So the weather here in Fairbanks for the past few days has reminded me of winter in Sarasota, FL. Sunny every day, temps in the upper 70s and lower 80s. In the morning, after the Midnight Sun Game, we had to get up and take Jordy for a groomer appointment at 10 AM. Not very good planning. After we dropped him off, we went by the Visitor’s Center here to collect info on some local things to see over the next two days we have left. We also had to find a bike shop to get a new front tire for Ellyn’s bike.
In the afternoon we went to Pioneer Park, which is a recreation of a pioneer town with some old buildings moved from other places, a train that runs around the perimeter, and they hold a big salmon bake. All you can eat salmon, haddock, steak, crab legs, salad, desserts. Kind of pricy but worth it. After dinner, they had a show in their Palace Theater. We had a good time and there was still quite a bit of light left when we came out at 
9:30. It can be exhausting here because you feel like you are wasting usable time when you go to bed and the sun is still up.
The next morning Geoff installed the repaired mud flap on the RV and the new tire on Ellyn’s bike. Then we went out for lunch and then to the Museum of the North on the University of Alaska campus. Very nice displays of the local history, some items about Beringia (which we learned about in White Horse, YT), some Alaskan art exhibits, all in a very modern looking building.
We had a plan to go kayaking on the Chena River that afternoon but clouds started building up in an ominous way and it looked like we might get a storm. However, it blew over with just a light sprinkling. We could still have a chance for our kayaking adventure on Sunday.
On Sunday was the conclusion of the Midnight Sun Festival around Fairbanks with a downtown party. There was music and food and vendors, your typical street fair, and it ran from noon to, guess when…right…midnight. They also had a canoe race on the Chena River, which was supposed to involve two people in a canoe with one or more dogs. Kind of a warm weather dog sled race, which usually also occurs on the river when it is frozen over.
We finally got out on the water of the Chena River in our kayaks. Even Jordy took to the water. We put in about 3.2 miles upstream of the RV park and our friend, Ken, drove the car back. Then we pulled out right at the park. It was a nice paddle, although we had a bit of a head wind in a few places. The Chens River winds back and forth many times as it winds its way through Fairbanks.
Tomorrow morning we get back on the road heading south toward Copper Country.
