Fairbanks ( July 11, 12, 13)

Fairbanks has been unseasonably hot! -- in the 80's these three days. the first day we drove around hitting the Visitor Center, Large Animal Research Center, and the Ice museum, which proved more interesting then we had anticipated. Day 2 we went with Larry and Linda to the " North Pole to visit Santa. On the way we stopped to see the Alaskan Pipeline and Gold Dredge #8 which was closed. Took pictures of both. Misty was disappointed that Santa was on vacation when we stopped in his town. In the afternoon we took a short boat ride up the Chena River and visited a Chena Indian Village, Watched an exibition of Susan Butchers sled dogs and learned how the native Alaskans prepared their Salmon in the fish camp. On Monday we took the Eldorado Train into a permafrost mining tunnel and listen to the history of how mining was. At the end of the ride we all had a chance to try our hand at gold panning. John and I managed to get a whopping $17. but it was fun! In the evenings, we all sit in the campground and watch the people floating, paddeling, motoring or jet sking down th river. Since the sun is till up at 10pm. this activity can continue long after I am ready for bed.