Riverboat Discovery, Fairbanks, Ak., July 3

Hi everyone,  We woke up to rain and cool temps.  We had a reservation for the Riverboat but decided if it would rain we wouldn't go.  But it did stop somewhat, drizzly yet, but since we were cooped in, we said we had better go.  And are we glad we did!  What an adventure!  The Chena River was nothing much to look at and we were wondering about the cruise.  The first surprise was a seaplane that took off right next to the boat.   The narrator on the boat was wonderful!  He explained everything about the people who lived there and the river itself.  The Riverboat was started by the Binkley family and it is still going on for 5 generations. He explained about how Alaskans survive in a place where temperatures range from 95F. to -65F:  We met Susan Butcher's husband who showed us his sled dogs and gave us a demonstration of them running.  They are champion sled dogs.  In case you didn't know, Susan Butcher was an internationally acclaimed athlete, four time winner of the 1,100 mile Iditarod Race.  You will see her husband and I together signing his book that Susan and her husband, David Douglas wrote together before she died of leukemia. We were able to take a personalized tour of the Chena Indian Village with informative talks on their lives and how they survived.  It was a great afternoon.  That was the highlight of our stay in Fairbanks.  See you in Denali Nat'l Park tomorrow.