Rivers Edge Campground, Fairbanks, Alaska

     We got to sleep in today and have a second cup of coffee.  It was so nice to take it easy and go slow.  It was cool and rainy when we were ready to head out so we went to the University of Alaska's Alaska Museum.  There were historical and art displays from each area of Alaska.
    I was especially interested in the history of the natives who were relocated off the Aleutian Island when the Japanese were ready to invade.  The natives were put into internment camp with very little food or shelter and kept there in secrecy.It was thought that it would be very bad publicity for it to be known that the U.S. was treating native citizens so poorly.  The Nazi prisoners were given much better living conditions.
     We have seen so many small planes everywhere including home sites that have a landing strip along side.  One neighborhood along the Chena River has a grassy strip that is used by the neighborhood property owners as a runway.  A large percent of Alaskans have a pilot's license.  As we watched a plane took off and landed on this 200' grassy area.   
    This evening Matt and Amanda called to tell us that they had arrived safely in Anchorage and had a good day doing some horseback riding.  The rest of the group arrives tomorrow night.
   The rain has dampened the forest fires and cleared out the smoke.  Hopefully conditions will continue to improve so that there will be no problem getting to Denali.