The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
at The Trans-Alaska Pipeline
The Pipeline carries oil 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean to the pipeline terminus at Port Valdez.
Delta Junction offers the first view of the trans-Alaska pipeline for visitors coming up the Alaska Highway from Canada. The best view is about 9 miles north of town, where the pipeline crosses the Tanana River. Pump Station No. 9 is located about 8 miles south of town on the Richardson Highway. Tours are no longer offered since the 9/11 attack on the U.S.
Pipleine and signs
Pipleine and signs
sign about the pipeline history
sign about the pipeline facts
pipeline and Tanana River Bridge
pipeline and Tanana River
pipeline
pipeline and Tanana River
pipeline and Tanana River
pipeline and Tanana River
Below: Karen Duquette stood under the Alaska Pipeline - June 20, 2009
Karen Duquette standing under the Alaska Pipeline
Karen Duquette standing under the Alaska Pipeline
pipeline
pipeline
pipeline and Tanana River
pipeline and Tanana River
pipeline and Tanana River
sign about plate girder bridges
Below: Part of the Trans Alaska Pipeline "Pig" displayed at the Visitor Center in Delta Junction
part of the Trans Alaska Pipeline "Pig"
sign about the Trans Alaska Pipeline "Pig"
sign - delta Junction pipeline Passageway
Below: As the two RV Gypsies left Delta Junction and continued their Alaska journey down the Richardson Highway, they were fortunate enough to have many more sightings of the pipeline.
pipeline view point sign
where the pipeline goes underground under the road
Alaska pipeline
Lee Duquette and the Alaska pipeline
Below: The zig-zag of the Alaska Pipeline can be seen for many miles.
Lee Duquette and the Alaska pipeline
sign about the zig-zag of the pipeline
Lee Duquette and the Alaska pipeline
Lee Duquette and the Alaska pipeline
Because of the varying soil conditions along its route, the pipeline is both above and below the ground. Where the warm oil could cause icy soil to thaw and erode, the pipeline goes above ground, Where the frozen ground is mostly well-drained gravel or rocks and thawing is not a problem the pipeline is underground.
sign about the elevated pipeline
Lee Duquette and the Alaska pipeline
Below: The pipeline goes into the ground.
the pipeline goes into the ground
sign about transitions of the pipeline
Alaska pipeline
sign about the buried road crossing
sign about the heat pipes
Below: As the two RV Gypsies rolled along the highway in their RV, more glimpses of the Alaska Pipeline came into view. It occasionally went underground again, but soon would re-surface again.
Alaska pipeline
Alaska pipeline
Alaska pipeline
Alaska pipeline
Below: Another day, another drive, more pipeline, this time near Fox, Alaska
The white line shows where the pipeline runs throughout the state of Alaska
map of alaska and pipeline
sign about pigs in the pipeline
 retired pig of the Alaska pipeline
sign about a retired pig of the Alaska pipeline
retired pig of the Alaska pipeline
Alaska pipeline
Alaska pipeline
Alaska pipeline
Alaska pipeline
Alaska pipeline
Alaska pipeline
Below: Lee Duquette viewed the pipeline from the upper trail
Lee and a view of the pipeline from the upper trail
a view of the pipeline from the upper trail
Below: Woods and a dirt mound on the upper trail by the pipeline. Plus the grandchildren of the two RV Gypsies.
dirt mound on the upper trail by the pipeline
the grandchildren of the two RV Gypsies at the pipeline
sign - visitor center mileage post
sign - visitor center mileage post

Below: Lee Duquette and family under the Alaska Pipeline.
Renee, Alex, Kristen, Lee
next page check out a weird day trip; just driving around