7-5-2011 Breakdown to Denali

17 miles down the road on our way to Denali Natl Park, our serpentine belt let loose.  Coasted to a stop on a long hill.  Had a new belt with us.  Brian, Bec's hubby, is a great mech, did almost all the work himself.  Soooo glad he was with us!!  Started out, then an engine miss, which we corrected on the second try.  Got to Riley Creek Campground in Denali Park with time enough for dinner and our first jaunt out.

Mt McKinley on our way out.  McKinley's vertical relief is greater than Mt Everest.  It's the highest mtn on the North American continent.  Truly an awesome sight, and we were lucky, as it's only in view 25-30 percent of the time.

Ptarmigan

Mt McKinley

This was the view from a resort high up across from the park.

Saw this moose laying on the side of the road just chillin in the sun.

Denali means "High One", named by the Athabascan native people.

Tomorrow's posting will be the tour of Denali and some wildlife, so stay tuned!

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.