It’s now Friday, the final day of my trip north of the Arctic Circle.

So I slept in, relatively speaking, getting up at 11.10am. I don’t know what has got me staying in bed so long as I’ve never done it elsewhere. Anyway, off to the Cafe for breakfast I go. It’s my last breakfast here in Coldfoot, so I challenged myself to the Truckers Breakfast. 2 eggs, 2 hash browns, 4 biscuits and gravy, along with two cups of the cold tea that I have come to enjoy.

Yummy, doesn’t that look tasty!

I also took a photo of an genuine Ice Road Trucker!

I then headed back to the Inn. I wanted to make a snowman on my last day, but I was told that the ice and snow here is too dry and so would not make a snowman. Very sad to hear that. I guess I’ll have to wait until Canada then. So I sdat down to watch Forensic Files on the TV (having already packed).

The plan for the day was we were to be picked up at 1.30pm for the trip to the airstrip and 1+ hour flight back to Fairbanks. The time then became 3pm, then 3.30pm. I didn’t have a problem with the delays, except for the darkness taking away from the photo opportunities. The reason is, I’d rather whoever is doing so spends as much time as they need making sure the plane is airworthy, rather than rushing to meet a deadline.

Anyway, we left around 3.45pm. It was getting dark as we drove up next to a 9 seater plane. And there were 8 of us plus the pilot. Hmmm, would some of my 24 pounds of gear not be let on the plane? But no, all was fine. We got on and prepared for takeoff. Herewith a photo of the plane as we board.

And one of the airstrip as we taxi on.

And one as we climb into the air.

The plane did shake a little as we headed further up into the air, so I decided to close my eyes and meditate for 10 minutes. When I re-opened my eyes, we were still up in the air, which comforted me greatly. Until the pilot decided to call up another passenger, obviously a colleague, to help him close his window – whilst we were flying! Now I am normally a bit perturbed with small planes because I am all in favour of having 2 pilots, just in case one has a heart attack or something like that. But when the pilot’s window isn’t closed?? Argghhhh.

Anyway, I have been updating my posts, so I obviously survived the trip. Most of the rest of the flight was relatively calm, and we could not see anything out the windows. It was all like a grey / green fog had enveloped the plane for the rest of the trip until we reduced height to land. Anyway, I was very happy for the skills of the pilot. But I was glad when we landed.

So we headed off to the Northern Alaska Tour Company’s offices (co-located at the airport), said our goodbyes and then I headed back to my hotel. Then into the shower (which surprisingly was not as hot as the showers at Coldfoot Camp – which were actually the hottest I’ve had in Alaska, and off to bed.

The whole four day trip is something that I really enjoyed, and that I will remember for a very long time.