7-4-2011 El Dorado Gold Mine

Took a tour through this authentic gold mine from years ago.  Train ride through permafrost tunnel, then got to pan for gold!

7-4-2011 AK Pipeline, Quest Dog Musher, U of AK Museum

Alaska Pipeline in Fairbanks.  It heads underground in Fairbanks.  And the pix with Becca and Brian will give you a perspective of the size of the pipe.

Quest Information Center with Jodi Baily, Yukon Quest champion and Iditarod Musher with two of her dogs.  The dogs were so sweet and docile, and as you can see, enjoying the rest and warmth of the bldg.

The U of AK Museum building itself was awesome, outside.  The architecture was so different.  However, inside it was a disappointment.  The brochure said you needed 3 hours, not so, unless, you read every single word all over the museum, which we don't do.  And Al's bear is much prettier than this one, for sure!

7-3-2011 Riverboat Discovery Tour, Fairbanks

3 1/2 hour paddle boat tour cruising the Chena and Tanana Rivers.

Rolly and Bonnie

Becca and Brian

The late Susan Butcher's Iditarod Training Kennel and home.  The dogs train with a four wheeler, and boy do they get excited when they know they are going for a run.  

Debarked for a small tour of an authentic Athabascan Indian Village.  Several talks on the Indian/Eskimo culture.

This coat was the most beautifully made that I've ever seen.

7-3-2011 Fairbanks with Bec and BrianB-Univ of AK Lge Animal Research Ctr

No, this is not Becca and her hubby!!LOL  They arrived 7/2/2011 and we started our tours the next day.  Went to the University of Alaska Large Animal Research Center, but it was closed for the day.  Followed the fence around through the woods and this was waiting for us.  Musk-ox, huge huge animals.

6-25-2011 Chicken, AK to Fairbanks

 Stayed at Eielson Air Force Base Campground.  Deeply wooded but with a nice lake.  Al hoping to go fishing for a bit.

Highway started out not so good for a bit, but then OK.

For our Sturbridge friends, check out Rolly and Bonnie's truck!!  I think it's the first time Rolly's truck has ever been so dirty, and it will be the last I'm sure.

Mildred the moose (Al's name for her).  Saw Millie driving in and out of the base.  Guess her favorite food was located in these big lots.

Cheno Hot Springs Resort.  Not really a natural hot springs like Liard Hot Springs, but quite a resort and well kept up.

Private hot springs for the ducks.  Water temperature was 156 degrees!!!  They seemed to love it, didn't bother them in the least.

    Moved to Ft Wainwright Army Base for a week.  Will spend a few days with the kids here, before going to Denali Natl Park.

 Will be together with Bonnie and Rolly  from now till we get to Homer, and a few other places.  Good people and fun.  Nice having another couple to have meals with also.  Lots of teasing going back and forth!LOL

6-24-2011 Dawson City to Chicken, Alaska

In the clouds again, but totally awesome!

The road was totally dirt.  And the rigs looked like it at the end of the day!

Rolly and Bonnie on the other side of the hill.

Road washout...one lane.

Awesome views.

One of only 3 business in Chicken, AK.  This lounge had ball caps hanging from the ceiling and walls.  Quite a collection.

Chicken was named by miners because they couldn't spell Ptarmigan.  An active mining town, everything "chicken" is here.  Very remote, nothing there just the 3 businesses and a couple of campgrounds.  But everyone you meet travelling through Alaska asks "Did you stop at Chicken"?  Suppose it's the combination of such a small stopover, and the challenging roads to get there LOl....  

6-24-2011 Dawson City Ferry Across the Yukon River

Small small ferry to cross the river, the George Black Ferry, which was free of charge.    It runs 24 hours a day.  It carries vehicles and passengers, and connects to the Top of the World Highway, Yukon Hwy 9. As you can see, the land part of the ramp was dirt.  Day before there was a wait of at least 3 hours, but today Rolly and Al were the first ones in line so no problem.   Thank goodness no motorhome caravans the day we left.

Only the two of us could fit on the ferry.

Other side of the river, same kind of ramp.

6-22-2011 Diamond Tooth Gerties, Dawson City

Fun place to go.  First night saw one show, second night saw later and then midnight shows.  Can can girls, a great singer, slot machines and poker tables.  Weekly Texas Hold Em Poker Tournaments.

"Bona fide dance hall queen Diamond Tooth Gertie. During the Gold Rush of 1898, in order to distinguish herself from numerous Klondike kings and queens, Gertie Lovejoy wedged a sparkling diamond between her two front teeth. Any discomfort this caused paid dividends. Instead of working the creeks for her riches, Diamond Tooth Gertie made her fortune by mining the lonely prospectors who readily opened their gold pokes in return for her affections. In Dawson City today, Gertrude Lovejoy’s moniker lives on at the town-run Diamond Tooth Gertie's Casino."

6-22-2011 Dawson City, Yukon

Dawson City is a fun place to go.  Really old time western town with dirt streets, etc.  First went to see the Dome, as the sun was shining and knew it would be beautiful.

 It is called the Midnight Dome because for decades people have gathered on the top of the hill to watch the midnight sun and the changing colors of the night sky.

Our friends Bonnie and Rolly.  We haven't decided yet which guy is "Lewis or Clark"....Rolly or Al? LOL

Our campground...rigs are back left of the blue roofed building.

Second day, Rolly and Bonnie took a tour of Dredge #4 while Al and I panned for gold.  No, we won't be coming back with new rigs, no luck!!

Dredge Number 4...built in 1912, largest wooden hull bucket line dredge in No. America.  These buckets and smaller ones are used for outdoor decorations in different towns, sometimes empty sometimes with flowers, etc.

Attended the early show at Diamond Tooth Gerties, a madam from times gone by.  Great show.  $10 ticket for 3 (different) shows per night.  Decided just to do the early one tonight and tomorrow night the two late ones.

  

6-22-2011 Whitehorse to Dawson City, Yukon, Canada

Sun all the way.  Arrived somewhat late.  Many thanks to Rolly and Bonnie for they are used to leaving in the middle of the night, 5 a.m.LOL, and they have accommodated us with a somewhat later hour and a happy medium for us both :)

 These pictures are of fireweed.  This grows first after a fire, and is simply gorgeous.  These pix do not do it justice.  We saw a lot on the side of the roads, and a few large patches here and there.