FAIRBANKS, Alaska - A little thing like a flooded creek was not enough to keep an Alaska restaurant owner from delivering Thai ribs and fried rice to stranded customers over the weekend.
Anuson "Knott" Poolsawat, owner of Knott's Take Out in North Pole, fords the swollen waters of Clear Creek to reach two customers stuck along the Richardson Highway, near Fairbanks, Alaska. (Knott's Take Out/Facebook)
Anuson "Knott" Poolsawat, owner of Knott's Take Out in North Pole, forded the swollen waters of Clear Creek to reach two customers stuck along the Richardson Highway.
Mike Laiti and Brandon Borgens were completing a multi-day drive Saturday night up the Alaska Highway when they called in their order to the restaurant, which was near closing.
As they approached Clear Creek, they learned a sinkhole had developed from heavy rain near the creek. The state Department of Transportation closed the bridge.
Laiti called Poolsawat to cancel their order at the restaurant more than 40 kilometres away in North Pole.
"I called him and said, 'Hey man, I can't make it,' and he said, 'Not a problem, I'll come cross the waters,"' Laiti said. "He called me and said, 'Should I bring a boat?"'
Poolsawat arrived with takeout boxes containing Thai barbecue ribs and Thai fried rice. Another box held a "dinosaur egg" — a hardboiled egg that's fried and covered in a sweet sesame sauce.
Poolsawat hiked up his shorts and waded through the creek, holding the takeout boxes over his head. The cold water was hip-deep.
Poolsawat had already done them a favour by staying open late, Laiti said. The delivery was beyond expectations.
"He'd help anybody out. He's just a really good positive attitude, just a good guy," Laiti said. "He's definitely a goofball character and the food he makes is great."