Do The World: Day 10

WORST BREKKIE EVER! You could build a house with the eggs. The meat offerings were suspicious to the sight. The oatmeal like curing concrete. The coffee horrible. Only unknown black tea on offer. CJ forces down oatmeal drowned in milk. Carol dresses the plain yogurt with what few adders available and our 'main' brekkie course is toast on a toaster that barely toasts the bread after three passes. It will be identical on the second morning.

Francesca, our guide said that Pikes was a quirky hotel. This brekkie was NOT a welcome quirk!

There are flowers everywhere around the hotel including one of the largest dahlia's we've ever seen.

When there is not enough snow on the route from Anchorage to start the Iditarod there, Pike's Waterfront Lodge is the alternate starting point, right here on the Chena River.

Later in the day we visit Trail Breaker Kennels. It was founded by Susan Butcher, four-time Iditarod champion and her Yukon Quest champion musher husband, David Monson.

Why are the dogs so calm and quiet? We've been with this kind of dog in Churchill, Canada and Finland and they are always noisily barking and super high strung! We ask the head trainer. She informs us it is a matter of training. She doesn't allow that nonsense from her dogs.

We're given a lecture on the training of the dogs and their training regime.

Next, she conducts a mushing demonstration around the lake with the dog team pulling an ATV without the weight of its motor.

Our guide, Francesca assists in the mushing clothing demonstration. How do they move in that much clothing?

We visit the famous Alaskan Pipeline. There is a viewing place in Fairbanks. The pipeline runs 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez.

Lunch is at Cookie Jar Restaurant known for its cookies and pies. It was featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives TV show. It is truly a quirky and iconic place. The parking lot is full. There is a long waiting line. Our reservation allows access via a back door.

It is a good lunch. The deserts are as good as touted.

After lunch, Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum is on the agenda. Their larger new location is still a work in progress. It has only been open for a month.

That said, who would have thought a place displaying this quality of antique cars would be found in Fairbanks, Alaska?

I could post a single blog just of the magnificent cars on display!