Onwards to Alaska: Fairbanks, AK

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Fairbanks, AK - Day 1

July 27, 2013

We started out early (0830) this morning with a bus ride to the University of Alaska – Fairbanks Museum. This museum is Alaska in a nutshell, starting with the 8’9” Brown Bear from Kodiak Island. The Museum traces all aspects of Alaska history and must be seen by anyone who visits this city. We came back to the Campground for a fantastic lunch Alaska’s Chen Grill on the resort property.

A little Alaskan Outhouse

Jeff Jeffries having a little light dessert...AGAIN. ;-)))

After lunch we re-boarded the bus for a short trip down river to the Discovery Riverboat Cruise. This cruise demonstrates several things that are routine here but unusual for most. The first was a float plane landing and take-off right next to the boat using a Super-Cub Floatplane. There used to be a short takeoff and landing strip, but that was closed the city. We stopped next to Susan Butcher’s house. Unfortunately she died of cancer at age 51 in 2006. She was a 4 time winner of the Iditarod. He husband showed us a number of their sled dogs and demonstrating mushing with a motor less ATV, just dog power.

Super-Cub

Susan Butcher's Kennel - Her husband is on the ATV, note the ATV is tied down, otherwise off it would go. Those dogs love to run.

After completing the run at speeds up to 20 mph!

We journey down to the confluence with Tanana River. The Tanana is of glacial origin and is laden with silt. The Chena is a Clearwater river. It is interesting to see them mix. The paddle wheeler can no longer go into the Tanana due shifting of the mainstream. We then docked at the recreated Athabascan village where their lifestyle before and after contact with white men was established. It was a nomadic survival existence that they did for over 10,000 years.