Felix Pedro-the Man behind the Gold Rush

Literally just a small rest area well off the beaten path outside of Fairbanks is the monument for the man who got the gold rush going in the Fairbanks area just over 100 years ago.  There also seems to be a larger than normal ratio of pizza restaurants-to-population in the Fairbanks area :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Pedro

Hometown Wood Carvings

Just in case someone didn't realize where they were, a few of the locals---a bear and two eagles, will help out.

McKinley and some friends

First clear day of the week was a good one!

Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude...

Heading back to the Lower 48 today....

Bastion of the Right Wing Commercialization

Anyone wondering where I've been lately would have little trouble guessing from the reading materials on the shelf of a local retailer :)

Now all we need is a Flying Squirrel

Never saw a moose but there is a lot of wilderness to hide in---especially with hunting season opening up in a couple weeks!

Year Round Transportation Style

While the main mode of non-auto transportation appears to be mostly bicycles, an occasional sidewalk skier slides by. I'm assuming that once the snow hits that actual cross-country style skis replace the wheeled versions.

I knew I was close....

Guess I'll stop in to see the big guy and place an order for a couple of presents for Christmas. Any other requests? :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Pole,_Alaska

Sharing the catch with friends

After you dip you can share the catch with friends :)

Dipping Net

One of the summer outdoor activities here in Alaska is dipping for salmon.....which you need a BIG dip net for!

Happy Birthday Dad!!!

To the man who taught me that real men can wear flower necklaces and not look silly :)  Have a great day!!!

Mini Moose

One of my first impressions of our 49th state is that small cars are something of a novelty......

Extended Twilight

While not quite the midnight sun of a few weeks back, there pretty much is no night in Fairbanks right now.

Twin Cities Characters

Changing planes in the Twin Cities on my way to see my friends in Fairbanks, AK. As with most modern airports, plenty of shopping, restaurants and selected art that represents something in the nearby communities.

My main Man turns 18 today

And a few friends from the past want to help celebrate!

 Happy Birthday!!!

54th Floor Eatery

Having a high brow dinner.....really high :). Building on the left is the where the home office resides

Fast Track Construction

What once not long ago was a parking lot and sales building, a new office and condo building rises near the Toronto waterfront.

Another Perfect Summer Day

As the late afternoon light trickles through the oaks and maples, the summer is in full swing as a "heat wave" hits the midwest.

Young Bandit ready for his 7am Feeding

Taking my morning stroll around the pool deck in my role as lifeguard for the previous night's four legged swimmers, one of our young raccoons was in the ivy on the east retaining wall. Going to have to have a chat with my better half because he actually crawled closer to me grunting and wagging his tail when I went to shoo him off. (Of course he might have been rabid and getting ready to attack my ankles)

Undercover Amphibian

The garden owner spotted the little, but nocturnally boisterous, tree frog under the cover of her brussel sprouts.

Out with the old...in with the New

Some crazy squirrel with absolutely no taste buds chewed into my 2 cycle fuel container I've had for many years. The new containers have the auto-closure mechanisms that have endeared them to outdoor equipment users everywhere. Kind of anti-Darwin :)

On the way home from work today....

...I ran into a Brachiosaurus in the middle of O'Hare airport in Chicago.

Morning view

Staying in some different (and somewhat closer) digs to the Toronto office this week.

Last Local Restaurant in PCB

Advertised as a local hang-out, Schooners still caters to the summer crowd---including those from Northwest Tennessee.

Happy Birthday little brother...Nasa launched a shuttle to celebrate!!! :)

Summer Days at the Beach

Lots of photos taken around here but I thought I'd post one of the little woman and I enjoying the surf and sun.

Big Adventure Time!

Bathing suits? Check. Properly inflated boat from Amazon? Check. Oars to paddle boat? Check. Large, warm body of water to test the seaworthiness? Good thing we are on the Gulf of Mexico.

First sea trials were very successful.....many more to follow I'm sure.

Day One-Beautiful Day at the Beach

So ends our first day at PCB. Gangs all here and the weather is perfect. Times are as good as they get......

Our First Beach House

Erected before the Florida sun kissed the white sand, our new gazebo stands ready to ease our days near the water this week.

One of the Sistas

Our own MC seems to have the beat going on with her new sistas!!

Lessons in Self Defense

Extending out on a platform from the port bow of the USS Carl Vinson, I noticed something I didn't realize were mounted on carriers---surface to air missiles.  The automated Phalanx systems are for up close defense but the newer RAM missile systems can reach out much farther.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIM-116_Rolling_Airframe_Missile#SeaRAM_.28weapon_system.29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS

Sub Pens

At least 4 Los Angeles class attack submarines are docked in San Diego this past week.  None with numbers to identify but one with a cover which leads one to believe it to be "Special Ops".  The entire harbor was alive with a military presence with the USS Carl Vinson at rest.  Typically, a least a couple of the subs stay with the carrier group when it deploys.  Hats off to the team for receiving Seal Team 6 a few weeks ago!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_class_submarine

Pretty in Pink

A recent rain made this shot easy :)

Hornets' Nest

On the north end of the Coronado peninsula, there appears to be a bone yard of Hornets-most without their radar and with the cockpits covered.  The extensive naval facility is located across the harbor from San Diego and is home to the USS Ronald Reagan and the USS Carl Vinson.  The Vinson was in port across the bay from the the USS Midway, which is decommissioned and serving as a museum.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F/A-18_Hornet

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAS_North_Island

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Midway_(CV-41)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_(CVN-70)