Friday-July 7-Day 17-New Friends in Fairbanks!

Friday morning we left Tok and headed northwest toward Fairbanks. When we got out of town, this towering mountain range came into sight! We were in awe!  As said before, pictures do not tell the whole story because the 3-D effect is absent. So you will have to use your imagination just a bit, or take our word for it! This is the eastern end of the Alaska Range, which stretches  almost the whole way across Alaska from east to west. 

The Tanana River kept us company  all the way to Fairbanks. It is a glacial river, which is muddy gray-brown  in color because of the fine rock flour that washes downstream with the meltwaters. Glacial rivers are constantly shifting from one
 channel to another, forming many braids in a wide rocky bed.
And that is your science lesson for today!😊

Our first stop was at Delta Junction, the end of the Alaska Highway! We didn't actually finish it yet, as we "detoured" north at Whitehorse, to do the Klondike Loop, but we will catch the rest on our way out.

Did you know that there isn't one single mosquito in Alaska?  They are all married and have very large families!😄
And did you know that in Alaska,
 a lot of mosquitoes weigh a pound?  😄
Here our ladies show their disgust with these nasty creatures!

Sometimes we see something that we suddenly realize we want a picture of. But til we reach for the camera and turn it on, all we can do is quickly point and shoot, before it is gone!  This was one such time!  It is the Alaska Pipeline crossing the river, but the shot is not a good one. (Taken through a screen.)

Further on the Tanana actually looked like a river!

Shotgun!

When we arrived in Fairbanks we went straight to the Riverboat Discovery, a 3 hour sternwheeler  trip up the Tanana River.

One of the first things we saw was an Alaskan Bush pilot demonstrating how he takes off and lands on the water. It brought back memories of living in the north in a fly-in community.

Only the Main Deck was handicap accessible, so Steve and I enjoyed the trip from there.  We were served coffee and donuts, as well as salmon on crackers.  It was GOOD! 
(Except Marie wasn't so fond of it 😝 )

We passed quaint little homesteads along the river.

We paused on the river as we came to Susan Butchers Trail Breaker Kennel, where they brought out some of their sled dogs and told us how they train them.  Susan Butcher is no longer living, but she had been an Iditarod Sled Dog Race winner.

There were some caribou grazing along the river.

It is hard to see here, but this is the meeting of the Tanana River, which is a glacial river, and the Chena, which is a fresh water river. We could see a distinct line where the two rivers met, called the wedding of the rivers. 

A demonstration of a fish wheel, which caught salmon.

We got off at a reproduction of a Chena Athabascan Village. The staff were so helpful and considerate!

A Cache, where they stored their pelts.

An early transportable hide teepee.
The first mobile home!

An Athabascan log house with sod roof.

All the gardens we have seen are so lush!
With 20 hours of sunlight, the crops grow very well!

Steve talking to Tisha, the daughter of Susan Butcher who runs the dog kennel.

After the Riverboat tour, we headed north of Fairbanks to spend the night at the home of friends we had not yet met! Judy Martin, from church at NCMF, told us her nephew lives in Fairbanks and that we should look them up! So we did!  When I had called Willow earlier in the day, she invited us for supper!  Judy had already gave her a heads-up that we might be stopping in.  It was a great experience to get away from the touristy things and spend time with true Alaskans! Craig and Willow Felpel have six children , ages 1-10. Craig grew up in Ephrata and met Willow, who grew up in Alaska  when they both served at an Alaskan Bible School. What wonderful Alaskan hospitality they showed us!  We had a great time with their family!

For supper she served us caribou chili. It was delicious!
She also served home made bread, fruit and brownies!
When it was soon time to call it a day, a very heavy rainstorm passed through. But we were snug as a bug in our motorhome!