EIELSON AFB – June 29

We have had a great time here this week at Eielson AFB, just southeast of Fairbanks. The day we arrived we discovered the Thunderbirds AF demonstration team was here and they were having their annual open house. Although we didn’t venture out in the crowds, had enough of that during Gary’s active service, we did walk to the edge of the lake at the campground to watch the performance. As always it was great show but the day was a cloudy one and the light was such that it was pretty much just silhouettes in the pictures but we have included a couple of pictures. While watching them we also enjoyed the geese with their goslings swimming on the lake.

We have taken it pretty easy for several days, just needed to recharge our batteries. I’m not talking about the RV batteries, I’m talking about G & E’s batteries. We have enjoyed being able to go to the commissary and refill the fridge, pick up a few things at the Base Exchange and on Friday we took the weekly Base Tour. It was very interesting and is available to anyone coming into Alaska. The Milepost lists the phone number so you can call and make arrangements. It is necessary to give them advanced notice so they can do security checks. Fortunately for us, because we called the morning of the tour, we didn’t have to go through that since we already had ID cards. We have included a picture of our bus driver and guide outside the front gate and one of a monument in a park on Base. We also saw the Lady of the Lake and included a picture of her. There is a lot of new construction on-going. New large Exchange and Commissary and filling station going up. Also a new chapel. We were told it is the first one to be built on any base in a very long time.

Yesterday we took a walk from the Family Camp. We started up the road in front of the campground and when we reached a little side road we decided that would be more fun. It was most interesting as it followed the pipeline. We have included a picture of the pipeline. We think that the upright fins are to help dissipate the heat of the oil in the pipeline. On the way we encountered a bird. We don’t know what he was but have included a picture if someone knows please let us know. She appeared to be some water bird. She did not like us in her territory. She fussed at us with incessant chirps for about a ¼ mile or more, flying from one treetop to another. We had just gotten out of her territory when the moose appeared. We stared at each other a long while, and I shot some pictures. I guess she decided we were not a threat and her young one came out. They stood looking at us for a while longer, then ambled on across the road and into the forest. We had seen a moose earlier but it was across the lake when the T-birds were performing. It swam the width of the lake, came out of the water, crossed the lake and went into the woods. Our tour guide said it is not unusual to come out of your house and find them in your yard.

The flowers are all around, can’t believe the numbers of iris around, the yellow ones I guess are daisies and the pink I believe are fireweed. Then we wanted you to see the fireplug. Amazing that they have to put flags on them, guess it is so they can see them when the snow accumulates.

We have enjoyed the use of the Library here on Base, trying to get caught up on the Blog and email. There is no digital Verizon here (just extended network), so we are still at the mercy of the library’s wi-fi, not our very convenient air card. We were also able to exchange the books we had read on the trip for a new bunch at their book exchange. I think Gary must be engrossed in one right now. We are presently planning to leave here on Tuesday, make a stop at a lake and at North Pole before heading on into Fairbanks. Hope you all are well and having a wonderful summer. Love seeing your comments on the blog.

Gary Sez: I’m reading the “Gold Coast” by Nelson DeMille. Guess I’ve gotten sort of involved in it to the exclusion of everything. I had no idea that this base was so nice. My feeling is that in February it looks different. We ate supper Friday night in the dining hall. Not the quality meal that we got in the one in Montana though. Weather has been rainy on and off. But when the sun shines, it’s great. Anybody know of a commercial use for mosquitoes? There’s a fortune to be made!