This morning we left the campground in North Pole and went about 12 miles to Fairbanks. Our first stop was at the Discovery paddle boat tour to obtain reservations for the tour in the afternoon. Pioneer Park was the next stop but we found that the exhibits would not open until 12pm. So we then went to the Musuem of the North at the University of Alaska.
We spent time in this interesting museum looking at the various exhibits. Leaving the museum we stopped at a local cafe for lunch before we returned to the Discovery paddle boat dock. The paddle boat traveled down the Chen River. A bush pilot demonstrated his float plane taking off and landing in the river.
Then continuing down the river we saw a variety of homes along the way- nice log homes to just plain shacks. A dog sledding establishment of the late Susan Butcher was along the river.
The boat stopped and we were given a demonstration of the dogs as they were harnessed to an ATV and the team pulled it around a lake.
The boat stopped at Chen "village" and we left the boat to tour the "village".
Tour guides were young college girls of native Alaskan descent.
We returned to the boat and then the boat returned to port. A full day but an interesting day.
