Day 16

7/9/2007




A day exploring a very small bit of Fairbanks.

First, we looked over Pioneer Park. They have a number of old cabins recovered from the area and moved to the park. A bit of a village has been created with shops catering to the tourist trade. The park also has a small train giving rides around the park, an aviation museum and a mini golf course.
































In the afternoon, we motored a few miles up the Elliot Highway toward Prudhoe Bay. Just a few miles mind you to another tourist activity called El Dorado. Now, you may know by now, that I am not much on tourist activities, but these folks have their act together. I recommend taking this one in next time you are in the Fairbanks area.

First, you ride a short train trip into a permafrost cave, where they start to describe how some folks search for gold. They have more or less working demonstrations of how they hauled ore out of the mine and how they searched it for gold.

Next, the train takes you to the next stop where they demonstrate modern placer mining techniques.

Finally, they give every guest a bag of "concentrate" and help you pan out as much gold as you can find in the bag. You keep the gold you find. Elizabeth got 3 grains, I got 4 1/2 and Patrick found 6 grains.

Then they route you through the shop where you can find all manner of souvenirs and godangits to hold your gold. All the while keeping you entertained and feeling quite welcome. Like I said, they have their act together.
























Then, off to dinner. Seems our cousin Jan is
involved in Kiwanis in Fairbanks. They were having a barbecue so we tagged along. Grilled salmon and moose. Fish & Chips of fresh halibut. Moose stroganoff and moose chili. All good stuff.



Tomorrow, we start heading South again.