We parked at the Riverside RV Resort Campground. It was lovely, we had a site on the river, the weather was perfect. There were ducks and ducklings and a busy beaver that trolled up and down the middle. We watched as chairs and tents were set up for an evening wedding on someone’s lawn across the river, and held our collective breaths as people on jet skis and boats and all sort of other water vessels roared by.
PaL attended a city celebration, one of which was a duct tape race on the river!!!! The floating device had to be engineered to be such that it was strategically held in place by duct tape!!!! They had a great time and found a super restaurant.
Barry and I took a whirl out to Cheno Springs. Quite a place. It is a resort that has changed hands many times. The natural attraction is the hot spring. We took our bathing attire, but were so exhausted after all the touring of the other attractions that we didn't imbibe. We signed up for a visit to the Ice Palace. Somehow we had the idea that we were going to be exposed to temps of -40. Upon entering the Palace, we were given heavy parkas, and advised to remain on the flooring provided. It was quite a show! Two people were/are responsible for the ice sculptering. There was the ice bar where you could buy a ice-tini for $15.00 (no thanks), a platform for marriage ceremonies (no thanks), several "bedrooms" where for an enormous price you could stay all night on an ice bed (ABSOLUTELY, NO THANKS, NO, NADA, NEVER). Lots of ice sculptures were standing, and all in all it was a fun 50 minutes. I do think I was ready to leave in 15 minutes, it was cold in there! HOWEVER, Barry was very disappointed because it did not get down to -40 (boo hoo on my part), it only registered 20F.
After the Ice Palace we were guided around the facilities geothermal plant - very interesting. A project with University of Alaska at Fairbanks providing the resort with its own power. They also showed us the greenhouse were all the plants accelerated in their growth due to the long days, a special diet given the plants and the system itself. The growth patterns were amazing.
We had a pleasant lunch and made our way back to Fairbanks. All in all a nice trip.
After the Ice Palace we were guided around the facilities geothermal plant - very interesting. A project with University of Alaska at Fairbanks providing the resort with its own power. They also showed us the greenhouse were all the plants accelerated in their growth due to the long days, a special diet given the plants and the system itself. The growth patterns were amazing.
We had a pleasant lunch and made our way back to Fairbanks. All in all a nice trip.
Food (of course): Sourdough Sam’s - Barry and I thought the breakfast was good, PaL not. Geraldos - lunch there, just fair. So, believe it or that was it as far as eating out.
We planned several day trips which turned out to be a great idea. First on our list was the University of Alaska at Fairbanks. They do a great deal of field studies, teaming up with local and state agencies. We visited the museum and it was great. Half of it is devoted to the prehistorical creatures that roamed Alaska with stories of their rescue and demise. The other half is devoted to the indigenous people of Alaska. They included information of current events, and historical happenings. A great deal of space and research is used to tell the story of the WWII encampment and capture of the natives with any relationship to Japan. It is was a very black period for them. Their treatment by both Japan and the United States politicians raised my hackles as I watched the videos, looked at the photos and read the documentation. That is something I can’t begin to tell, but it certainly bares “googling.” Barry and PaL were ready to leave before I, so Barry offered to come back and pick me up later when I was finished.
Fairbanks is a fairly easy city to get around, small enough as well. Phyllis and Larry took in the downtown festivities and Barry and I visited the much heralded ‘Pioneer Park.’ I think it probably was a great attraction at one time, but I felt it was a bit run down and “seedy.” We arrived just before lunchtime. It does give the young people a place to run and mingle and do what youngsters do. The flowers - as everywhere in Fairbanks - were beautiful. I lost Barry and in my search I walked through a flower exhibition. They were asking for people to participate in a “peoples’ choice” award. So, I did a walk around and turned in my favorite. Little gems like that just popped up here and there. I found Barry in the museum and we enjoyed looking at the scenes of old Fairbanks. There was an old paddle wheeler on display. Barry was interested in a video about the gears and such that was running inside the boat. They had done a masterful job of restoring the old boat, and in doing so gave an opportunity to a bunch of creative and talented folks. The walls of the old paddle wheeler were lined with a continuing story of the villages and events along the river. They have recreated the buildings and artifacts of each town, and included a brief fact sheet. Quite a unique idea and it wrapped all around the interior of the boat. A three-D rendering of life and struggles. The only trouble with the whole thing is that I started coughing the minute I stepped inside the boat, and due to the dust that was layered, I just about coughed up every major organ.
