NOTES:

At Chena Hot Springs Resort this was of particular interest to me. Subject: recycling at Chena--Plastics converted back into petroleum!!
Plastics are widely used in everyday living. On the other hand, once these plastics become garbage, they also become serious pollutants. They are not biodegradable, and are NEVER naturalized into mother earth. If these plastics are burned, dioxin chemicals or noxious fumes will be given off. If 1 lb of plastics is burned, 3 lbs of CO2 will be given off, which accelerates Global Warming, no matter what "Washington" says!!! At Chena; glass, aluminum, paper and plastics are separated. A dumpster is assigned for each recyclable. Glass and aluminum are recycled. Paper and cardboards are processed with woodchips to create Biomass Fuels.
Plastics are originally made out of petroleum, and can be converted back into petroleum with a simple process.At Chena, plastics are used as a renewable resource, which helps get rid of garbage, as well as, reduce CO2 emissions.
In the machine process, plastics are gradually melted and liquefied. At around 800 degrees, liquefied plastics are gasified. They are then cooled with water (tap water) and condensed into petroleum.
Approx 1 gallon of petroleum can be produced from 8 lbs of plastic materials.
The converted petroleum is "Mixture Oil" which is used for external combustion such as space heaters, boilers, incinerators and is also used in the making of other heating fuels.
Mixture Oil can be refined into gasoline, kerosene, diesel and heavy oil for internal combustion engines such as autos, heavy equipment, generators and so on.
THIS is a precious OIL FIELD for the Future!!
I find this very interesting and wonder why this is not more widely done.

18th day ANCHORAGE/NYC

Coming back to buy this beautiful bracelet

Bringing Mr. Tax Man with me to make sure I have enuf $ for the bracelet

Bye Bye We'll be back!!

Oh, how I detest this early rising. Flight at 6am! Who arranged that, oh, that was me!!
Delta to Minneapolis--warm there, no snow. There was snow when we left a few weeks ago.
On to JFK. Back home to very warm weather. Great trip. Nice memories. Good pictures, we hope.

OK now I will try to get some pictures on this with Tara's help and perhaps Henrys'.
Just to let you know Debby--paved the way for your trip to Alaska!!! Now you have to go!

15th day CHENA HOT SPRINGS

AURORA from top of mountain at Chena

AURORA

AURORA from outside our room at Chena

Tired from the late hour last nite. Up for brunch. Then on a geothermal tour. This is a self-sustaining community leading the world in low-temperature geothermal power. The heating systems at Chena are run by geothermal energy. Chena Hot Springs began with a small test greenhouse in 2004 to explore the challenges of year-round greenhouse production in the extreme Alaska conditions. Today, utilizing the geothermal water, they heat a 7,060 sq ft greenhouse maintaining a 75 degree indoor temp, even when it drops below -50. A 125 degree difference. The Chena power produces fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and herbs year-round for use in their restaurant. We had salad every day!! They are currently working on producing
a large quantity of Alaska Grown "Chena Fresh" lettuce to sell to the public this summer. The "growing houses" use hydroponic technology. They had varieties of each herb. The one I found interesting was the Christmas basil. Wonderfully fragrant. Will have to check up on this one.
Engineers from all over the world come to study the latest technology here.
In 1905, Robert Swan was looking for a place where he could ease his rheumatism. He went in search of the hot springs that the US Geological Survey team, a year before, thought might exist in the upper Chena River area. The time to travel from Fairbanks to the Chena area was about 20 hours by dog team so the development of a bathhouse or resort was a slow process. Word spread of the hot springs and James Wickersham (I lived in Wickersham Hall when I went to the Univ of Alaska), Alaska's delegate to Congress, asked the Dept of Agriculture to analyze the waters. They concluded that the water was "different from any American hot springs which they had examined". The waters consisted of sulfate, chloride and bicarbonate of sodium. Similar to the waters of the Felsenquelle, a famous spring at Carlsbad in Bohemia. The waters bring people from all over the world to bathe in the curative powers of these hot waters. We did partake in those waters. Very hot but wonderfully soothing. The pools were outside and at -25 degree outside temp we soaked for some time!!
After dinner we put on our winter gear and went back up the mountain in the snowcat to view, hopefuly, the aurora again. The cost for this snowcat trip was $75 per person EACH TIME. I do think that was much too pricey. This time felt a little warmer or are we just getting used to the cold temps?
We did see bands of the green aurora but not like the nite before. It still was exciting and again, magical. This time we were earlier back down 2am!! Then to bed.

14th day Alaska trip Fairbanks to CHENA HOT SPRINGS RESORT

Dean Corkins this is for you!! 

The Mushing Group Hank went with last year for 6 days--with his own dog team!!

They even have Pleasant Valley in Alaska

In the yurt at Paws for Adventure- Hank taking to his leader from last year.

