Fairbanks and our Visit to Pioneer Park

We arrived in Fairbanks and yeahhhh civilization.   Across the street is a Fred Meyer, down the road is a SUPER Walmart and Lowe's and Hair Salon's and just about everything else.  You guys go on and snicker but you know if we're happy YOU are happy!!  

They also have a 44 acre park called Pioneer Park that was created in 1967 as the Centennial Park to commemorate the 100th anniversary of U.S. territorial  status.  This place was great - lots of stuff for the kids and lots of shops for us shoppers plus lots of authentic old buildings that once were in downtown old Fairbanks.  AND there was also a Pioneer Air Museum!!  Go figure!  

                                                 
                                                   Have to check if Harding had a beard!!

                                         Going down the streets with the old buildings on both sides

                                               and EVERY shop should have this out front!!!!

They must build pretty big fires up here to need this!!

                                                              The Pioneer Air Museum

We didn't realize that Will Rogers died here in Alaska in an airplane crash with Wiley Post (the first aviator to fly solo around the world)

  Then we saw the SS Nenana - known as the "Last Lady of the River" - she is the largest stern-wheeler ever built west of the Mississippi and the second largest wooden vessel in existence.

\\

OKKKKK, Will finally set the right time and date on our camera and took this picture.  This is what it's like here at 12:10 A.M. (that's like midnight in my world) Can you see the SUN is maybe going down - To my Sis's and Mom - this is why I talk funny when you call - my body doesn't know what's what!  

                    These are pic's of people going down the Chena River that we watch from our RV site.

               And Sis (Karen) this is the "bird" we see flying around here - they are everywhere!!
                                                           So majestic and beautiful.

Alaska State Line to Fairbanks

OKKKK we made it (I know I know Pat A we get to do it all over again going back!)  But coming into Alaska this way you don't at first see the huge mountains but just the wow factor of how far you can see and then the mountains come.

                                       This is Delta Junction - the end of the Alaskan Highway.

                      And did I mention BUGS here???  As in MOSQUITO'S!!!  They luvvvv Will! lol

                                                     

                                                              OKKKK here's the North Pole!!!

                           This is where all the Santa's letters come since 1952 - SANTA's HOUSE

                                  And this is the largest standing SANTA - standing at 40 feet.

We would have stopped to drop off my Santa wish list but my "older" Sis many years ago told me there was NO SANTA!!

Destruction Bay, Yukon to ALASKA

This is what we saw when we got on the road our last morning in Canada.  I know I've bad mouthed Canada a few, well ok several times-  it is a beautiful country -  they just need better roads and less expensive GAS ($5.50 a gallon) and less expensive WINE ($20.00 for what I pay $10.00).  But "it is what it is"!!

                                    Our first moose that I could get a picture of - they are fast

                          This guy was up on the road then when we got closer he started for the trees.

She advertizes the "best buns in the Yukon"!! So we stopped in to check it out and the cinnamon buns where the biggest and most delicious we've had. 

This is what we were on for about 50 miles then we hit the permafrost for another 75 miles.

                               And this is what your car looks like when you get to the other end.

HAVE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY TO SEE A SIGN!!!