Day 2

Took paddlewheel boat on Chena river. Weather is gorgeous...80 degrees and no humidity. Visited Indian/Eskimo village and got great insight into the Alaskan culture. Panned for gold at Gold Dredge 8. Saw the Alaska Pipeline. Dinner tonight at Pike's Landing, up early tomorrow for train to Denali.

Day 1

Robert got us to the airport. After slight delay due to lightning we took off and made all our connections arriving in Fairbanks exhausted at about 1 am and guess what... It was daylight! The sun is up 22 hours a day here!
After a good nights sleep, ate a big breakfast (reindeer sausage & eggs) and spent the day in downtown Fairbanks. Tom & Karen arrived around 5 pm and enjoyed drinks and dinner on the deck of the lodge overlooking the Chena River.

Here we go....

We will be going on a dream trip to Alaska with friends Boots and Debra Sloop, Eddie Campbell, and my brother Tom Page and his wife Karen.  We are scheduled to depart from Asheville on Friday, June 22 at 4:27 pm and arrive in Fairbanks, Alaska on June 23 at 12:30 am (4:30 am body time). The first week of our trip will be by rail through Denali/Mt. Mckinley, and the second week we board the ship in Anchorage for 7 days to Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, then through the Inside Passage, winding up in Vancouver on July 4.  We will then take Amtrak to Seattle for 3 days, then back home to Asheville.  
My hope is to update this blog daily with comments and pictures.  Here is hoping you enjoy this travel journal as much as we plan to enjoy our trip!