Another day in Alaska, this one is a bit rainy, but what the heck. Yesterday the weather was just like you saw on the Riverboat website, beautiful.
Today Colleen jones in joining us as we go to......................, yep, a quilt store. Then it's of to see the Pipeline and other surprises.
From the Breakfast Show
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Fairbanks or Bust!
Another fun-filled day, this time with Colleen Jones, my friend from North Pole.
Colleen arrived at 8am, all aboard the bus & off we went to the Riverboat Discovery. Have a look at www.riverboatdiscovery.com
This family owned & operated business is probably the best ever tourist attraction (as opposed to buildings, or nature) that I have ever seen.
You board discovery and the entire land-based crew stand on the jetty to wave us off. As we cruised the Tanana River we were informed of local history, folklore, sled doss, cultural traditions, log cabin construction, plus, plus, plus.
Our Captain was Wade Binkley, grandson of the founder, Jim Binkley. Grandma was standing on the banks of the river waving - she no longer has to make doughnuts to feed the visitors; then the were neighbours waving from verandahs, all just fabulous. This really was a highlight for us all.
It was even a pleasure to visit that great Alaskan Institution, the Gift shop. It has excellent quality, but very well priced souvenirs. Well done the Binkleys!
Then it was onto Harleys Diner. Colleen & her later husband Randy had just opened this 50's-style diner when Randy died in a motorcycle accident. Randy's dream has been realised by Colleen & her great team. The sandwiches were the size of the cruise liner. Yum.
Then it was off to North Pole to visit the Santa Claus House. Now, in north Pole even the street lights are painted & shaped like candy canes. This entire store is Christmas - actually, that's a teeny, tiny fib - they also stock fake Crucifixion Nails. I kid you not. You can mail order from their website if you can't shop personally. Now I'm not knocking this store. It was fantastic. An incredible selection of every style of Christmas decoration you could possibly imagine. I could only just resist purchasing the 'combat serviceman' decoration.
Then we visited Colleen's house. Yep, she fitted the 42 of us, plus about 8 others into her home for nibbles and show and tell. Wonderful hostess.
Early night tonight.
Till tomorrow,
Lesley & the Tourists
Colleen arrived at 8am, all aboard the bus & off we went to the Riverboat Discovery. Have a look at www.riverboatdiscovery.com
This family owned & operated business is probably the best ever tourist attraction (as opposed to buildings, or nature) that I have ever seen.
You board discovery and the entire land-based crew stand on the jetty to wave us off. As we cruised the Tanana River we were informed of local history, folklore, sled doss, cultural traditions, log cabin construction, plus, plus, plus.
Our Captain was Wade Binkley, grandson of the founder, Jim Binkley. Grandma was standing on the banks of the river waving - she no longer has to make doughnuts to feed the visitors; then the were neighbours waving from verandahs, all just fabulous. This really was a highlight for us all.
It was even a pleasure to visit that great Alaskan Institution, the Gift shop. It has excellent quality, but very well priced souvenirs. Well done the Binkleys!
Then it was onto Harleys Diner. Colleen & her later husband Randy had just opened this 50's-style diner when Randy died in a motorcycle accident. Randy's dream has been realised by Colleen & her great team. The sandwiches were the size of the cruise liner. Yum.
Then it was off to North Pole to visit the Santa Claus House. Now, in north Pole even the street lights are painted & shaped like candy canes. This entire store is Christmas - actually, that's a teeny, tiny fib - they also stock fake Crucifixion Nails. I kid you not. You can mail order from their website if you can't shop personally. Now I'm not knocking this store. It was fantastic. An incredible selection of every style of Christmas decoration you could possibly imagine. I could only just resist purchasing the 'combat serviceman' decoration.
Then we visited Colleen's house. Yep, she fitted the 42 of us, plus about 8 others into her home for nibbles and show and tell. Wonderful hostess.
Early night tonight.
Till tomorrow,
Lesley & the Tourists
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Off the rails!!!!!!!!!!!!
We're here in Fairbanks Alaska. Wow, doesn't that sound fancy?
What else happened this morning? Mmmmmmmm, let me see.
After the Breakfast Fiasco, not to be confused with a Breakfast Fiesta, we headed in many different directions. Some to the shops........ yes, to the shops. I can't keep them away.
12noonish, most of us were on the bus heading to see the Jeff King Husky Homestead. Jeff is the guy that has won the Iditarod Sled Race four times. He came second this year, but just one hour. You may have read about it.
Anyhow, we got to hold cute little husky pups. I had my neck laundered by one of them No accidents though. Then we were educated about the breed, their habits and the mysteries of huskies. These dogs were all lean machines, much like heading eye dogs. Not the fluffy big beasts we tend to imagine. Currently they have 90 dogs, including the pups. All well housed and tethered. They have a food bowl on one side of their house and a water bucket on the other.
Five of the dogs were teamed up with a quad bike and off they went for a training run, this is not a just for show thing, they were heading out on a regular training run. What a racket while all the other dogs pleaded to be able to go too. Soon as the team were out of sight the barking stopped and they all sat or laid down again.
Then we had the opportunity to meet with Jeff King. Much smaller in stature than I had imagined. In my mind he was 6' 4", grizzly bear build. Wrong! He's a regular guy about 5' 8".
