Visiting the 'banks

Mom spent a few days with me in the 'banks. We hit all the hotspots: took in a play, went to Chena Hot Springs where we soaked in the pools and sat at an ice bar in the Ice Museum. We traveled the Chena River on the Riverboat Discovery with a stop at a re-created Athabascan village. Saw the pipeline, and viewed fall color. Unfortunately mom didn't get to see any moose.

 

At the pipeline outside of town.

Momma's Tired

What a weekend. I spent two days at the "Ultimate Athlete" seminar hosted by Crossfit. It was very informative and I learned a lot but man am I tired. Stick a fork in me I am done! Preemptive Advil is in order because tomorrow I don't know that I'll be able to lift my arms above my head to wash my hair, or be able to bend over to pull on socks. I squatted, deadlifted and bench pressed more than I ever have before.

Weight I deadlifted.

Sledding

I realized when I mentioned sledding in yesterday's camping post, that I never posted a blog entry about sledding this winter. Shame on me!  I loathe thinking about snow right now, but this was such a fun day it deserves to be blogged. It certainly went into my memory jar. 

Source: Uploaded by user via Heather on Pinterest

...And we're back

Back to snow that is. The first real snowfall in Fairbanks arrived last weekend. As predicted, my neighborhood is vastly improved with snow! Old cars, wood piles, and rusted empty barrels in the yard are now merely white bumps adding texture and interest to the landscape.

Wistful

It's the official first day of spring and I'm finding myself wistful for snow. Oh, there's still plenty of snow around Fairbanks. We've been having day-time temperatures in the 30's fairly regularly now but nothing has melted. Folk tell me that from here on out it'll keep getting warmer. Undoubtedly there will be one more snowfall, just to make people crabby, and then it'll be full on melt.

Driving

Before getting to Fairbanks I anticipated going through driving withdrawals. I like to drive. Period. I know it's not the environmentally correct position to hold, but I do. If I have to drive 30-40 minutes to my job, sign me up! Road trip for 8+ hours? I'm there. Driving is my thing. It's not just the cliche of "feeling free" that I like. I actually like the act of driving. I like feeling the car respond to the pressure I apply to the gas peddle. I like the discordance of watching the scenery speed by while everything in the bubble of the car moves in slow motion, comparatively.

Weekend Recap

-- Took photo documentation of Denali only to find out it isn't Denali. Curses!

Neither of these peaks is Denali.

-- Checked out walking trails at UAF campus only to discover that I have no idea how to dress for hiking in -1 weather. My ass was frozen.

View from UAF

-- Was told the Northern Lights were out so I dashed outside in my long underwear, boots and jacket faster than you can say "Maker's Mark" where I stood for 10 minutes, waiting. Oh, the ecstasy of sweet anticipation! Only to then hear that, right, can't see them in Fairbanks tonight due to the fog. You could only see them from the town of North Pole. It was -10.

Snow

It snowed today -- the first time since I've been here (while I've been awake). I had been working in my speech room and happened to look out the window. I saw the tiniest flakes drifting down. I ran outside to try and get a picture (which didn't come out at all). The flakes were so tiny I barely felt their light sting on my skin. It was exhilarating. I'm not sure anyone else understood my excitement. And I can get it. I mean, it is February in Fairbanks, after all. It's not like they haven't seen snow before. But I loved it. To this California girl (who still crosses her fingers every year that this will be the year we have a white Christmas), falling snow is hard to beat. I wonder if I'll feel the same wonderment about snow four months from now? I hope so.