"Beneath it's workaday exterior, Fairbanks is a lively place with a friendly population.  It offers the clearest view of the northern lights, and the museum at the University of Alaska Fairbanks is one of the best anywhere in the state."*

Hello,

Fairbanks is an interesting city.  If you'd like to learn more about Fairbanks just go to:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairbanks,_Alaska where you'll find great information about the climate, etc.

When we arrived the city was surrounded by wild fires and the smoke had moved in like a brown curtain.  Despite the smoke, the show must go on and we hopped aboard a riverboat that took us down the Chena River (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chena_River) to see the various sights along the way!  Some of the photos are from shore while others are from the boat.

Enjoy:

Check out the water wheel video below...check your sound before starting.

We stopped at an Athabascan Indian village.  "The Athabaskan Indians of Alaska's harsh Interior were hunters and inland fishermen.  Most lived in small nomadic bands along the region's rivers.  If game was scarce, they might travel for days without food; in deepest winter they survived temperatures of -50 degrees F (-45 degrees C) or less, sometimes without shelter or fire.  Endurance and physical strength were prized; game was often run down on foot over difficult terrain."**

This young woman is demonstrating how they prepared salmon for the smoke house.

Below is a cabin that functions as a book store on the property.

Below is chum salmon being smoked and dried.  The Indians used chum salmon to feed their dogs.  In essence they consider this salmon species to be of lower quality but still fit for the sled dogs.

This fur coat is being worn by one of our guides.  It is worth thousands of dollars and is made from a variety of pelts.  It was absolutely beautiful and is only worn by mature women.

This is the salmon smoke and drying house.

Below is Richie checking things out!

Along the way we stopped at a dog sled camp owned by Susan Butcher's husband Dave Monson.  "Susan was an American dog musher, noteworthy as the second woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 1986, the second four time winner in 1990, and the first to win four out of five sequential years.  She is commemorated in Alaska by the Susan Butcher Day."**  Susan died of leukemia in 1986 and her husband continues to operate a dog sled camp in Fairbanks.  Check out more information about Susan by clicking on:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Butcher

We were able to see the dogs run and it was fabulous!  They love to run.  Dave hooked them up behind a four wheeler (in neutral, weighing hundreds of pounds) and they ran a big loop for us.  

The dogs are taking a break in the river after their big run!

A well known bush pilot demonstrated his flying skills while we were on the boat.

And the air continued to get smokier and smokier...

And smokier....

And smokier...

We finally got off the boat and enjoyed baseball and some air conditioning.

This photo shows it getting bad and it only got worse.  The EPA issued severe warnings that people not go outside and we had to cancel our plane trip to the Arctic Circle.  We'll do the Circle next time!

​Well since we couldn't be outside we went to IMAX and watched the new Terminator movie in 3D, ate popcorn and drank iced tea!

Well, Richie might have had something in his iced tea!???

After 2 days in Fairbanks it was time for Richie and LuAnn to depart for the east coast.  

It was hard saying "see you soon" as this was the trip of a lifetime and we were with the most wonderful, fun, thoughtful and kind, hysterically funny, and adventurous family on the brilliant and unforgettable ride called ALASKA!  There were tears, waves, hugs and just the right dose of drama to make us and those around us laugh as we parted. 

Oh the memories!!!

Even the bus driver got into hugging!

So what's the next trip???  

Love,

Ellie and Gary

Check out:

BLOG 21--ALASKA:  KETCHIKAN--FISHING OF A LIFETIME next!

*Insight Guide--Alaska

**Wikipedia