Tom Maslany's Visit in March

Our friend Tom came to visit and we ahd a chance to show him "our Alaska."  That is...no wild animals, no Northern Lights, no snow and relatively warm weather!!

We went all the way to the Arctic  Circle (which David casually told us was about 3 hours away).  5 hours later we arrived, having seen no animals and very little snow covered 'wonderland" type scenery.  However, we did realize that we very likely would run out of gas before we got home.

Before we left I realized that we didn't seem to have enough coffee for our morning cup.  When Tom said that was not a problem because we could simply stop at a convenience store on the way the disconnect between here and there really came home to me.  Between our house and the Arctic Circle is a lot of trees and one road!!

A local non-tourist site is the Permafrost tunnel which is exactly what it sounds like...a tunnel through the permafrost that requires a geologist guide.  David was kind enough to arrange a tour for a group of us which was a highlight of the trip.  Not only did we see ice lenses and other ice formations that were thousands of years old, but many old bones and even some thousand year old sedge.  What a great tour!

     

The Native Arts Festival took place while Tom was here so he got a great look at all of the village dancers which is always a big highlight of the winter.  

Another highlight was the local ice park which attracts hundreds of international carvers. 

    

Then it was on to the Iditerod for both the ceremonial start in Anchorage and the restart in Willow.

Here I am with Newton Marshall.  Same photo of me and the Jamacian musher as last year!

    

A quick trip to the Chena Hot Springs and to the Curling Club to and Tom was on his way back home.