Ok, sorry for the delay, but we’ve been a bit busy.

Quick update:
Jan 1, we found out that our landlords had a nanny coming in (I have no idea why thy need a goat), and so we had to find someplace else to live. Thankfully, they gave us a good recomendation to their friend and we were hooked up with a small house on a couple acres here in North Pole about a 3 weeks after starting to look. We will be moving out next weekend. We’re looking forward to a house instead of a duplex, but not looking forward to the move.

Now, on to other things…
This past weekend Denise and I got away for our pre-anniversary weekend away. Thanks to Chris and Jeannie, our friends that no nothing about where babies come from, for watching Anthony!

Chena Hot Springs is a “resort” area about 55 miles from Fairbanks. (see their page here). It is a big tourist attraction for the Japanese and will be booked for the next month with tourists from Japan.

The resort has about 400 acres for hiking, snow machining, horseback riding, etc, and they also have the outdoor hot springs, an outdoor hot tub, and indoor pool and two indoor hot tubs. The buildings are reminiscent of the ’50s and do not remind you of the big city… However, it was a great time just to get away.

We stopped and ate at The Silver Gulch on the way out of town, near Fox. It was featured on Diner’s, Drive-ins, and Dives back around Christmas time. Main course was good, but I have yet to get a hot serving of mashed potatoes in a restaurant up here.

We got to Chena Hot Springs about 7:30, checked in and headed to the springs. It was about 8:30pm and -30* out. The 75′ walk on ice/snow in swim suit and loaner flip-flops is something i will not soon forget. The hot springs are actually a big pond that is about 4′ deep at the deepest points. The bottom FEELS like find sand, but I was afraid to ask for the true composite. I’m guessing the pond is about 150′ x 50′, but there were several dark coves with whispering going on and we did not venture in those…

We got back to the room and Denise found that the thermostat had been set at 90* (NOT by us). She ended up opening the door to the lobby, then our door, and waiting for the -30* breeze to cool the room down.

The one down side was the water. It ALL stunk. I expected the hot springs to smell, but they were really the best. The water out of the faucets needed a hazmat warning.

Breakfast was great. Nothing really outstanding, but good food. Coffee was borderline due to the lousy water.

After breakfast, Denise got us tickets to tour the ice museum. It’s been open continually for the last 4 years. I think it was probably 10* warmer in there than it was outside. Pictures are HERE.

It was real interesting… apparently folks rent the rooms out at times for honeymoons… I ain’t even gonna touch that one.

Well, that’s enough for now.