Arctic Odd

Alas, we have left the last Alaskan town and are headed down to Washington. So, I guess it's time to do a post on the roadside oddities of Alaska.

Alaskans love to display diseased tree trunks around their homes.

Here, store owners have become so enamored by the diseased trees that their entire store is dedicated to the tree knots--The Knotty Shop.

In hopes that a large toy company would move in and boost the economy of one northern Alaska town, the town took the name North Pole. No toy companies took the hint, but the town has stretched the concept about as far as possible. Street lamps are all shaped as candy canes, buildings are painted in Christmas colors, and Santa has a permanent store and statue. Adolfo sped through this cutesy town so fast that I couldn't get a good photo.

What do you do with an old airplane? In Fairbanks you make it part of your greenhouse business.
I wonder if all the planes crashing into buildings in recent years inspired this business.

Who knew that the sourdough starter my mother had in the fridge could be used as fuel. We could have been rich!
I wonder if sourdough fuel works in diesel engines.

This sign sits at the entrance to the Alaska Pipeline Visitor Center near Fairbanks.
I assume this is to welcome the Canadian visitors.

Sod roofs are popular in Alaska. This one covers the pit toilets at Denali National Park. Perhaps the park has found a way to fertilize the grass with human waste.
I'd hate to be the ranger with the job of mowing the roof.

Some Alaskans prefer igloos to sod-roof homes. Of course, the igloos must be made in a way that will keep them from melting is summer.

The owners of this dog in Anchorage were afraid that the dog might get too much sun. After all, it must have been at least 65 degrees the day we found this dog walking in the park.

Restaurant owners in Seward have a really good sense of their customer's priorities: "Cheap Beer. Lousy Food."

Why build a permanent building for your restaurant when the tourists come only in summer? This restaurant in Seward is built from several school buses.
In Winter, disassemble and drive south.

Looks like some Hippies from California must have moved into Soldotna. Considering the Californians to be Commies, the community must have left the Funny River area to these Kaliforniaskys.

Those city-slickers who can't seem to catch a fish in Homer can at least take a photo next to a prize catch.

In the Salty Dawg Saloon in Homer you can pay by withdrawing from the ATM or by picking bills from the wall. Your pick.

I couldn't get a cup of coffee inside this Homer coffee shop, but there are plenty of cups on the outside.

This friendly Airstream, Beatrice, greeted us as we drove down the Kenai Peninsula.

Even more popular than skiing, snowmobiling, and dogsledding in Alaska is target shooting, especially if it is shooting road signs.
(I stole this photo from a news site, but we passed several that read: No discharging of firearms within 1/4 mile of road. The sign was shot to Hell)

In hot or cold weather, The Valdez Ice Cream Lady will take care of your needs. She sells ice cream on warm days and Espresso on cold days.
She'll wear the ice cream glasses for no extra cost.

When your town just isn't getting enough tourist traffic, find something, anything to make into a museum. In Haines its the Hammer Museum. In Stewart its a Toaster Museum.

Buildings can be made with just about anything.
Even in 1899 the men of Skagway built this building with driftwood.

And you thought Alaskans wore long underwear to keep warm...

Privy sounds like a misnomer for this outdoor toilet in Skagway.