Tuesday morning, it was very cloudy and rainy so we went to the base commissary and stocked up on groceries, Nita did the laundry and just concentrated on domestic chores and we talked about what we might like to see in the area.
Wednesday, we drove to Hot Springs, which is about 50 miles from Fairbanks, to enjoy the bubbling hot sulpheric mineral water that comes up through the ground at a temperature of around 150 degrees. Of course, they have to cool it down before letting us get into it. The hot spots were around 120 degrees and was tolerable.We even sat in the spa pool while we cooled off even though the temp out was around 70 degrees.
The hot springs area has a lodge (who would guess?) with several other activities available to include an aircraft ride around the mountains. The hot spring was discovered over 100 years ago by two men who had heard about steam rising from the river. They trudged the fifty miles up the river from Fairbanks to find it. The lodge has been there almost as long. Everything is structured by hardwood logs with cement/plaster inserted between the logs just like it was done in the earlier days
.The spring was quite large with warmer water in different areas and was so enjoyable we stayed in the water for about an hour and went back for seconds. There wasn't a strong sulpheric odor like some I have been in and like the one in Laird River.
The restaurant was classically built with the same type logs and the decor was really fitting. Animal hides (bear, fox) were mounted on the ceiling along with a bison head and a reindeer heads on
the walls. Some of the furniture was just beautiful. The menu gave the history of the springs and the area,
They had engineered the spring water to provide heating for the buildings and especially the green houses. They grew most of the vegetables needed by the restaurant.
Nita ordered a fresh salmon burger with a side salad and I ordered Clam Chowder. I unknowingly ordered a Large bowl so we could share it.The bowl was huge!It was delicious and it took both of us to eat it.
"Large" Bowl of Clam Chowder
Enjoying a Delicious Samon Burger
Beautiful Table
Antique Model "T" Ford?
Moose and Caribou Antlers
Today, Thursday, we decided to go visit The North Pole, (the town of course) and spent a good bit of time browsing through Santa's Christmas store. I must say it was really stocked with all the Alaskan curios and items made by Alaskans. Most of them were handmade as there are no factories in Alaska. Alaska's economy is primarily oil, fishing and tourism. I try hard to NOT to buy anything not made in America.
We had the opportunity to have a conversation with Santa (of course) and told him what we wanted for Christmas. Naturally, he laughed, but we did have a good conversation. He has visited Mobile and Pensacola and could remember more about Mobile than I can (but not Nita). When he said he knew Mobile well, I said "Well, of course you do, you're Santa, you've been everywhere"! I told him about my wonderful grand and great-grand children and asked him to be especially good to them this year.
Outside, there was a pen with Reindeer in it so we got a couple photos and we plan to return and see the newly born Reindeer. We couldn't find the right building. I didn't know that reindeer drop their antlers every fall and grow new ones in the spring. See, even us old folk learns something new all the time.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Hope you like our blog, please leave a comment.