Panning for Gold

Jeff panning for gold
Today we started the day by touring a Gold Mine. We boarded a small train that took us into a permafrost tunnel where they started removing rock to begin the gold mining process. After seeing the major steps involved of the early mining operations we were all given the opportunity to pan for gold. Unfortunately, Jeff and I did not hit the mother load but we did find a whopping $16.00 in gold flake that I put into a small locket. Fun keepsake of our trip. Afterwards we went to a gold dredging operation for a tour and a gold miner's lunch (beef stew and biscuits.


Another stop along our route today was stopping at a park to see the Alaskan Pipeline. It was really interesting seeing this after everything we've read/seen about it all these years. Especially when I know we have people in our company working in the North Slope of Alaska.
Dawn holding up the Alaskan Pipeline


Steamboat Discovery III
The final tour of our trip was aboard the Steamboat Discovery. We rode up and down the Chena and Tanana River. Along our route we got to see a dog sledding demonstration by David Monson, Susan Butcher's husband (she was the American sled-dog racer and four-time winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race but passed away of leukemia in 2006). In addition, the steamboat stopped at Old Chena Indian Village where we were treated to Indian life demonstrations. It was a great way to conclude our trip.

David Monson being pulled by the dogs on an ATV
We are both exhausted and ready to go home. This vacation has been great but it is hard tough being a tourist all the time. Our flight leaves tomorrow evening while most of you are in bed and we will be arriving into Detroit at 5:30 a.m. if all goes well.

Farewell to Alaska (finally saw a moose)
Hope that you've all enjoyed the diary of our trip. It has been a lot of fun sharing with all of you virtually.