We finally get to the top of the world and nearly froze to death !

Fairbanks Wednesday 7th September

OK Jeanette is being my spell checker and keeper of information for us dills has told me our dates and days are wrong, funny about that, as if I know what day it is !!!

At 8.30 this morning we were collected at the lodge and transferred to Fairbanks airport to begin our final journey to the top of the world at Coldfoot. We travelled in a Piper Navihoe 10 seater sardine can with wings, where we bumped our way north through a few big clouds, the view was stunning, although I was doing a bit when we hit speed humps and I was reading way tooo much into his navigation panel. It was still not as bad as the flight from Wagga with mum, we landed at Coldfoot, its named that after all the miners who arrived and left soon after with "cold feet" its very very remote here, no electricity, and cold enough to freeze a brass monkey, we had a quick pit stop at the Coldfoot general everything store, Coldfoot has a population of 30 in summer and 13 in winter, and is a working community. I can understand why, in fact its amazing to think anyone at alll lives here !! once again wish we could spend some time here mingling with the locals, but we were herded into a van and driven to Wiseman this is a residential community of 13 people who have an amazing constitution, It has recorded temps of minus 75 and 7 feet of snow in the yard. They are self sufficent, growing vegies in summer to store under the floors, in winter its warmer in the freezer. Our guide and local historian Jack showed us his home and explained that when winter starts to roll in her hunts for his food for the long cold winter months, he is allowed certain animals in restricted numbers. He is passionate about his home and enviroment. His wife suffers from SAD, sure is a good place to live with this problem???? We had a lovely lunch pack provided by the Coldfoot store. Then flew home over the Yukon River through a few more bumps and over some more glorious scenery. Thanks Jack our pilot who did a great job. Our transfer bus dropped us at Fred Myers to purchase another suitcase as we decided to pay $20 instead of $120 in postage. Back "home" to pack up again and we joined up at the Trapper Bar for another farewell drink...hmmm another fun night ! Tomorrow its off to Las Vegas for a rest !! We will miss all these friends who have shared in these wonderful fun filled days, surrounded by so much beauty is it really over ???? Well not for us for a while yet !!