Feb 25, 2014 - Back to Fairbanks

The drive back to Fairbanks was on very icy roads, but the driver still drove the van at 50 plus mph. Since we were not squished in the back seat of the van, we had much better views of the scenery, including spotting 2 moose. After checking in to the hotel, we caught another ride in an Arctic Cab to the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Prior information told us the museum has a café. It turns out it is only open in the summer and our lunch was junk food from the snack table. The museum had extensive collections...

Feb 24, 2014 - Ice Museum and caribou/reindeer

By now our sleep patterns are totally trashed due to the late Aurora viewing and the subsequent compensating naps. Today it was a very late breakfast followed by some napping. At 1pm we had a guided tour of the Ice Museum. It turns out that Chena Hot Springs has resident ice carvers married to each other who also travel to ice sculpting contests. The Ice Museum is an ice hotel combined with an ice bar and a display hall of this couple's works. It is the only such museum in the world that is refrigerated to protect the building itself and...

Feb 23, 2014 - Dog sled ride, rock pool, and more aurora and wacky sleep patterns

After last night's Aurora adventure, we slept until after 10am. The day's first activity was a dog sled ride. Twelve dogs were chosen from the over 100 Alaskan Huskies to serve as the dog sled team. The dogs not chosen barked loudly until the loaded sled left the loading area. Then they switched to howling, sounding as if they were mourning over not being chosen. Once the loaded sled was out of sight, the dog yard became quiet. Once it was our turn for the 15 minute ride, we were loaded 3 deep into the sled. Off we went at a rapid pace...

Feb 22, 2014 - Chena Hot Springs

The sun rose at 8:24am. The amount of daylight is now increasing by 6 minutes per day. The sun remains low in the southern sky during daylight, however. The transportation van that was to take us the 60 miles to Chena Hot Springs arrived 45 minutes late. We should have taken that as an omen. By the time we were picking up the last passengers, it became evident that we would not all fit into the narrower than human-size seats. After about 45 minutes of calls to Chena and much negotiating about the extra transportation needed, we belatedly...

Feb 21, 2014 - North to Alaska via Seattle and Anchorage to Fairbanks

The heavy winds from the night before continued this morning. As we were nearing DIA, we noticed the huge line of planes waiting to take off. It turns out, the wind was causing a change in traffic patterns. In spite of on-time departure from the gate, we found ourselves in a line of at least 17 planes ahead of us for takeoff. We finally took off over 40 minutes late. We noticed there were still 29 planes queuing up once we were in the air. In spite of the late departure from Denver, the flight into Seattle, then on to Anchorage, and finally...

Feb 7, 2014 - Back in Alaska

Back in Alaska Julie and I are back in Alaska to warm up! Most of the lower 48 has been colder than Alaska so far this winter. I (Bob) have been back for about a month and Julie has been home for two weeks. We have attended to business and celebrated belated Christmas and New Years with family and friends. We have especially enjoyed reconnecting with our grand-dog Sadie and George the cat. Besides seeing everyone we have missed for several months we were treated to a weekend in a cool cabin in Seward, Alaska compliments of daughter Kate and...

Feb 5, 2014 - Getting Close

5 Feb 2014 - Akutan It is very difficult to believe that in 10 days Melody, Charlie and I will be headed south to Nicaragua. Not only will there be a distinct climate change it is also going to be a cultural change. Melody took Charlie to the vets office yesterday and he received his pre-international trip physical. I think it is more difficult to get Charlie his travel papers than it is for us to get a passport. First the trip to the vet, the vet has to fill out paperwork and send it to the Department of Agriculture who gives the offical...

Jan 13, 2014 - It's started!

Akutan, Alaska 11:07 Actually, the trip started in early December when Melody and I were invited to a Project Hope meeting regarding an upcoming trip to Managua, Nicaragua. I have been there in the past which I really enjoyed and have been looking forward to returning. . This years trip, I think, has been designed specifically for Melody and I. For me, because Dr. Melba specifically asked for me to return if possible and the dates of the trip fall into my "off time" from work. For Melody, this trip is perfect. We will be staying at Hope...

Nov 9, 2013 - Akutan

0530 am. Otherwise known as O - Dark-thirty. This morning is relatively pleasant in that there was no rain during the night, it's not misting now and there is only a slight breeze. The plant is almost down to it's "Down Time" operating staff of 150 people with about the same number of construction staff. This is down from the high of 1200 people for most of the processing season. The MV Sea Trader will only make 3-4 more trips between Akutan and Dutch Harbor before it heads south. Transportation between the two islands will then be...

Nov 7, 2013 - Akutan, Alaska - November 2013

7 November 0600 Akutan - the name of the Village of approximately 90 people of Aleut descent and Trident Seafoods Akutan Plant housing 1,200 people now and 1,400 people starting January 2014 and the Island itself. Akutan, located approx 40 miles Northeast of Unalaska/Dutch Harbor is half-way down Alaska's Aleutian Island Chain separating the Bering Sea to the north and the North Pacific to the south. Travel to and from the island is difficult at best. People coming/going to the island must first fly into Dutch Harbor from Anchorage. A...

Oct 23, 2013 - Peddle to the Metal

Where can you find warm temperatures in October in the lower 48? That was what we wondered, and what we were seeking. As we drove off the ferry in Bellingham, WA we knew we had to go south asap. Forget that we really wanted to visit Olympic NP... it was closed. :( So, our goal was to drive down to Zion NP in southern Utah, which was OPEN. Nice temps, nice hikes, nice food. Further south ='s warmer temps... so off to southern AZ and NM. We treated ourselves w/ a hold up for 2 nites at Faywood Hot Springs in the desert of NM. Can you spell...

Oct 14, 2013 - And we're off!

October 14th, 2013 We are heading out once we get the last packing and details done, by then there should be plenty of daylight! Hope to get to the Alaska/Canadian border today then into Canada tomorrow. Will probably be "off the grid" for a spell but hope to check in a few days. There should be plenty of phone and WiFi by the time we get into central Alberta. Gonna be fun!