Monday was the official start of our Holland America trip. We transferred without incident to Fairbanks and met up with our friends for lunch. After lunch we took the Airlink Shuttle Service to the University of Alaska Fairbnks’ Museum of the North. Amazing and informative exhibits of Alaska’s history, native cultures and wildlife. We got back to the hotel about 6PM, but still fighting jet lag we had an early quiet evening.

The weather has been amazing so far and we have enjoyed sunshine and blue blue skies yet again. Our two main excursions were the Steamboat River cruise and then heading up to Gold Dredge 8 to view part of the Alaskan pipeline and try our hand at panning for a little gold.

Both tours were family run businesses with so many nice informative touches. I really enjoyed the stroll around the Athabascan native village where we viewed some of the amazing beautiful parkas and clothing that allows them to adapt to the harsh winter conditions. But the place and story that really pulled at my heart strings was of Susan Butcher and her champion Iditarod dogs and her lead dog Granite. Her love for her dogs, particularly Granite, who was the runt of the litter, but with her love and attention realized his full potential and led 4 champion teams. The steamboat went by Traibreaker Kennels where today her family continues the tradition of training the  dogs (Susan died of leukemia in 2006).

There were constant stories, from bus drivers, tour guides, guitar players on the train ride to Gold Dredge 8. Free little snacks and a miners stew lunch. We did learn how to pan for gold and ended up with $21. that was mounted onto a little magnet. 

But most special of all is the friendliness of the people. They love their adopted land and the harshness of the climate only brings the closer together. EVERYBODY had a friendly wave for you. As we traveled the length of the Chena River on the steamboat so many of the people who lived along the River came out to wave at us as we passed their homes – all ages from grandparents to 2 year olds. And then again, as we left the gold dredge, all the employees came out to wave and send us on our way. Such an amazing land and wonderful people.