What a pleasure to listen to someone so passionate about his way of life and his dogs. The atmosphere of the race start in March is evidently 'electric'. 11 days of 6 hours mushing, 6 hours of dog resting (Jeff gets less than one & half hours rest each time) until they reach Nome.
Can you tell that I really enjoyed this activity. Barney, I have a signed book for you. No starting this one at the last page to see if you like it!
4pm ----- down at the station! The 4 hours trip turned into a 5 hour trip, BUT... (fanfare) we saw several moose. Yes, several. We were beginning o think that they were only on posters and t-shirts. We also saw the odd arctic hare, 2 caribou, several white swans and a sparrow. Oh, and a red setter.
Fairbanks looks like a real city. It has really surprised me.
Tomorrow my friend Colleen is meeting us at 8am and she will be spending two days with us, showing the sights of the area.
Till then, that's it from me and that's it from them!
What else happened this morning? Mmmmmmmm, let me see.
After the Breakfast Fiasco, not to be confused with a Breakfast Fiesta, we headed in many different directions. Some to the shops........ yes, to the shops. I can't keep them away.
12noonish, most of us were on the bus heading to see the Jeff King Husky Homestead. Jeff is the guy that has won the Iditarod Sled Race four times. He came second this year, but just one hour. You may have read about it.
Anyhow, we got to hold cute little husky pups. I had my neck laundered by one of them No accidents though. Then we were educated about the breed, their habits and the mysteries of huskies. These dogs were all lean machines, much like heading eye dogs. Not the fluffy big beasts we tend to imagine. Currently they have 90 dogs, including the pups. All well housed and tethered. They have a food bowl on one side of their house and a water bucket on the other.
Five of the dogs were teamed up with a quad bike and off they went for a training run, this is not a just for show thing, they were heading out on a regular training run. What a racket while all the other dogs pleaded to be able to go too. Soon as the team were out of sight the barking stopped and they all sat or laid down again.
Then we had the opportunity to meet with Jeff King. Much smaller in stature than I had imagined. In my mind he was 6' 4", grizzly bear build. Wrong! He's a regular guy about 5' 8".
What a pleasure to listen to someone so passionate about his way of life and his dogs. The atmosphere of the race start in March is evidently 'electric'. 11 days of 6 hours mushing, 6 hours of dog resting (Jeff gets less than one & half hours rest each time) until they reach Nome.
Can you tell that I really enjoyed this activity. Barney, I have a signed book for you. No starting this one at the last page to see if you like it!
4pm ----- down at the station! The 4 hours trip turned into a 5 hour trip, BUT... (fanfare) we saw several moose. Yes, several. We were beginning o think that they were only on posters and t-shirts. We also saw the odd arctic hare, 2 caribou, several white swans and a sparrow. Oh, and a red setter.
Fairbanks looks like a real city. It has really surprised me.
Tomorrow my friend Colleen is meeting us at 8am and she will be spending two days with us, showing the sights of the area.
Till then, that's it from me and that's it from them!
Denali
Denali - early in the season. Think 'Fawlty Towers', or is that Farty Towels.
If things could go wrong then yesterday & this morning were when it was happening.
Yesterday on the train they ran out of lunch.
Transfer coach from train to accommodation didn't arrive.
Absolute chaos at hotel regarding check-in.
I ended up in a shared broom cupboard with a shared bathroom and the lift well next to me.
Bus to take us to evening entertainment wasn't booked - we got there late.
THIS MORNING................ no breakfast. One & half hours after first of the group turned up for breakfast we finally were allowed in the dinning room.
Still, the sun is shining and as long as the train takes us to Fairbanks AND our bags have arrived ahead of us, we'll be happy.
No aurora. Maybe tonight.
If things could go wrong then yesterday & this morning were when it was happening.
Yesterday on the train they ran out of lunch.
Transfer coach from train to accommodation didn't arrive.
Absolute chaos at hotel regarding check-in.
I ended up in a shared broom cupboard with a shared bathroom and the lift well next to me.
Bus to take us to evening entertainment wasn't booked - we got there late.
THIS MORNING................ no breakfast. One & half hours after first of the group turned up for breakfast we finally were allowed in the dinning room.
Still, the sun is shining and as long as the train takes us to Fairbanks AND our bags have arrived ahead of us, we'll be happy.
No aurora. Maybe tonight.
Northern lights
Just back from the Fanny Show. Lots of fun & kisses (Sorry Barney). Very silly evening.
We'll all probably be up at 1am as they expect that an aurora will be happening. Will let you know.
11.15pm and you could still sit outside and read a book (except it's too cold)
We'll all probably be up at 1am as they expect that an aurora will be happening. Will let you know.
11.15pm and you could still sit outside and read a book (except it's too cold)
Monday, May 19, 2008
Denali National Park
What a great day we have had. Train pulled out at 8.15am - only overnight bags at this time, as the suitcases have gone onto Fairbanks by truck. Maybe they didn't think the train would make it up the mountain passes with ALL those bags.
To start with we wished that we had cards, or something to pass the time
Gotta go, bus is here to take us to Fanny Show & dinner!
To start with we wished that we had cards, or something to pass the time
Gotta go, bus is here to take us to Fanny Show & dinner!
Rail roaded into it!
6am is a cruel time of day.
Up & at it. Down to the station, early in the morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Off to Denali,
Till later,
M & Them
Up & at it. Down to the station, early in the morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Off to Denali,
Till later,
M & Them
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)