June 28th, 2012: Our last Day in Fairbanks

June 28th, 2012: Our last Day in Fairbanks

Instead of our usual routine of taking it easy before a travel day, we planned a full day before heading to Denali National Park.  Well, maybe not a full day, as the day is twenty one hours long, but still a big day for us. We had to buy some food, fill the truck up with fuel, replace the fuel filter, look at more jewelry, and finally we were going on a half day cruise on the river boat Discovery III.
Our first stop was to get the fuel filter changed. I usually do it myself but decided to splurge and have it done at a quickie lube place. Not only were they quick but the person who waited on us actually opened the door for both of us! Then we stopped for fuel at the Safeway, where we used our store card and paid three dollars and ninety two cents a gallon for diesel, yup 3.92(Most places here are selling diesel for 4.12)!
Then after groceries we went to another jewelry store to look at their art. I must say that Fairbanks has the most local art and some of the best that we have seen anywhere in the country. This store had the finest chrysophrase we have ever seen and exceptional carvings of walrus, mammoth tusk, whalebone, and hand crafted gold nugget jewelry. Its so much fun to see others work and it inspires us to try new things ourselves,(but never copying as thats a no no).

After lunch we headed to the Riverboat Discovery, which is moored on the Chena River. As we neared the landing, we ran into tour busses and I was surprised at the huge crowd of people and the number of busses loading and unloading.
Now this was the first time we used the tour saver book and Renita had made the reservations so she picked up our tickets. We didn't have long to wait before we loaded, and we were able to get seats on the upper deck, where hopefully it wouldn't rain.
Pulling away from the dock the sternwheeler slowly paddled downstream as we watched a float plane take off and land. A little futher we passed a wide variety of homes and then we reached our second stop at the sled dog kennels of Susan Butcher and David Monson.

We were both amazed and entertained by the antics of the dogs and it was pure pleasure to see the dogs pull a four wheeler around a mile plus track. The dogs were so excited to be running that they could barely contain themselves while they were being hooked up to the harness. It was obvious that the dogs love the running as much if not more than their two legged companions.
Further down we watched a person filletting a chum salmon as he discussed the methods used to dry, smoke, and preserve the fish. I was amazed as he told us that a sled dog will eat a salmon a day and that the typically traditional family, an extended family, would dry and preserve around five thousand salmon a year.

The third stop was at the Wedding of the Waters where the Chena meets the larger Tananna. The somewhat clear waters of the Chena mix and swirl into the glacially muddy waters of the Tananna and the speaker told of how the salmon suddenly appear out of the cloudy water.
The final stop was at Chena Village where we were broken into three groups and led around a native village. Here the native guides,(all college students), demonstrated the difference in native life styles before and after the arrival of white civilization.

The furs displayed and the traditional wear was simply amazing. While the thought of dressing with fur may upset some, the use by the native peoples seemed to be both respectful and practical. I even had to rethink my personal averson to whalrus and whale hunting as a traditional way of life.
Churning back upriver the boat served smoked sockeye salmon dip and it worked as I bought a three can container. It made me wish I still had my smoker and made me resovle to figure out how to make one for our full timing lifestyle.
It was a day well spent and something we usually don't do as we , yes I know its hard to believe, spend too much time with our rocks. Fairbanks has been a really pleasant place and a place we hope to return to on another trip up north. Clear skies.