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.

Day 15

7/8/2007

Departed camp in Willow AK around 08:30. Still headed North bound headed for Fairbanks via Denali.

The road and weather started out great. Relatively smooth and off and on rain. Just the way I like it. As the day progressed, the sun came out the the road got icky.

Denali is another real area of extremes. This time, beautiful scenery and way too many people wondering around. The load of people getting off of buses and the train was staggering. One thing that kept me going was all of the people paid a lot of money to be hauled up the hill and they wouldn't see a thing :+) Mountain was socked in with clouds. I'm awful I know. Still, I must find irony whenever I can. I could almost hear them complaining to the tour operator that they wanted there money back since they didn't see the big hill.

Now, the park does have a very nice new visitors center. Great displays that keep kids of all ages engaged and informed to the park MESSAGE.

Ok, I will get off my soap box and leave you with some pictures. Mileage today 268. We will spend the next couple of days in Fairbanks. Looking over the sites and visiting another cousin.





One of the monster hotels of the area outside the park entrance. This one is "located above the hustle of the highway" I wonder if they realize how much hustle they create?








































































The visitors center is said to be solar powered. They certainly had a considerable number of photo voltaic panels up.











Inside view of the photo voltaic's. They let in enough light that very little artificial light is required inside.












Patrick did the required work for his junior ranger certificate.

Day 14

7/7/2007

Back on the road North bound today. It was hard leaving the company of the cousins in Homer but there is more to this great land to explore.







Since much of today's travels are a repeat of road already traveled, there are not a lot of new pictures.

Mileage for today - 329.




A few days ago, I was asked what "blackout curtains" were for. Well, at these latitudes, it does not get dark this time of year. Today, the sun will rise at around 03:30 AM and set around 12:30AM the following morning.






For example. Here is a look out a window. You can see in the timestamp on the picture that it's 22:51












This is the results of using regular blinds.













Now, engage the blackouts.

Almost dark enough for those of us that live out in the sticks where it gets dark at night.

That's all for now. Stay tuned.

Day 13

7/6/2007








Today, we hit the road again.



















The road was pretty good until we got to Poosky, then it got a little rough.










Ok, just kidding. Today, we were given a real treat. Jessie guided us on an ATV caravan up to their cabin on Cariboo Lake. It's about a 1/2 drive then about an hour on the ATV's. Good times.


















Are we there yet?












Yes, we are.













Then, we had to head back.













Spruce Hen.

























Back in plenty of time for a canoe on the pond.










That's it for today. Mileage for today - around 14 ;+)

Sad thing is, tomorrow, we really hit the road. North toward Fairbanks.

Day 12

7/5/2007

Baseball anyone? Alaska league rules of course!

Day 11

7/4/2007

Finally, a few days not at the wheel. So nothing too dramatic to report. How about just a few pictures?