Fairbanks

A slow start as we didn't have far to go today, and when we did get underway it was raining steadily, so the view was pretty average.

Drove to our most northerly stop on the trip - Fairbanks, arriving for a late lunch. Spent a bit of time trying without success to replace our USB adapter which we'd blown trying to boil a kettle through it (hmmm), criss crossing the town from one suggested shop to another, and then settled for a lunch of hamburgers after we gave up.

After checking in to our rambling inn and fighting over the 4 poster king bed (the competitive one in the family won), we headed back into the centre of downtown to the Cultural and Visitors Centre. When we arrived, one of a number of Athabascan dance groups was in the middle of a performance, so we took a seat and enjoyed the show. Made up of mainly later teenagers and early twenties they explained each song and the accompanying actions before doing them. At the end of the set, a couple of fiddlers came out and they did dances which were kind of a mix of celtic steps and line dance moves. Enjoyed the other exhibits in the cultural centre which was very comprehensive, though we were starting to revisit story themes from the gold rush and Mt McKinley areas that we have already heard, and had got to know.

The rain had eased off so we headed outside and walked along the river to the centre of town, passing an arch made up of moose and caribou antlers, each one inscribed with the name of the person who caught them, and the Lend Lease monument that remembers the place of Alaska in supplying arms and equipment to Russia through the Lend Lease program towards the end of the second world war.

Spent some time in the Golden Heart Plaza which had a lot of good explanations of the people and history of Fairbanks over the years, before heading back to the car, and driving down to Pioneer Park, which is the Alaskan historical theme park - kind of like a Sovereign Hill, except free.

A lovely place, and open in the evenings during Summer. Lots of attractions, buildings, boats, entertainers and food outlets, which would be great on a fine night. Unfortunately the rain had started again, so there weren't many people there, and it kind of had a deserted feel. Walked around for a while, then had souvlaki and crepes for tea. Back to the inn for the girls to get some washing done, and for Brendan to watch some Australian football. Some things never change.