Day 26
Sunday, July 3
Fairbanks, Day 3

Today was another busy day in Fairbanks. We set the alarm for 7:00 and finally crawled out about 7:10 to get ready for another day of tours. The bus came around 9:00 and after drawing cards to determine seating we headed for the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The University of Alaska has 3 campuses, one in Anchorage, one in Juneau, and this one in Fairbanks. The University of Alaska Fairbanks which has 28,000 enrolled specializes in engineering degrees. We went to the U. of A. Museum of the North.  This museum has a large art collection, a huge collection of animals that you would find in Alaska, displays showing about the cultures of Alaskan Indians, mining camps, and early pioneers. There is also an exhibit dealing with energy and the Alaska Pipeline. We also attended a movie about the Aurora Borealis - why it occurs, what makes it appear, when can it be seen etc.

In the area dealing with the animals in Alaska we were greeted by a 8'11' Kodiac Grizzly Bear.
 

He was standing on his back legs looking very fierce. They also had a Mastadon scull with its tusks, a humpback whales skeleton and the many birds and animals you would find in Alaska.

 

It was interesting. Upstairs in the art gallery was an Alaskan outhouse. It was for display only! It might be fine for summer, but I wouldn't want to try in during the winter months.

After a great lunch at the Mayflower Chinese Restaurant we went to the Ice Museum. Every year during late February and March the city of Fairbanks holds an ice sculpturing contest. Ice sculptors from around the world come here at their own expense for the event. They receive free food and lodging if they are accepted to be in the contest. First they hold a small ice event. One sculptor has 2 1/2 days to sculpt a block of ice 4' x 6' x 8' into anything the wants to sculpt. Then teams of 4 have 5 1/2 days to sculpt up to 14 similarly sized blocks into a large sculpture. They design things that are 15-20 feet tall or long. They usually end up with up to 500 sculptures located around the downtown area. Those in the contest and clustered in a large park area and they charge $10 to get in to see them. At the end of March, they move some of the smaller sculptures into the Ice Museum where they are displayed for the next year; the rest are left to melt away. After watching a movie about how they cut the ice blocks, sculpt the ice into various figures, and run the contest and viewing area, we got to see the sculptures they had on display.

 

The rooms where they are displayed are kept at -20 degrees. We had a good time looking at the sculptures and posing behind and beside them.

We arrived back at the RV park around 3:30 for a little rest before our social at 6:30. Tonight we are having a gourmet appetizer potluck social. Everyone is asked to bring an appetizer and their favorite beverage. Since it is raining once again, we are having our social in a meeting room in the hotel next to the RV park. At 8:00, the Alaskan Ambassador to Country Music, Earl Hughes, is going to provide a short concert for us. 
 

He was named the Alaskan Ambassador of Country Music by Governor Sarah Palin. We saw and heard him yesterday when we were at the Eldorado gold mine. Earl and another guy played lots of old country music and recited some Robert Service poetry. It was an excellent way to end our day.

Tomorrow is a free day! Hooray!! Maybe we can sleep in a little. Some in our group are taking an optional flight tour to the Arctic Circle. They leave at 6:00 in the morning and don't return until 1:00 A.M. on Tuesday. To many hours for me!! We will probably sleep late, go to some places in Fairbanks we want to see and then go to Pioneer Park for a 4th of July celebration. Tomorrow night we are having a potluck for those who will be here. I'll report on tomorrow's events later. Til then - Happy Trails!