Day 42 Fairbanks, Alaska

This has been a different kind of week for us camping only in Fairbanks. There have been plenty of things to see and do here so we have been enjoying the time, especially since we have not had to move the camper. 

Last Saturday, we started at the farmer’s market.  We were surprised at some of the vegetables and didn’t expect any fruit but there were some fresh wild blueberries.  I think they must have been grown in the gold field as they were priced at $10 for 18 oz.  We spent the rest of the day getting the laundry done- two weeks since the last time- followed by a quiet evening catching up on some reading and correspondence.

Sunday, we visited the First United Methodist Church here.  As it was downtown, we spent the better part of two hours at the visitors’ center/museum.  One of the things that particularly impressed me about most of the towns and villages we have been in, is their pride in their history.  Not just the modern era history, but also the First Nation history and how there has been a lot of cooperation, in the last few years, especially, to incorporate and blend the two. 

Monday, we revisited the visitors’ center to catch a video about the “Northern Lights,” Aurora Borealis only to discover that the weekday schedule for showing is different than the weekend schedule.  Well, back for the 6pm showing.  Since we were downtown, we decided to walk some of the local businesses.  We found a very interesting museum about sled dogs and the role they played in the lives of the First Nation people and the more recent history, from the early gold rush time to the modern races and work that they do for both cultures today.  It was actually quite fascinating.  Included in the “Mushers” museum were pictures and descriptions of a flood that encompassed most of downtown Fairbanks with three feet of water in 1967.  Since then, they  built a flood control dam on two branches of the Chena River  and feel that it saved a repeat flood in 1992.

Tuesday, we set out to see the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum.  We didn’t know exactly what to expect so were very surprised that the museum housed 71, fully restored, pristine cars from 1898 up to 1936.  Not only were there cars, but period clothing on display and both were set up to be able to listen to individual audio units about the pieces.  We could not believe that we had spent four hours in that museum as the time went by quickly.

1933 Auburn Cord

  Tuesday afternoon, we went out to Alaska University Fairbanks research farm and botanical gardens.  A varied day, but equally enjoyable.

Wednesday, we started the day at the North Pole-- North Pole Alaska that is.  They have a big Christmas shop there and Santa was, indeed, present.  From there, we came back to Fairbanks and spent the early part of the afternoon at Pioneer Village, just down the street from where we are camped.  The village is a collection of old, mostly log, buildings from around the town that have been moved and preserved for viewing.  We ate an early dinner and went to the Museum of the North at the University.  It has several displays of prehistoric animal bones and even one complete mummified buffalo type animal they called “Blue Babe.”

Blue Babe

  We could easily have spent a couple more hours there. 
Today was a relaxing day!  We drove about 60 miles NE (about 7-8 miles over considerable dips caused by heaving from the perma frost) to Chena Hot Springs.  On the way, we spotted a bull moose near the road.

  We spent the day in and out of the hot springs pool (water about 158 degrees from underground; pool varied from 130-105) and walking around the grounds after lunch.   It looked like they were taking advantage of the water from the hot springs for  some greenhouses to grow fresh veggies and many beautiful flowers to decorate the grounds.

Chena Hot Springs

  Tomorrow morning, we hitch up and head down the road about 150 miles to Denali NP where we have reservations for a week in the Riley Creek Campground.  I will plan on getting at least one post out during that week if the wi-fi is adequate to upload pictures, especially if we get a clear shot of "the great one," Denali.