On the morning of July 10, 2025, the Fairbanks International Airport reported overcast skies, 53 degree temperature, calm winds, 93% humidity, 51 degree dew point, and ten mile visibility.
Back home in Richmond before I go for a run, I always check the same data at the Richmond airport. Every morning is different, but there is usually one constant—visibility—ten miles.
This morning, I was determined to add Alaska to the places where I have run in my life. So, I left the Westmark Hotel, went down Noble Street, and found the River Walk.
Fairbanks was still waking up. A few raindrops were coming down. The sidewalks and streets were damp from the rain.
The river walk is not dissimilar to other river walks in different cities and states across America. Water no matter if it is an ocean, lake, or river seems to capture our attention.
This morning, the Chena River is calm. It’s quiet, steady current is occasionally broken by a hyper seagull. Maybe this seagull is trying to wake up Fairbanks.
Along my route, I come across a pretty fountain, an assortment of statues, and a couple of American standards—graffiti and a homeless encampment under a bridge.
Retracing my steps, I work my way back to the hotel with a time of 33:41. I might have completed three slow miles.
We had another early riser in our group, Dan, who would be taking a lesson on a float plane with a local pilot.
This would be a busy day for us. We wanted to explore Fairbanks, but we also had to prepare our bags for our return flights to our homes.
By late morning, we were circled up and ready to walk around Fairbanks.
We noted information about the Chena River flood that took place on August 15, 1967.
Here we also learned about the Gould Cabin one of the first of the mining camp cabins. The cabin dates back to 1910.
It features the use of milled lumber and logs available in that time frame. The Gould Cabin’s construction is notable for its ability survive the tough Alaska environment.
Close by, we came across the Interior Alaska Antler Arch.
The antlers were donated by hunters and collectors from around Alaska. Over 100 moose and caribou antlers were donated.
This display was woven together by Fairbanks artist, Sandy Jamieson. For Jamieson, the arch might also be called “an arch of stories.” As each set of antlers is attached to a person who experienced the wilderness of Alaska.
Next we came across a display about the 1913 Pioneer Ascent of Denali. The display clearly captured this historic event, but the focus is on one of the climbers—Walter Harper.
Next to the display is a marvelous statue capturing the essence of Harper on the climb and his outstretched “hand up.” Harper’s possessed the all-around skills for the climb, but he also possessed the essential human skills for his willingness to always extend his hand to help.
It is a short walk over to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish. Established in 1904, this is a pretty white framed building. The church overlooking the Chena River has quite a history. In 1976, the church was named to the Register of Historical sites.
From there, we ambled into downtown Fairbanks. My favorite stop was at Big Ray’s Classic Alaska Trading Company.
For lunch, we stopped at a local favorite, The Crepery. The food was good, and it matched the owner’s dream for the restaurant—“to serve good and quality food to the community.”
After lunch, Betsy, Dan, and I caught a ride to the University of Alaska Museum Of The North. If you are in Fairbanks, and you have the time, this museum is worth the stop.
From the museum’s website, please note “this is the only research and teaching museum in Alaska.” The museum is home to 2.5 million artifacts. These artifacts are broken down into ten disciplines of study. The museum also captures the northern culture and its history.
On this trip, we have learned how precious Alaska and its resources are. That’s why the museum serves as a valuable resource for research on climate change, genetics, contaminants, and other issues facing Alaska and the circumpolar North.
I enjoyed the exhibits about the Brown Bear, Pacific Halibut, Permafrost, and Alaskan Kayaks.
At some point, we made our way back to the hotel. Once there, we turned our attention to making sure our luggage was ready for the ride out to the airport.
Checking in at the airport went smoothly. We figured out ordering our dinner, and then we waited for our boarding call.
I roamed around the airport’s interior as much as I could. There are some nicely done photos in different places, and I even came across a historical display about aviation with an old wooden propeller.
Shortly before 10 p.m., we started boarding the Delta B73-900ER for our flight to Minneapolis.
