 to over 1000 dollars per person.  What other state can say that it gives back to it's residents.  The residents are happy that oil is the big "Made in Alaska" money maker!!  

This is a look at the inside of the oil pipe line.

This is a pig that they send down the pipeline to clean it.  It scapes the sides of any residue build up.

The length of this pipeline is truly amazing.  Alaska is 1/3 the size of all the USA.  This pipe line runs almost the whole length of the state.  It's truly a man made marvel.  

The pipe line adds to the scenery around it.   It's part of Alaska's history and intriguing to behold.

The Richardson Hwy goes from Fairbanks through Delta Junction and Glenallen all the way back to Anchorage.  It's a rough patch of road and takes about 7 to 8 hours to travel.  Of course stopping to photograph Alaska's wild side makes the trip longer, but so worth the stop.  Just look at this moose!  She is just enjoying a bath while she munches the grass of the bottom of the pond.  

You just don't see this any old place.  

More moose!

Curvy Pipeline

This part of the pipeline looks like the golden gate bridge.  

Stopped off to see sheep at Delta Junction.

Sarah Palin, we met her cardboard figure in a gift shop.

Daddy Moose!

People joke out here that the Mosquitoe is Alaska's state bird. This is because they are huge, they are every where, and there are millions of them.   This one hit a vein in Bryson and is about to POP.

The glaciers here produce a very fine silt.  This silt flies when the wind picks up.  Here in the pictures we thought something was on fire but we learned that it was just the silt blowing in the wind.

Awesome view!

Caribou!

Here is the pipe line taking a noose dive under the ground.

And then back up on the other side of the road.

Heston liked this mountain, he thought it looked like a volcano with smoke coming out.

More silt flying.

This pipeline can go anywhere. Over rivers,

and even up mountains.

Traveling along the pipeline truly adds to the marvel of Alaska's landscape.

More caribou, way out there.  Heston spotted this one and gained the name, Eagle Eyes.

Alaska has great camping spots.  Awesome views.  Here we camped over night on this river.  Great spot although the boys get tired of using the 'Alaskans Outhouses', or pit toilets.

Stopped for lunch on the Dalton Hwy.  This was a cute little restaurant with a great view.

Glacier snow along the Glen Hwy.

Another plus for people living here in Alaska, they don't pay state tax.  When weighing the pros and cons of living in this state you have to look at the cold weather,oil money, no taxes, wild animals, beautiful landscape and freedom.  We have talked to many people who love this state because of the freedom they have. Freedom to carry guns anywhere, freedom to own a plane and fly any time anywhere, Johnny has even entertained the thought.  Owning your own plane and coming and going all over Alaska is intriguing to him. Oh, of course he loves the gun freedom here.  We really do have a better understanding of Mrs. Palin after being here.  It's different up here.  People up here have to survive, they are tough, and they are resourceful.