We had our farewell Dinner with our group last night it was a great night many laughs a few tears 26 days ago we were total strangers brought together by this amazing trip & lead by our wonderful tour guide Suzie we leaving it having met some wonderful people and made great friendship with a number of our group.

Today is our Artic Circle fight the last of our Scenic experiences, after a mix up over flight and bus departure times we flew off into the wild blue yonder on our next adventure, visibility wasn't great as there were a number of forest fires burning which here in Alaska they just let burn unless they threaten properties.

We followed the Trans-Alaska Pipeline which connects the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay in Northern Alaska with the harbour at Valdez 800 miles (1,300 km) to the south. Environmental impact studies lead to half the pipeline built elevated to prevent theheated oil from thawing the permafrost and to allow wildlife to pass under it, some was buried to facilitate the local wildlife freedom of movement.

We crossed over the Artic Circle as we flew for an hour and a half to the landing strip at Cold Smoke where we were met by our tour guide Lisa for today, she drove us out to her home at Wiseman where we meet her husband Jack who has lived here since he was 12 years. He had virtually no schooling and has lived off the land his entire life. They are classed as sustainable which gives them hunting rights to kill 3 caribou and only 1 moose per season for their meat supply, vegetables are grown during the short Summer season, they only buy the basic necessities.

During the Winter they trap and sell the skins for an income, he also monitors wildlife for the fisheries & wildlife department when required. Lisa makes jewellery and sells this online and to the visitors which come and stay at his sisters B & B. There are only 8 dwellings that make up Wiseman and a couple of those are only holiday homes, so it is not a thriving community but the both are very passionate about living their lifestyle. Jack told us many tales of his life growing up and now surviving in his environment and took us on a tour around a traditional log cabin and a display of some of his hunting trophies. The Alaskan people are a hardy bunch and they say Alaska gets into your heart and keeps you coming back.

Back to Cold Smoke a quick visit to the local roadhouse and back onto the plane for the trip back to Fairbanks around 3.30pm where we tackled the last of suitcase packing.

Caught up with Suzie, Vicki & Murray for a goodbye drink an early dinner as they fly out very early in the early morning.

We had a more civilized departure time but a number of hops to get home, we fly Fairbanks to Anchorage, Anchorage to Vancouver, Vancouver to Brisbane, Brisbane to Melbourne.

It wasn't the most comfortable trip home Reino began not feeling well at Vancouver by the time we got to Melbourne he had had enough and just wanted to get home so thankful and grateful Kirsty came down and picked us up and drove us home.

All in all we truly have had the trip of a life time and loved every moment of trip.