Alaska and Northwest Trip - Day 4

We took a boat trip today and I expected some great scenery.  What I didn't expect were planes taking off and landing, sled dogs and their owners showing us how it's done, a non-cheesy village where you can learn about Alaska's past and more.  This was a great cruise.  It wasn't like so many overdone "pioneer" villages you'll see around the country.

After the cruise, we took a Hummer tour around the outskirts of Fairbanks.  This is worth the money as the driver is very friendly and knowledgeable.  He took us to a lot of places that are not typical tourist stops.

One other tidbit of info.  If you do a Holland America tour, and you stay in the Westmark Hotel in Fairbanks, call ahead by a few days and request a room in the North Tower.  Big difference in quality.

View of the hills around Fairbanks.

Sometimes the break between birch and spruce is very clear and distinctive.

The forest floor looks like someone spread yellow rose petals all over the ground

Full moon over the changing leaves

The Alaskan Pipeline that has not been shined up for the tourists

Birch trees and piles of tailings left over from gold mining.  Every where you look there is gravel and large rocks that are the remains of dredge mining from the past

More fall foliage.

The Moon between the trees

Birch bark canoe

Salmon drying in the smokehouse

Wolf pelt head

Lead dog from 4 time Iditarod winning team.  He likes me!

Is there such a thing as too much fall foliage?

Alaskan Pipeline section - shined up for the tourists and surrounded by all kinds of touristy displays

The answer is no, there is never too much.

Water running down the sluice to separate gold from the dirt.  I found $39 worth!

Birch trees are everywhere!

Stern wheeler Discovery III.  Took this on a river tour.

They had this plane take off and land right in front of (and over) the boat!

Birch trees on the riverbank!

I meant it about too much foliage.

Puppies destined for dog-sledding.  From Susan Butcher's family.

Sled dogs getting ready to train.

This one's thirsty after a short, but fast, run.

Really, not too much!

Caribou in the wild (actually, I cropped the picture so you can't see the fence.)  That means they're reindeer, not caribou.