In Oregon the name John Day is legendary.

We associated John Day with Fossils.  John Day Fossil Fields, John Day River, John Day Highway and John Day the town, even Dayville.

This John Day, Oh Boy what a man, what a pioneer, what a palaeontologist! We couldn’t wait to see what earth shattering break through “Big John”, as I was beginning to think of him had come up with. Alas, it was all for nought. John Day is Oregon’s greatest Hero who did nothing. Well, when I say nothing, he did do something, a story Jen pointed out at the Painted Hills Fossil Site (just out of John Day the town).

It seems that in 1810 John and a bunch of his friends were heading to the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon to set up a Trading Post. The group became scattered leaving John and his new best friend, Ramsey Crooks, on their own. Near the junction of the Mah-Hah River John and Ramsey were “set upon” by a party of Native Americans who helped themselves to all there possessions. When I say all, I mean all. The two hapless, would be entrepreneurs, were left naked and lost.

You really have to admire the natives for their generosity, no staking out in the sun, no ant hill torture, no trial by combat…. just “give us your stuff”.

John and Ramsey were rescued and taken to Astoria Oregon arriving in 1812 two years after they left to make their fortunes. I suspect Beethoven made more out of his overture, of the same year, than John made from his Trading Post.

Getting back to the naming so many areas in Oregon after John Day. It seems that the locals began calling the spot where John and Ramsey were robbed and rescued, “John Day”. The name stuck and Oregonians (if I can call them that) ended up with a string of places named after a rather inept and naked fur trader. One Day, but not today John.

The real credit for the fossil fields belongs to Thomas Condon. Tom by the way was a minister of the cloth and follower of Darwin’s theory of evolution. This was a brave minister.

“The man” Thomas Condon.

Painted Hills with Jen on the left.

Painted Hills

Dayville Locals. On their way to shoot stuff.

Technical Fossil Business

Glass case of bone stuff.

Another glass case of bone stuff.

Just a great photo!

Fossil Hound

It’s cold enough in Alaska that you don’t sweat. In fact in winter I suspect that the body loses the ability to sweat altogether. I base this theory on the events of yesterday when after a whole day of moderate activity my clothes were both clean and dry.

Fast forward a month or two to the depths of the Alaskan winter, when it’s so cold that temperatures are measured with complicated scientific instruments that only a select few can comprehend and I suspect the body begins to reabsorb previously shed sweat. If the above is true then Alaskans that wear clean dry clothes are at serious risk. In the absence of sweat molecules it is entirely likely that the body may start to absorb other molecules in close proximity to the skin such as nylon, acrylic, polypropylene, and the dreaded spandex.

This is no doubt why Alaskans never ever wash in the winter.

The onset of reverse osmosis

A little north of normal is how Alaskans like to describe themselves. We are apparently becoming a little more Alaskan as we stay here. Today we decided to forgo the cultural side of “The Golden Heart” and explore the more “Northern’ aspects of Fairbanks.

After a hearty breakfast of all the usual culinary delights on offer in your average US hotel including waffles, maple syrup, bagels, 3 types of toast, biscuits, muffins, eggs, sausage, oatmeal, fruit, yogurt, various juices, 3 types of brown liquid (generally categorised as coffee), tea, jams, peanut butter and other spreads, we were of to face our first challenge…

A trip to North Pole and Santa’s Workshop. North Pole, a short drive from Fairbanks, is a Christmas themed tourist town with giant candy cane street lights, street names like “Santa Claus Way” and “Saint Nicholas Drive”. North Pole also sports the worlds biggest Santa (naturally) at 50 ft. tall and weighing in at a lightweight 900 lbs. (do your own conversion if your inclined).

Stand in (sit in) Santa

World’s Biggest Santa

The Workshop at No.101 Saint Nicholas Way North Pole

Challenge number two, “Grizzli’ s Italian Pizza and Pasta Restaurant”,  James went for the chilli bean soup followed by the lasagna, he is still “enjoying” it eight hours later.

Chow Down!

Challenge number three, the Ice Museum and its indoor ice slide.

The Slippery Slope

Ice Bar

Challenge number Four “Indoor Glow Golf”

Putt Putt, Glow Glow

Extra activities included the 50’s diner and another visit to Walmart.

Malt Bar

DC Comics may have a case here.