Floatin'

Sunday's warm weather called for a float down the Chena River. I in my kayak, and Blair and Mark in their new-to-them canoe. It was their maiden voyage. In the kayaking world, double kayaks are referred to as divorce boats. I'm not sure if canoes carrying couples have the same association but Blair and Mark survived with their marriage license intact. Copper came too!

Summer Pictorial Review

My observation that Fairbanks summer weather wasn't "all that' has been substantiated. Today's News Miner reported that the average temperature in Fairbanks this summer was 59.5 degrees. We had 5 days of 80 degree weather -- far off the average of 11 days.

Yesterday was Labor Day; summer is officially over. Here's summer in pictures:

Start of summer -- Hiking Angel Rocks

Kayaking the Chena River, Take II

Those of you long-time followers may remember my fiasco of an attempt to paddle upstream on the Chena River over a year ago. If not, take a peek and read it here. It's classic Heather; what can I say.

 

Dog Mushing!

Today was the start of the Yukon Quest Dog Sled race. A bunch of us headed downtown to watch the teams take off. The Quest runs 1000 miles between Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Canada. The trail follows historical Gold Rush and Mail Delivery dog sled routes from the turn of the 20th Century. Each year the start alternates between Fairbanks and Whitehorse. Last year the race finished in Fairbanks so this year it started in the 'banks. The race lasts 10-16 days. Having driven the road between Whitehorse and Fairbanks I can't imagine covering that territory by sled!

Start line, downtown Fairbanks on the Chena River.

Kayaking the Chena River

I didn't tip over, get lost, pee my pants, or get arrested.

Here's a tip for those of you interested in paddling a river. When the fire department says, while rescuing a teenager stranded on an ice floe, that they can't go upstream because the current is too strong for their boat, that probably doesn't mean that you should try paddling upstream on your own power. Yet, that is precisely what I did.