FAIRBANKS day 7

Today Hank will catch up on the high points of Fairbanks before we leave at midnight for a 1am flight back.
Went up to the pipeline. As I mentioned, it passes Fairbanks about 8 miles out of town. There is a viewing site and explanation there. Impressive mass of stainless weaving its way through the landscape for its 800 mile trip from Prudhoe Bay to the costal city of Valdez, Fairbanks is about mid point. The structural engineer of this sophisticated achievement was  Dr. James Maple (good jeopardy question Debby).
Then we went to Paws For  Adventure, Hanks dog sled group! Met Hanks dogs; Max (strong dedicated wheel dog!), M&M (one of the leaders, who did not follow the middle of the trail but preferred the precipitious edge--some say to "test" out the musher!). Harriett, Devil (other lead dog) and Beaver and a few changes here and there. Oh, Louise and Sissy, you would have loved their dog lot. Dogs howling and just waiting to be loved!! They were so friendly and sweet. Some laying on top of their  house sunning themselves! The girl who runs it, Leslie Goodwin, does these trips and Dave, her partner goes along and also does the IRON DOG ( Sarah Palin's race). Sad to leave the doggies.
Up to the University of Alaska. Sits up high and where I saw the aurora when Hank was on his trip.
I gave you my impressions of the museum previously. This time I did get to see their gold collection. They say, with pride, it is the largest collection in Alaska--I wonder about that. No, Tara and Debby, MY nugget was not there but I was sporting my one of a kind nugget around my neck that day.
Hank met his mushing partner at the museum. Lady of about 40 from Austria. Her parents died and left her their house. She sold it and decided to travel and have adventures for a few years. The Alaskans said, "who needs a house anyway when you can experience all this". Good, I guess, till you get home!
To the Yukon Quest Headquarters as Hank had not been there. The girl in charge has done the Yukon Quest, I explained this race previously, came in 9 out of 25. She wants to WIN! She is a friend of Leslie Goodwins' of Hanks Paws for Adventure. They had shirts reading "All trails lead to Pleasant Valley..."
Alaska, that is. Had to get one!!
To the Curling Club as Hank wanted to experience it . People were practicing and Hank got to go out on the ice and see all the equipment used in the sport. Will be anxious to see it in the olympics now.
Dinner back at the Thai restaurant. Don't think you come to Alaska for  gourmet tastings so when you find a place you like you go back. Three times to the Thai restaurant--they greet us like friends now!
To the Ice Park where the 160 ice sculptures are. Hank had not been there so we went to see them in the daylite and at nite. I had not been there at nite. Quite a different exhibit with the colored night lights on them. We are both impressed with the fact the "team" gets large blocks of ice and they have a time limit of 5 days to produce what could be compared to a Rodin, in ice. Such artistic beauty.
10 pm--time to get ready to leave Alaska! Got to the airport and heard my name called--it was the sweet lady who cleaned my room at the hotel. Met her son, so polite and well spoken. They were waiting for Dad's plane to come in.
Left Fairbanks at 1:30 AM to Seattle then on to JFK where Henry will pick us up.
Exciting trip. I enjoyed writing the blog. Hope you enjoyed reading it.
Henry will now help me to retrieve my photo's from Nome and Fairbanks. Hope they aren't erased as I can't find them on the computer.