From The Land Of Haw: May 31, 2010

Monday May 31, 2010

Today is Memorial Day in the US - everyone here in Fairbanks, Alaska was having a great time

We had dinner at the "Big Daddy's" BBQ pit -mmmmm good!

Allan on the bank of the Chena River in Fairbanks

This is a fountain in the park. There are plaques placed in various locations of the park in honour of the early families who made Fairbanks what it is today.

The completed piece of art

Here is an Ice Sculptor at work, we got to watch through the glass window and stay warm

more closed in ice sculptures

Allan - a cold Eskimo

A neat little ice house

It was cold sitting here

I am sitting in an ice house. The temperature was - 22 degrees F

Ice sculptures were in cooler cases for viewing

We went to the Ice Sculpture Museum. I did not now they have an annual world wide ice sculpture contest here every March.

Our bus driver told us about an Irish Pub - having a weakness for Irish Pubs I just had to go and have a beer. So far Alaska White is on the top of my list as a good one.

Little Bank Swallows gathering wet mud to make their homes

Another view of the Chena River

At 3 this afternoon there was not a breath of air in the 80 degree heat
The flags are just hanging straight down

There were lots of young people taking a lazy trip down

the Chena River-what a great day for it

The entrance to the Pioneer Air Museum

There were no kids around so I just had to step in

The Sternwheller Nenana

We visited the Pioneer Park

Today we flew from Vancouver to Seattle, then on to Fairbanks. When we got off the plane in Fairbanks the first thing we noticed was the heat - a smashing 80 degrees F. Who would have thought we would have to come all the way to Alaska to get into our shorts! What a nice change. The second thing that caught us off guard was the smell of forest fires filled the air. I don't think I have ever encountered that smell before - I would have thought it smelled like a burning camp fire - but not! It smells more of burning earth.

A driver shuttled us to our hotel the "Sophie Station" http://www.fountainheadhotels.com/sophie/photoalbum/index.htm and she was saying there are 80 fires burning in the state of Alaska. The air is clouded with smoke causing us to not have a clear view for any great distance.

Our hotel is on the outskirts of Fairbanks but all needed amenities are close - cold beer, munchies, restraunts and bus services. We are looking forward to being on our own tomorrow and doing some exploring.

Allan reading the local news and having a cold beer - it looks like he is eating snacks as well, it is not hard to see he is on vacation.

ALLAN IS DRINKING BEER AT 10.00 A.M. IN SEATTLE - it has to be 5 o'clock somewhere!

This is the little plane that took us from Vancouver to Seattle

Flying out of Vancouver

Farewell to Vancouver until June 11th

Saturday May 29, 2010

We were on our own in Vancouver BC today so we took the city trolley and did a little sightseeing before taking a taxi to our next hotel close to the airport.

Our hotel was just across the corner for this little Irish Pub so we made this our stop for dinner. I had lamb stew and Allan had beef stew - it was really good.