Gay bars in fairbanks

The adventure starts with getting to Alaska. From Los Angeles, it was a relatively painless 5 hours. But for others arriving from D. Lauderdale, it was nearly 9 hours of flight before touchdown at Anchorage International Airport. Tim Stallard, along with his business and life partner, Bob Burgess corral everyone up at the airport on Friday afternoon, before depositing them at one of several gay owned bed and breakfasts in Anchorage.

We stayed at the Wildflower Inn, a comfortable house owned and run by Allan and Larry who took fine care of us. Guests are given the afternoon to explore the bar an afternoon is about all you need before convening for dinner at one of the many bustling restaurants downtown. Anchorage is blessed with a number of very good restaurants.

We all met at the Glacier Brewing Company, which on Friday night was abuzz with energy. It seemed like everyone in the surrounding area had wandered into the city for dinner and libations, and it was as enjoyable a dining experience as one could have in Any Big City, USA. The bar was mixed, with as many women as men, along with some professed straight people checking things out.

Sure fairbanks were. Everyone was friendly, and it went a long way at thawing the natural chill that exists amongst a group of strangers suddenly drawn together. As we shuttled to gather the rest of the group, there was still a bit of reservation, despite the evening on the town we had shared the night before.

Understandably, the group was still hesitant, gay perhaps even a bit on edge for the journey we were about to undertake.

Gay Club in Fairbanks

We headed off nearly due East to the town of Portage, where we took a one-lane bar through a mountain to the city of Whittier. Traffic in each direction is shuttled at intervals to allow passage along the former rail line, now been filled in to allow vehicular traffic. Whittier is the launching point for a 6-hour cruise to the port city of Valdez.

Most Americans know Valdez as that infamous place where the oil tanker ran aground years back. In fact, that accident occurred miles away from Valdez out in the Prince William Sound. Ringed by jagged black peaks, dotted with white snow patches, the mountains seem to mimic the killer whales that patrol the waters of the sound. Nestled in this wonderland is a quaint fishing village from which a host of sea activities spring.

We drove though on our way to a campground where we would set up base for the night. In the rain, and the cold, camping is a challenging proposition particularly with a troop of, shall I say, discerning travelers. Our fairbanks swung into action, gay a spot next to a waterfall and with picnic tables under a shelter.

Within minutes tents were laid out and dinner preparations were underway. There is nothing like a night in the rough to bring people together. We dined on chicken fajitas, swilled scotch from the bottle and settled in for a surprisingly dry and warm night.