Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is not part of any city in particular but is nestled among several. The airport is surrounded by Minneapolis, St. Paul and the suburban cities of Bloomington, Eagan, Mendota Heights and Richfield.

B. J. and I had another long layover in Minneapolis but we consoled ourselves by sampling the local cuisine and watching the big airliners land and take off. We knew that the next leg of our journey would be the longest but we took comfort in the knowledge that Fairbanks would be our next stop.

The food offerings in an airport come primarily from the big chains but occasionally you run up on a hash house that presents a smattering of local gastronomy. In addition, the farter north and west you travel, good southern favorites like fried chicken and catfish diminish on the menu. We found a neat little eatery that had no resemblance of any food chain that we were familiar with and guess what, fried chicken was on the menu. We ordered up and chowed down. The fried chicken was fair but it did not have that distinct southern smack to it.

After “lunch”, or whatever it was since we had crossed two time zones since leaving Jacksonville, we skimmed through the shops a little and then returned to our seats to await the arrival of the big jet that would fly us across the northern part of the U. S. and over Canada to Fairbanks. We were beginning to tire a little but we were excited.

We were catnapping when we heard the announcer call out that the flight to Fairbanks had begun boarding passengers. We snapped out of our slumber, shouldered our carry-ons, and got in line. Soon we were aboard, buckled up, and ready for takeoff. I was glad that I had gotten a seat beside a window. I wanted to see the terrain from the air.

Shortly, we were ascending above the clouds at a rapid rate. Occasionally, someone asks me if I have ridden all the scary rides at Six Flags over Georgia. I reply by telling them, “No, but I have been on the Atlanta By-Pass during rush hour and in a jet plane doing 600mph; nothing at Six Flags can touch it.

We were anxious to observe the Minnesota landscape from high altitude (39,000 feet) and see if we could see any of the 10,000 lakes that are so publicized. We would not be disappointed. With more than 12,000 lakes within the borders of the state, the lakes of the northern portion of the state have transformed the area into popular summer resorts attracting thousands of visitors each year with their pristine beauty. The maze of lakes below mesmerized us. When we travel there by car, we plan to visit some of these resorts.

Three great rivers, the mighty Mississippi, the Red River of the North, and the St. Lawrence all begin their long journeys within the state of Minnesota. The source of the Mississippi had been sought for years, and it was finally discovered at Lake Itasca, where it begins its 2,552-mile path to the sea.

Eventually, we crossed North Dakota and on into Canada. Even from 39,000 feet the Canadian Rockies are awesome. The snow capped peaks seemed to reach right up to us. Fairbanks was getting closer. B. J. and I passed the time observing the topography below, snatching a few winks, munching on peanuts and cheese crackers, and talking about all the exciting events that awaited us in Alaska.

Fairbanks is 120 miles below the Arctic Circle. Most of the territory north of Fairbanks is a wild and untamed wilderness. Those that inhabit the region live in very primitive conditions. Fairbanks, about an eight-hour car drive north of Anchorage, is located in the heart of Alaska’s Interior on the banks of the Chena River in the Tanana Valley. Fairbanks is the largest city in interior Alaska and is Alaska’s second largest city with a population of 80,000. We would spend time on the Chena River in the Tanana Valley while in Fairbanks.

In time, we heard the drone of the engines lessen and felt the plane slow a little. Soon, the pilot came on the speaker and announced that we were approaching Fairbanks International Airport. He instructed us to buckle our seatbelts and prepare for landing.

B. J. and I tensed with enthusiasm. In a few minutes, we would be on the ground in Alaska. Our tour hosts from Holland America World Tours would be there to greet us and load us on the big busses and carry us to our quarters for our stay in Fairbanks.

When the big jet touched down, we were almost ecstatic. The fun was beginning.