Goodbye to Fairbanks

Tomorrow we hit the road again with Denali as our destination.  We say a fond farewell to Fairbanks.  We have made new friends in the Braniff's, the owners of Gram's Cabins.  Today we also were delighted to meet with David's colleague Cliff (who retired days after David), and had lunch with him, his bride, and the wonderful couple they are traveling with through Alaska.

Fairbanks is a sophisticated little city full of fun things to visit and do.  We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the University of Alaska's Museum of the North and their Large Animal Research Center (which studies Arctic mammals, including musk ox and caribou).

We also visited Creamer's Waterfowl Wildlife Refuge, a wonderful park filled with hiking trails that welcomed Roxanne to walk with us.  When we arrived at the refuge gates, I saw dozens upon dozens of Sand Hill cranes.  These stunning birds are one of two crane species living in the United States.

It was yet another deja vu moment for me.  Like Canada geese, Sand Hill cranes winter near my childhood home.  I remember with great fondness my uncle and I crawling up a sandy incline on our bellies to see birds as Uncle Bill said, "So important that the government protects them."

R-2 is fully serviced.  In fact, the great Nissan dealer here was even able to install a new windshield washer fluid tank.  The sun is shining, and we're ready to get back on the road again.

So adios, Fairbanks.  You have provided information and memories worth keeping.

Fairbanks on Dwellable