Fairbanks...Full of Fun...!

June 5, 2014

We arrived in Fairbanks, and decided to head to the Sam's Club and check out the parking lot for an overnight stay.  We pulled into the back lot behind the gas station and quickly found ourselves with another great place to stay.  It was rainy when we arrived and it continued to rain for most of the afternoon.  Rich was able to make his battery purchases for the motor home while the rest of us headed in for Sam's all famous lunch...hot dog combo!  Molly, Mary, and I then did a little shopping for the things we thought we needed!

Later that evening, we made contact with Rowdy Stowell.  We have known Rowdy for several years.  He is RVing friend that we became acquainted with through the RV Dreams Chat Room and is a Face Book friend.  He lives here in Fairbanks, and told us to be sure and contact him when we arrived.  So, we did...we made arrangements to meet up with him on Friday morning at

the Fire Station in Fairbanks, where he is a Battalion Chief.  We had a great time looking

around the station and he and Mark had fun

talking fireman talk!

Upstairs in the

big kitchen, we settled in to discuss the weekend plan.  And, what a plan Rowdy had!

It went something like this...Missy and I would like for you guys to come and spend the weekend at our cabin, which is located about 50 miles outside of Fairbanks up the Chena Hot Springs Road.  We were all thrilled and quickly took him up on the offer.  Rowdy gave us instructions to be ready by 8:00 p.m.  We were ready by 7:00 and

waiting for he and Missy.

As promised, he was at Sam's by 8:00 and we

followed him out of town,

up the Chena Hot Springs Road, and about 55 miles later, we arrived

at the gravel pit, which in on 16 acres of land that belongs to his friend.

Another perfect Alaskan campground with

water front parking.

Rowdy said for us to settle in while he went to drop Missy and the trailer at the cabin and that he would return to pick us up in short order.  We did, and he did..

And, then the fun began...

Just two driveways up from where we were parked, we turned onto

his street...he said it was just

a half mile to the cabin...but, on this road

it seemed like 3 miles.  Then, we rounded the corner and

this is what we saw.

Missy already had the

 

campfire going.

We toured the

 

cabin

 

and the

riverfront property.

They showed us the original

log cabin and last but by all means not the least, we were shown

the outhouse...and I might say, a

well decorated one at that!  Do notice, the chandelier!

We had a great time sitting around the campfire

visiting...and before we knew it, it was well

after midnight...but who would have guessed in this land of the midnight sun!

We said our goodnights and headed back to our campground.

June 7, 2014

On Saturday morning, we invited Rowdy and Missy to join us at our campground for

breakfast of biscuits, gravy, eggs, and muffins.  After breakfast, they headed back to the cabin to do some on going work projects, and the six of us headed to

Chena Hot Springs.  We enjoyed the beautiful day and warm sunshine as we walked the

property.  We looked at lots of old

machinery,

beautiful flowers,

herb gardens, and

cabins with sod roofs.

We watched folks bathing in the

hot mineral springs.

  We, however, passed up the hot springs to tour the

ice hotel!  And, yes, you can even spend the night inside and sleep on

the polar bear bed...made of ice

or have a drink at the

 

ice bar.

But, if you would rather be outside, you can take an adventure ride on

an ATV,

a snow machine...if it's winter...,

a horse, or...

take a sight seeing tour in this plane that takes off from the

Chena International Airport!

Or, if you just want to sit around, you can join

these three!

I think it's time for us to get on with our day!  We headed back to the campground and after our late night, we all decided a nap would be great before time to join Rowdy and Missy.

After that much needed nap, we made our way back to

the cabin in the woods.  Not only did Missy have the campfire going, tonight she was

warming up the hot tub.  And, Rowdy was busy warming up the grill so he could cook

salmon, corn, and potatoes.  Awesome dinner!

Again, we sat and

visited until way past bedtimes with our newest  friends!  And, all too soon, our fabulous weekend was coming to an end.

Thanks,

Rowdy and Missy for sharing your Alaskan dream!

This awesome weekend reminded me of this~