Day 9 Fairbanks, Museum of the North, El Dorado Gold Mine, The Pipeline, Aurora Borealis Day 10 Train to Denali, Whitewater Rafting, Politics

First things first, allow me to apologize to my public for keeping them waiting regarding yesterday's activities. 1,000 apologies. I am starting to get quite tired and we are starting to get up earlier and earlier . . .Let me start with the above image. This truck passed us while we waiting on the sidewalk for our rental car. Made me miss my man.

Fairbanks is one of the nicest spots we've seen thus far. Quaint, fairly clean town and we had GREAT weather. Upper 60's. Fairbanks has the highest level of temperature fluctuation in the Western Hemisphere. It can be 90 -100 degrees in the summer and as low as -60 degrees in the winter. Um, I would die of allergy overload. It has a cute town square with a visitor center and plenty of shops.

It is so cold here, that in the winter people leave their car running when they go into the market so their engine's don't seize. Yikes. So cold, in fact, that all of the street meters and plugs where engine block heaters can be plugged in while you are parked. The next pic is the plug sticking out of the front of our rental car.

Our first stop was the University of Alaska's Museum of the North. It is on the U of A, Fairbanks campus and is said to be the best museum in all of Alaska. Obviously I love art, so this was one of the things that was at the top of my list. It was a very contemporary building that had just undergone a 43 million dollar renovation. The design of the building is meant to resemble Alaska's geographical design--how the tectonic plates meet up in this region and so on.
I love ravens and was especially pleased when on the sides of the spiral staircase leading from the ground level to the second floor was a sculptural installation of three raven chicks. They are made from 2.5 and 3-inch nails soldered together and then powder-coated and painted. Very cool.After the Museum, we had a quick lunch and then headed to the El Dorado Gold Mine. The place was run by a woman name Yukon and her husband Dexter. Quite the characters. We took a train ride through the old mining area getting a tour of all of the equipment, etc before being giving a panning demonstration. At the end, we panned for our own gold. I got $10.50 worth and Eliot got $17. Bastard. They gave us each a bag of "dirt" and we sat at a trough like thing with our pans and went to work. Ok, all you people who have been asking for pics of mom and dad. Here they are panning for gold and riding the train. . .

Here is a pic of me holding the biggest nugget they have ever found at the mine. It was heavy as hell and worth, are you ready, $40,000! Whoa.

After finishing up at the mine, we headed back to the hotel. On the way, we stopped at a pipeline viewing area where we got to see The Alaska Pipeline up close and personal. Very interesting. 800 miles long with about 430 miles underground. The oil comes down around 100 degrees, but the pipeline is not hot to the touch because of all of the insulation built into it. Its zig-zag pattern is designed to help the pipeline "move" due to the expansion/contraction from the drastic differences in temperature.

Before going in search of the Aurora Borealis, we had dinner at the streak house behind our hotel. I had the 6oz filet and a brick of au gratin potatoes. Delish.

After dinner we drove to a remote location in the mountains to checks out the Aurora Borealis. There was no Aurora Borealis. Its a teeny bit early in the season to see it and it doesn't usually come around until 1 am and 3 am. Very late. Especially since 1 or 3 means 5 or 7 at home. Eliot and I might try again in Denali.

That catches us up and brings us to today. I am happy to report that Naomi was nowhere to be seen on today's train ride. Thank You, Jesus!

We had a nice ride down to Denali and went immediately onto the white water rafting trip. I've taken a picture of the picture they took of us to post. So, don't expect high quality, but you had to get a sneak peak at these outfits. (Eliot and I took pics on the ride, but with disposable water proof cameras--not digital). They put you in a dry suit which is sort of like something you would expect to wear if you were on Dirty Jobs, or inspecting something on the sun, or cleaning the cc restrooms. This thing was ridiculous. The water was all of 36 degrees, it was windy as hell and about halfway through it started raining on and off. Ugh. We had a great time though. I wish we would have taken the higher class of rapids. Eliot and I were kind of bored. But, all in all, it was fun.

Our mom and Eliot are in the front and our dad and I are in the back. We all look rather elephantine in this pic due to the bulk of the suits. Do you see what I was talking about?!

After rafting, and getting up so early to get on the train, were were exhausted. We ate in the lodge restaurant and then got ready to hit the sack. I had Center Cut Roasted Pork Loin with an Apple-Ginger gastrique, sweet potato mash, and seasonal vegetables. Yum. I guess I am going to have to start cooking again when I get home after eating all this delicious food. 6 months of toast is starting to look little boring.

One thing I forgot. . .check out the retro his and hers t-shits Eliot and I got at the Mine yesterday. . .

Tomorrow we are up early again for a Tundra Tour into Denali Park where we better see some bears. It goes near Mt. McKinley--pray for clear skies so we have a chance to see it. We have to get on the bus at 6:15am. Yikes.

Some business, quickly:

Trix--You're on. Email me. Why didn't you tell me you had a blog?

Mel--I tried to get a covert pic of the kid, but it was difficult and beginning to feel a little "To Catch a Predator"-ish for my comfort level. P.S. Thanks for listening all those random things with no context to make people think I am crazy. (Because nobody did before that.)

ALK--The raft was grey.

Lori--I thought that was how you liked it.

ARS--Don't forget to drop off the Exterra at the airport. Your love-sick craziness is making me doubt that you can make good decisions. If my boys are dead, we are going to have words.

FINALLY, politics. I think I have done an extraordinary job not filling my blog with political rantings. I have only watched about 7 minutes of CNN while on the trip and that was after my mother turned the tv on. I have not been keeping up with my news addictions, namely, CNN, MSNBC, Rachel Maddow. Of course, I looked to see who Obama choose. Let down. I mean, you knew it would be a white, experienced man, but Joe Biden? Then today with McCain. Holy Crap. Obviously Sarah Palin is the Gov. of Alaska, so I have had ample opportunity to interview people here about her. They ADORE her. It is UNREAL. She is like the fascist, 1990s Clinton(Bill) of the north. Total girl next door, reformer, family woman, local, sporty/outdoorsy--SHE SHOOTS ANIMALS. This is going to be a crazy election.

Does anyone else think that wearing open-toed shoes to your coming out party is a little slutty, or is that just me?