Let’s go back a day to 10 p.m. Monday when everyone should be asleep. That’s when Madeline Schaaf walked by our river’s edge site, where we were enjoying the late evening sunshine in our recliners, and handed the “Travel Journal” binder to Monique. Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Seems all the other end-of-the-alphabet folks had disappeared.
For Monique and me the day started out with our cups of latte, and once we were awake, we took care of our routine online chores. After that things got exciting. We went to Jiffy Lube for an oil change and then satisfied one of my priorities while here. Our GPS took us close enough to North Star Golf Club, the U.S.’s northernmost club, where we looked at hats but bought a shirt. I got my “Southernmost “cap in Key West at the beginning of this trip, and having only one head, I realized I couldn’t wear both the “southernmost” and the “northernmost” caps at the same time.
Monique watched as I hit a bucket of golf balls, and for her patience, she was treated to a gourmet lunch at Fairbank’s finest, Subway.
Having heard many good things about Pioneer Park, we headed that way. It is a delight, with numerous interesting gold-rush days cabins converted into shops, and a museum that we wish we could have spent more time in, plus many other attractions. In addition to the things to see and do there, we also enjoyed talking with fun, interesting shopkeepers.
Clockwise from Top Left: An invitation to “chill;” a Steamshovel that helped dig the Panama Canal, worked in Hawaii and then in Alaska; A Fetish on sale in the museum; and Fairbank’s first artifact, the Wheel from the ill-fated Lavelle Young.
The dioramas on the lower deck of the Nenana steamship were Monique’s favorite. Intricate displays depict the turn-of-the-century villages in the Alaska interior, both native, forts and mining. I was most taken with the unique high quality artwork and crafts in the shops. We decided against going into the store that would allow us -- for $8 each -- to experience -40o temperatures. Since our bus driver described that as like getting hit with a baseball bat, we didn’t see the point.
We met Karen several times while roaming the grounds, the only caravan member we saw today … although we did see Marvin and Dee’s car parked at Fred Meyer’s. Chances of finding anyone in that place is remote so we headed home. Oh, thanks to our GPS, we were given a tour of the City of Fairbanks while trying to find the supermarket.
And now for the big finish. Ken and Carole had invited the entertainers from the Bonanza Gold Mine train to play for us in the RV park. It was a real treat. Earl Hughes led the ensemble on banjo and guitar, accompanied first by bass guitarist Fred Wire. In an impromptu gesture, they invited their friend and talented fiddle player Belle Mickelson to join in. Together they regaled us with mostly country favorites.
Not long after they started, our own Jeff Totten tuned up his banjo and joined in the music-making, and then Beverly Miller mentioned that her husband Ira is a skilled bass guitar player. Fred got up and handed his base to Ira, who caressed the instrument as he strummed it like a long-lost friend. The entire performance was a highlight of our trip, and our thanks go out to our Wagonmasters for this unplanned event.
No comments:
Post a Comment