Sunday, August 19, 2012

Denali National Park to Fairbanks, Alaska - August 19


Today was sort of a down day.  We didn’t even take any photos to send out.  After yesterday’s all day experience, we slept in this morning in our cold little cabin.  We had such good weather yesterday with clear (very unusual) views of Mount McKinley but by late afternoon the clouds were moving in and a few sprinkles were forming on the windshield.  It didn’t rain hard overnight but it did rain some and temperatures were in the upper 30s by morning.  We slept good and long.

So we had a late start and, after a big breakfast of sourdough pancakes, eggs, bacon and potatoes, we were on our way further north on highway 3, also known as the George Parks Highway, to Fairbanks.  We were too early to check into our hotel so we drove around Fairbanks which isn’t a very big city but it is clean.  We saw the new, modern University of Alaska and the downtown area which is pretty much closed up on a Sunday.  One exception was the new Morris Thompson Cultural Center which we stopped to see.  It has a visitor’s welcome center and several well-done exhibits on the Athabascan Indians of Interior Alaska.  Signs inform us that we have crossed into “The Interior”. 

Some facts and figures – Fairbanks population is only 30,500.  I believe that’s smaller than San Marcos, Texas.  Their shortest day of possible sunshine is December 21 with only 3 hours, 42 minutes of sun (if it shines).  Their longest day is June 21 when they can possibly have 21 hours, 29 minutes of daylight.

We finally checked into our hotel and did a big pile of laundry.  Tomorrow we go even further north.

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