July 5 through July 9, 2010

July 5 -- ?


We finally made it to the official end of the Alaskan Highway, although Fairbanks claims they are the official end of the road.

Our next  home for 5 days --

Fairbanks Alaska RV Park and Campground at the River's Edge Resort

We arrived fairly early in the afternoon and set up camp.  Pat and Bernie had a screen room, which we immediately set up, although the mosquitos were not too bad!  They seem to like Bernie the best.  Deet is her best friend!  

July 6, 2010:  We went on a Riverboat cruise on the Chena River today.  The boat was a paddle wheeler and we sat on the very top deck for a great view.  We were let off at an Athabascan indian village where we wandered around and learned about how these people lived in this country.  They were hearty souls.  The weather is very severe here in the winter, sometimes reaching -41 degrees.  Fur was their best friend, along with various food stuffs collected throughout the warmer weather months, i.e., salmon and various other dried meats.

A float plane landing and take-off demonstration performed by a local bush pilot occurred right beside our boat.  Pretty exciting!

We observed Susan Butcher's sled dog compound right on the banks of the river.  She won the famous Iditarod dog sled race several times.  Unfotunately, she died of leukemia at age 51.  Her husband and daughters have carried on the tradition with her daughter going to enter the race possibly in 2010.

All-in-all, a very fun and interesting trip aboard the paddle wheeler which is owned by a pioneer family from the area.

Riverboat Discovery - RiverBoat Home Page

July 7, 2010:  Again we played tourist (which is what we are!).  Traveled by van through the city of Fairbanks for the "Fairbanks Historical Tour."  Pioneer Park is a reconstruction of old town Fairbanks.  When President Harding drove the final spike in the railroad, he left his train car here.  They have restored it for a tourist attraction.  Isn't this politics at its best!  Hmmmm -- was he Republican or Democrat!  The tour wound through Old Town Fairbanks and up to the Alaskan Pipeline observation point.  The last stop was the museum at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.  What a beautiful campus.  Engineering is a big course of study here, although they have a very large Health Sciences Department, also.  

July 8, 2010:  Visited the El Dorado Gold Mine.  Panned for gold -- I had $10 worth and Gary had $6.  Pretty exciting.  Pat and Bernie were more successful with about $20 each.  (She had earrings made out of her gold!)  My gold is shown below -- not very much and very hard work!

Replica of a miner's cabin and sleusch (sp) box.

A very fun tour!
  http://eldoradogoldmine.com/

Tomorrow we are going to play golf at the northern most golf course in the US then on Saturday will be leaving for Healy, near Denali National Park.