We had said our goodbyes to Dan and Judy as they were on a different flight back into Baltimore. The Pikes and the Sherrills were on this flight that would after the connection in Minneapolis would take us back to Raleigh.
All I can tell you about the flight into Minneapolis is I don’t recall sleeping much. I watched the movie Oppenheimer. I recall looking out of my window several times, and I’m not sure that I ever saw total darkness.
At 6:40 a.m. on the approach coming into the airport, I’m almost certain that we flew over the Mississippi River.
We landed, and I immediately went into beer search mode. That’s correct— beer search mode.
As it turns out, the beer gods were working in my favor related to time.
Unfortunately, in Fairbanks, our red-eye flight was delayed. A passenger became ill before we departed the runway. The pilot had to taxi the plane back to the terminal so the passenger could be assisted.
Then when we landed in Minneapolis, we learned that our flight back to Raleigh was delayed.
These delays gave me the extra time needed to track down an August Schell beer. Located in New Ulm, Minnesota, August Schell is one of the oldest breweries in America.
My pre-trip research led me to Scott Hislop, the Senior Distributor Sales Manager, for the August Schell Brewing Company.
Scott informed me that in Terminal One of this massive airport was an establishment named the Stone Arch. Stone Arch had an August Schell light beer on tap.
At some point, in the middle of a corridor, I look into the distance and I saw the words Stone Arch. Being sleep deprived, I hope this wasn’t a mirage.
Stone Arch employees were busy with breakfast customers. It took a few minutes for me to flag down one of their employees who handled beverages.
Finally, a nice young man paused as I flagged him down. His hurried steps came to a halt. I explained what I was trying to accomplish. He could not have been nicer.
First, he confirmed that Schell’s Light an American lager was on tap. Additionally, he showed me two sixteen ounce cans that were available, but I opted for the draft.
A couple of minutes later, he returned with a perfectly poured glass of Schell Light. This clear, pale lager, was full of carbonation bubbles and a thin head of foam.
While I’m not a fan of light beers, this one hit the spot at 7:20 a.m. on Friday, July 11.
I was reminded of the song “Roadhouse Blues” from the Doors’ album Morrison Hotel: “Well, I woke up this morning and I got myself a beer, the future’s uncertain and the end is always near.”
At my old age, I have never purposely abused my affection for beer. Out of respect for the beverage, I’ve worked to be doggedly rigid in my self-control when consuming beer, I’m basically—‘one and done.’
But, I will admit that for a long, long time lurking in the back of my mind were the lyrics from “Roadhouse Blues.”
So now, I can mark the drinking of an early morning beer off an unimportant bucket list.
Yet, there is a more important point, and that is Scott Hislop.
In our fast paced, impatient world, Scott took the time to respond to my original email. To me that is admirable.
After finishing my beer, we found our terminal and waited for the call to board our final flight into Raleigh.
At 8:06 a.m., we were on a Delta A320(OW) bound for Raleigh.
I think I dozed a bit on this flight.
Soon, we were on the ground in Raleigh.
We said our goodbyes to Butch and Marian. One of their daughters was picking them up from Greensboro.
Our future son-in-law picked us up.
He navigated exiting the airport. It wasn’t long before we were back at the condo where our car had been resting for the last fifteen days.
We took a few minutes to regroup at the condo with our daughter and her fiancé. Then we transferred to luggage into our car, said goodbye, and started our ride home to Richmond.
When I was growing up in North Carolina, I don’t recall dreaming about traveling. This trip from Vancouver into Alaska was one that will stay with me for a long, long time.
In Vancouver, Lynn Canyon Park was my favorite. And in Alaska, the color of the ice in the glaciers will never leave me. It is stunning.
I am so lucky to be able to travel with my wife and our dear friends.
Vancouver and Alaska offered us so much. Each place is precious and priceless with their uniqueness. I can only begin to imagine what the first settlers felt like as the embraced the wonder of these environments.
In closing, I simply say to you—if you have the opportunity— go.
You will not regret making the trip.
might be baloney 