Chasing our Dreams: AUGUST 6, 2012----FAIRBANKS, ALASKA

Today is day 2 in Fairbanks, Alaska. The bus picked us up at 8:30 and we headed out for a tour of 3 museums. Our first stop was at the University of Alaska Museum. This museum like all the others we have visited was great. We got to watch a movie on the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). Hopefully the skies will get dark enough before we leave Alaska that we will be able to view them for ourselves.

Our next stop was the Morris Thompson Cultural Center. There were beautiful gardens at this museum. Inside was an assortment of artifacts from Alaska and its natives. Outside was an arch made of moose antlers.

ARCH MADE OUT OF MOOSE ANTLERS

Lunch was on our own. Most of us gathered at the same restaurant to enjoy each others company. We then proceeded to our last museum the Ice Museum. In this museum we started with a short movie depicting the carving festival held here in February. The carvings are amazing. After the movie the lights went on to show us the exhibits all around the perimeter of the theater of ice sculptings. We were allowed to enter a room at the front and take pictures and touch some of the sculptures. You may notice two eskimos in there that you know.

Back to the motorhome for 1 hr for a short travel briefing and back on the bus to the all you can eat Salmon Bake and Show. This was a fun night. Food was very good and the show was excellent. It is always good to have a great laugh. It is lots of fun going to the shows with the group.

We are having an awesome time. Tomorrow is a free day.

AUGUST 7, 2012---FAIRBANKS
After two busy days of sightseeing in Fairbanks, our first free day turned out to be a rainy one. Some did laundry, some went shopping and some went on a trip to the Arctic Circle. A few hardy souls accompanied Jim and Helen on their Fairbanks Historical Volksmarch.

It was a 10km (6.2 miles) walk through downtown, past historic buildings and along the Chena River. The Rotary Club has done a lot to commemorate the early families and beauty of the riverbank area.

(from left to right) Robbie, Ivy, Helen, Rita

(back row) George, Jim, Arnie, Jesse (Heading out for our walk)

We had a great day despite the rain and topped it off with hot soup and sandwiches at Soapy Smiths Restaurant.

AUGUST 8, 2012---LAST FREE DAY IN FAIRBANKS, AK

Today was our last day in Fairbanks. It is also a free day. We got a slow start this morning as many of us waited to have our coaches serviced with oil changes to begin the last half of our 60 day caravan. It started out a bit misty but by noon the sun was shining.

A few of us headed over to the North Pole to the Santa Claus House. It was a nice gift shop. Santa was there and we got to take a picture with him.

(left to right) DAN, NANCY, JOAN, SANTA, RITA & JESSE

NORTH POLE, SANTAS CHRISTMAS HOUSE

We then had a quick lunch and off to do errands.

Today was Jerry & Linda Spicers 47^th wedding anniversary. They prepared a fantastic meal for all of us. Linda thought we should just take turns telling the group what our most memorable day was since we met in Great Falls. Everyone agrees that first on our list was the friendships we have made and it was very hard to really choose which part of the trip was our favorite. Each day is more exciting than the last. After we all shared our thoughts, Spence, our wagonmaster, told us we were only half way through and the best is yet to come. We can hardly wait.

The Group doing what we do best (getting ready to eat)