What do the pipeline, #8 dredge & a riverboat have in common?

ALASKA!!!

And we saw all three in one day.

Busy Busy

 This is the inside of the pipeline and it has heaters inside to keep

everything from freezing up, and that is why the pipeline runs above

and underground over 800 miles.

 After, we hopped on a train and chugged on down to the #8 dredge

that no longer runs because of a lot of issues but looks

cool all the same.

 Once, seeing the do's and don'ts of panning we actually

got the chance to experience it ourselves.

 We poured out are bags and totally worked it.

It's kinda labor intensive.

You have to swirl and dump and swirl and dump 

until its down to the dust.

 And wa-la gold flakes.

Very satisfying, however, that was a lot of work

for that little bit of flake.

 But combining both our pans Tom ended up with this 

awesomely heavy gold bar.

 Just kidding!

After a surprising great lunch we hopped on the Discovery III

and cruised down the river.

 On the way a sea plane takeoff and land on the river

and listened to a rather stilted conversation between the plane

pilot and the boat commentator. LOL.

It was really cute.

 We passed by Susan Butcher's sled dogs and her kennel

now run by her daughter Tekla.

 Got to see some puppies rolling around, and these dogs

were hooked up to an ATV for some training.

What poetry in motion they are when running.

 We then came upon an Eskimo village from back in the day

and disembarked to take the tour.

It was very informative and realistic.

You had to be tough to make it back then.

 And oh look, reindeer.

Did you know reindeer are tame caribou?

Me either.

 Once of the lodges from back in the day.

The pelts were just beautiful.

 Close up reindeer.

 Beautiful native dressed in a 40 degree below zero

parka that is just beautiful.

It was fun and interesting but Tom and I are finding out

we are not fans of "tours". 

We really do love running on our own schedule.

On a positive note the weather has been unexpectedly

warm at 60 degrees. It'll be a bit nippy on the Tundra Tour

37 degrees. Brrrr!!!

Right now getting ready to go to bed to wake up at 4 a.m.

to head out to the Wildlife Tundra Tour.