Made it to Chena Hot Springs

Drove north last nite to look for the aurora and saw faint colors--green--nothing more. Watched until 2am.
Monday and the shops and restaurants are all OPEN!! Went to the Yukon Quest Headquarters across the street from the hotel. Met Abbie West --from Pleasant Valley ALASKA last year. She is a musher and ran the Quest this year--finished but not in the top ten. The Quest is different from the Iditarod. They start from Fairbanks and go to Dawson City--a cold route and difficult--shorter than the Iditarod. There are approx 25 teams that race as opposed to 66 in the Iditarod. They think of it as a more "home town" race than the Iditarod with all the media and hoopla. Many of the mushers from the Iditarod run the Quest as well. This year Dallas Seavey won and will go on to win the Iditarod this year. He is young, in his 20's and has lots of stamina. He is known to pull out all the stops at the end and run faster than the pack.
We then went to the Tai House, closed when we got here. Its a favorite--they boast the furthest north Tai restaurant in the country. Then back to the Ice Sculptures for a day time visit. Still so cold!!! Saw the fellow that cuts the ice blocks, some job. Don't know if I mentioned they have 6 days to complete their work. When you see the pictures (patience) you wonder how they could do this in such a short time.
Then out on the road to Chena Hot Springs where we will be for 3 days. On the way we stopped at Paws for Adventure to see Leslie. Hank went with them, last year, mushing with his own team for 6 days.
Then on to Chena. One road, ok now that its plowed. Last week I believe it wasn't passable. Saw moose along the way. What a beautiful drive. Went thru Pleasant Valley,AK and stopped at the general store!! Then on to Angel Lodge where the Leslie will stop tomorrow with her mushing group.
Through Two Rivers where many of the Iditarod mushers are from and into Chena Hot Springs. It was bustling with people energy, mostly Japanese. There are so many Japanese that visit here, as I said before, the believe the aurora is linked with fertility--I'm safe here!! Most of the signs, menu's and instructions given in Japanese, oh well. Booked a trip up the mountain tonight to watch for the aurora. THAT and the hot springs are the main draw here. Nice room, close to everything and big window overlooking the facility. Went to dinner here, no choice, only restaurant. Good but not great. Wonderful setting in the restaurant. Burrel and also marble tables, lots of Alaska animals, sleds, memorabelia etc. Very cozy.
THEN ,bundled up, we got in the snowcat with 10 others and went for a half hours BUMPY (like being on a roller coaster for 1/2 an hour WITH BUMPS!!) ride. Went up the mountain to a propane heated yurt. We went outside to watch for the aurora and what a show we saw. We saw the "curtins", the dancing, such movement, all in brillant green--no red tonight (unusual to see that color). It was really magical but incredibly COLD!! Great to have the yurt to escape to with hot noodle soup, hot chocolate and coffee. We watched, took pictures and all oooed and aaahed until 3am!!
Back down the bumpy cat ride and to bed!! Great nite.

13th day Alaska trip FAIRBANKS

Ice Sculpture

Fairbanks Ice Art Sculpture Contest/Exhibit

Hank behind one of the ice squares they use for the sculptures

Squirrels in ice

Ice Owl

Moose in ice--one of my favorites

Took the hotel shuttle to the airport to pick up our rental car. Nice one with all the bells and whistles--heated seats and skylite with all wheel drive. This was with Budget rental. Much more expensive to rent here than even Anchorage. Demand, I guess. To lunch at The Diner (didn't think they had any here). This was the ONLY restaurant open--ITS SUNDAY---DON'T COME TO FAIRBANKS ON SUNDAY!!
There is NOTHING open. Went back to the hotel as Hank is quite tired and no need to push on.
He rested and then we went to the Ice Sculpture Competition, one reason we came here.
I can't tell you how COLD it is here. Yikes! We had so many clothes on, difficult to move but we needed them.
They have a small "train" that takes people around the park--good for an overview of the sculptures.
The blocks of ice are from the river close by here. Artists, many Culinary chefs, sculpt these beauties. The artists are from all over the world. I took pictures so  I can share them with you. They have approx. 100 works. Many works are also for the kids--slides, ice tea cups to spin around in, animals to sit on etc. Many many kids and they all have smiles on their faces. Good fun and good to break up the duldrums of a tough winter. Thank goodness the had a warm up hall--packed!!!
We stayed till closing, 11pm. Then out to look for the aurora. It has been snowing lightly all day but I think we still may see something. I'll report on that tomorrow.

NOTE about photos

I think because its the 13th this is happening!!@#  Got some pics on but can't seems to put them under the appropriate days and also can't write captions beside them. Will check with my cracker jack I team--Tara and Henry!!! This is not easy for a 68 year old!!!!