While in Fairbanks, we met Roe's friend Tom and Tom's sister-in-law Jean.  Jean and Tom took us on a cruise up the Chena River.  Jean did a running commentary on the river and its residents.  I think she knows everyone who lives on the river and certainly everything about its history!

Float planes are a major transportation system in
Alaska.



 

Alaskan House Boat.
This mobile home mounted on a barge gives new meaning to the term "house boat".

Discovery III sternwheeler cruises the Chena River.
 

Alaskan native fish wheel.  The force of the current turns the wheel, catching fish and depositing them into a waiting net.

Kathleen Carlo, Jean's sister-in-law, with an unusual project for her - refinishing a carved wooden sign.  Ms. Carlo is more at home carving native masks such as those below in display at the Alaska University Museum of the North.
 

Kathleen Carlo, artist at work.




 

Examples of Kathleen Carlo's work on display at the University of Alaska's Museum of the North.  Ms. Carlo's more current works include colorful carved native masks.

Jean Carlo and friend MoMo.  Jean was a most gracious hostess, taking time off from her duties at the University of Alaska to spend a day teaching two visitors to appreciate native Alaskan art.  We regret that we didn't have more time to spend with Jean.



 

Right:  Three generations of the paddleboat Discovery have cruised the Chena River in Fairbanks.

Above and right:  Reindeer at the University of Alaska.
 

Jean Carlo and Woody under totem pole at the Museum of the North.
 

Roe and 6'8" brown bear.


 

Jean and Elana at the Pikes Riverfront Restaurant on the Chena River.
 

Tom, Roe, Jean and Elena after dinner at Pikes.
Tom is an FDIC Examiner in New York.  He was visiting his sister-in-law, Jean, and fishing Alaska waters.

Thank you Jean and Tom for a wonderful Fairbanks experience!

Roe, Tom, Woody and the Harleys.
 

Our most disappointing day:  We departed Fairbanks on Saturday, July 30th.  It was a cold and rainy day, and by far the most uncomfortable day of riding we've experienced on this trip.  The rain continued for the entire 375 miles to Anchorage, making the many long construction zones a quagmire of slick mud.  Because of the rain and fog, we did not get a single picture of the trip by Denali National Park or the 20,320 foot Mt. McKinley.