7/25/2014 Two For One (Warning: a long entry with photos)

Two for one...a couple of meanings.

+Two entries,  since it was too late to blog last night after I downloaded 60 pictures.

+A coupon book we have used several times throughout the trip.  One pays one adult fee and the other is free.  A great deal.

It was a busy day yesterday with two tours.  Details in a minute.  Chefs Gary and Evelyn had prepared delicious meat loaf for all the gang with baked sweet potatoes and a salad furnished by Marcella.  After dinner conversation was witty and fun

Our Thursday morning tour on a bus owned by this RV park.  We were introduced to several locations in the city, especially downtown, a stop at the Pipeline, and ended at the University of Alaska Museum of the North.

The flowers all over Alaska are beautiful. 

This quilt is on display in the Fairbanks Visitor's Center.  It represents the multi-arms of the rivers in Alaska.

 This is the front and back of a statue in Golden Heart Park that represents the First Family of all the Native Americans in Alaska.  This the Father, child, and dog.

 This is the mother with child.

This Catholic church was moved in the dead of winter across the frozen river on log rollers to its present location.  The driver called it the "first holy roller church." 

More flowers.  I can't identify these.

 A map with the location of the pipeline.

Glen and Gayla. 

 Darn! I wanted to play on this four-foot plus insulation pipe which is several feet off the ground.

This is a modern day "pig", a device to clean out the pipeline.

 Our transportation for the day.

 Where we are going next.

 Handmade fish traps.  The natives used willow twigs, bark, and roots to make the traps.  

How about some gold!  

Two of my favorite things: bead work and baskets.

Thursday afternoon: a trip down the Chena River on Discovery III, a stern-wheeler paddle boat.  Enjoy the ride.

Our afternoon transportation.

 A float plane landed and took off right beside the paddle boat.

 There are no zoning laws in Fairbanks or surrounding area.  Land sells for $100,000 per acre and building costs are $170 per square foot.  Home styles ranged from traditional and beyond.

This is an unusual home style.

 The Ididatoid dogsled race is over a thousand miles.  Susan Butcher won the race four times in the 1980's.  She died of leukemia in 2006.  There are her kennels now run by her husband Dave Munson.  This is the nicest of all kennels we have seen.  Her husband is front left.

 Young dogs in training.

 The kennels seemed to be made of a composite material.  The dogs are Alaskan huskies.

The dogs cool off in the river after pulling Dave Munson and a four-wheeler around the property.

 Another stop on the river.  Domesticated reindeer.

 We stopped at a replica fish camp.  This is a Univ of Alaska student modeling traditional wear.

 Isn't is more beautiful with the hood in place.

 The back is as pretty as the front.

 Chum salmon in the smokehouse.  This is not a chosen salmon for people.  It is also known as "dog salmon" because it fed to the dogs.  It is a major part of the winter diet.

The garden at the fish camp.

There is nothing scheduled for today (Friday).  
As soon as I start moving, we are going to the grocery store.  Did I mention the refrigerator is working?  YES!  We were impatient and wanted the cooling process to be fast.  It was cold yesterday morning, temperature just where it is supposed to be.  Hurray.

We are going to drive to a marshy, water filled area to see if there are any waterfowl, moose.

There's a bowl factory we may stop at.  The bowls are made of aspen.  

We shall see.  Have a great day.