PaL had planned at run up to the Artic Circle. Barry wasn't interested in driving tht road, so I road in the Jeep with them. We had been told the road was going to be the road from hell (the standard description of most roads we took.) Actually, it wasn't entirely horrible! There were long long stretches between outposts, and one couldn't be too picky about stops. I guess you could say it was pretty rough and tough, but they weren't expecting us and all Phyllis and I wanted was a pin anyway! The first visitors center was just short of the Artic Circle, so they had the traditional certificate indicating that the holder had indeed made the Artic. Phyllis and I also found a pin to add to our collection. We forged on to the absolute geographic location of the line and we were really happy to see a big monumental sign declaring our location! Pictures, please.
By this time we were getting a bit hungry, and started looking for a suitable place for the three of us citified lower 48 state persons! And did we ever find it!!!! Sign said Ice Road Truckers' diner, so of course, if the Ice Road Truckers ate there, we HAD to. It DID look a little small and the parking lot didn't really look like there were many Ice Road Truckers there. But, Hey! It was off season, the Ice Road Truckers were having their Summer hiatus, they weren't going to be there. It was an experience, I'll say that for it. It wasn't exactly a place where you would expect to find vegetarian fare on the menu, but they had a heck of a good burger! Maybe the best I'd every had.
Everywhere you looked there was Ice Road Truckers stuff. T-shirts, hats, stickers, caps, cups, dup holders, bumper stickers, key rings, EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD ABOUT Ice Road Truckers, but no pins. We were crushed. We began to gaze around and there was only an outdoor eating area. The bathrooms were "outback." and orders were taken by the cook through a screen window. hmmmm. There was nothing on the menu for Phyllis so she had a root beer float! We took copious pictures and hopped back into the Jeep and headed down the road. What an experience that had been.
PaL had planned at run up to the Artic Circle. Barry wasn't interested in driving tht road, so I road in the Jeep with them. We had been told the road was going to be the road from hell (the standard description of most roads we took.) Actually, it wasn't entirely horrible! There were long long stretches between outposts, and one couldn't be too picky about stops. I guess you could say it was pretty rough and tough, but they weren't expecting us and all Phyllis and I wanted was a pin anyway! The first visitors center was just short of the Artic Circle, so they had the traditional certificate indicating that the holder had indeed made the Artic. Phyllis and I also found a pin to add to our collection. We forged on to the absolute geographic location of the line and we were really happy to see a big monumental sign declaring our location! Pictures, please.
By this time we were getting a bit hungry, and started looking for a suitable place for the three of us citified lower 48 state persons! And did we ever find it!!!! Sign said Ice Road Truckers' diner, so of course, if the Ice Road Truckers ate there, we HAD to. It DID look a little small and the parking lot didn't really look like there were many Ice Road Truckers there. But, Hey! It was off season, the Ice Road Truckers were having their Summer hiatus, they weren't going to be there. It was an experience, I'll say that for it. It wasn't exactly a place where you would expect to find vegetarian fare on the menu, but they had a heck of a good burger! Maybe the best I'd every had.
Everywhere you looked there was Ice Road Truckers stuff. T-shirts, hats, stickers, caps, cups, dup holders, bumper stickers, key rings, EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD ABOUT Ice Road Truckers, but no pins. We were crushed. We began to gaze around and there was only an outdoor eating area. The bathrooms were "outback." and orders were taken by the cook through a screen window. hmmmm. There was nothing on the menu for Phyllis so she had a root beer float! We took copious pictures and hopped back into the Jeep and headed down the road. What an experience that had been.
Fairbanks was fun, but it was time to try other venues. And away we all flew!
From the MABarry - over and out
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