Fairbanks to Valdez, Alaska Canada Holiday

It was getting late as we crossed the Salcha River and spotted a Boat Ramp and recreation area. We decided to camp the night there. They had 5 designated camping areas and then the river bank where any number of RVs could park. We paid our $10 and took one of the sites. We cooked on the fire and settled down with a wine after dinner. The campground host brought us round some 'brush' he had chopped recently and told us to burn it on the fire to keep away mosquitoes - seemed to work. It was dead birch tree branches with some lichen on it - Irish Moss?? A couple arrived to launch their boat at 9pm (still daylight so fair enough I guess). We wandered up to the boat ramp for a chat . They told us that in the 70s there was an offer to stake out a block of land on the river and for $700 it was yours and you could pay that off over a number of years. Only catch was you had to make some improvements on the land every year. They built a log cabin on it and visit most weekends and holidays while living in Fairbanks.