Then it was time to go on a bus ride to the Arctic Ocean. First, we had to learn a little about the oil companies and the pipeline, which I guess was only fair given that the only access to the Arctic Ocean lies on property owned by one of the companies.

It was interesting to hear how the drilling operations were set up. Since the oil in Alaska is under such tremendous pressure, they basically have to just drill down to it and open up the pipe. So no see-saw pumps, like I expected.

Everything is built with the smallest footprint possible, with the understanding that if oil production ever stops up there, everything that was brought in will be removed. No waste water goes into the ground. Everything is built on gravel pads, including the roads and the entire pipeline. It’s all designed to be rolled back into tundra someday.

Maybe it was the sky and clouds distracting me, but it just didn’t seem as ugly as I would have thought. Or maybe it was the photographer in me that loved the contrast between the sky, animals, tundra, and oil works. I don’t know. Is it crazy to call this my favorite place on the whole trip?

Anyway. Arctic Ocean. It was cold. I put my feet in. I swear I’ve been in water just as cold before, in some of the lakes on Fraser Island. If I had my swimsuit on, I would have dove in. Damn. Next time. And yeah, there will be a next time.

While we were meandering back to the bus after our “Arctic dip,” a wild caribou came romping up the shore. He didn’t seem too bothered by the oil buildings – in fact, he was more bothered by all the tourists sticking their feet where he wanted to swim. Poor guy. I think the mosquitoes were bugging him.