Day 14 - Alaska - Fairbanks

Up real early to grab breakfast and get on a bus for a long ride to Fairbanks.  The highway is built on permafrost and the undulation of the road changes with the weather.  It was much like being on a roller coaster with plenty of swaying and ups and downs.  

We arrived in Fairbanks and got on a paddlewheel boat for a river cruise and a visit to a re-creation of a typical aboriginal village.  It was a nice break from the bus ride.  After the cruise we boarded the bus for a ride to the airport and a short plane ride to Dawson City.  

A very long day.  

We stopped at a dog training facility where sled dogs are trained.  It was the home of Susan Butcher who raced in the Iditarod 17 times with 15 top 10 finishes and a winner 4 times.  She was the second woman to win the Iditarod and her best time was 11 days, 1 hr, 53 minutes.  

Susan passed away in 2006 and her daughter, seen in red, now runs the operation and gave us a little talk.  

The dogs are pretty high strung and once they start getting hooked up their excitement cannot be contained.  They love to run.  Seen here pulling a quad and then getting a well deserved swim.  

Reindeer, which are the same as Caribou, except the Reindeer are domesticated.

A ceremonial winter coat made out of furs from several different animals.