I looked into doing a train ride up to White Pass with a tour bus return, but the trains don't start running until the end of May. I'm sure we will find other things to do today, our last in Skagway. It's a bit disappointing that we are ahead of the tourist season for many places, but I have to remind myself that we will be in Alaska all summer and will have more than enough tourist/visitor opportunities to satisfy ourselves!
And, I apologize to the readers of this blog. I have to admit that I occasionally go back to previous posts and add things. It becomes hard to recall everything that you see and do and put it in the post at the time you write it. Through idle time thinking and conversations with Peggy, I recall things that I didn't include, so go back and add it. And I would not expect Peggy to have to jot down notes because she is entitled to take in the sights and have an enjoyable experience, too. However, Peggy and I want the blog to be a good, accurate way for us to recollect later what took place on our trip as much as we want you to be informed about our happenings.
Staying in Skagway has been welcomed not only from the variety of things to see and do here, but it has been a nice break from being on the road everyday trying to cover distances. Tomorrow we are back on the road in the Yukon and on the Alaska Hwy making our way closer to Alaska.
I know that Internet and cell phone services will be nonexistent en route until perhaps we cross back into Alaska at Tok. And even then there is not a guarantee that wifi will be available, even if advertised as such. We've found that out!
We slept in again this morning. Peggy cooked a large breakfast and off we ventured. We went back to the NP Visitors Center to get info and maps for the old Skagway cemetery, a water fall, and the old Klondike town of Dyea. Off to the cemetery we went.
Buried in this Gold Rush Cemetery are some of Skagway's old citizens. There is Martin Itjen who I mentioned in an earlier post. There is Soapy Smith, and unsavory type, and Frank Reid, a good guy, who were in a gun battle. Reid fatally shot Smith on the spot, but Reid was mortally wounded and died later. These graves all date back to the times of the gold rush and the initial growth of Skagway. We found a plaque in Skagway were the gun fight took place.
Also at the cemetery is a trail that climbs up to the Lower Reid Falls. They were an impressive sight not only because of the height, but also the amount of water tumbling down. It helps that it is spring, and the snows on the mountain are melting to produce more water.
We then drove 9 miles to Dyea which was the companion town to Skagway during the Klondike gold rush. It is located on a separate inlet to the north of Skagway. We were able to drive out on the tidal flats where you can still see old pilings for the docks of Dyea. We hiked a trail around the old town site finding little but for a front to a real estate office, but the town died for a lack of being a deep water port. For that reason, Skagway survived with its deep harbor for oceangoing vessels.
We attempted to go to a couple of museums in town but with it being Sunday, they were closed. We filled up the pickup with fuel for our departure tomorrow. This evening went out to eat dinner.
Just got back from a good meal of halibut and fries. Very good! I also had to sample the Skagway Brewing Company's micro brews. My top choice of the 5 beers (shot glass sized each!) was their Spruce Top Blonde beer. Also found out that this particular beer was written up in "Draft Magazine". If any of you ever get to Skagway, you have to have a glass. I'll vouch for it!
We can now make preps for tomorrow drive- take on some fresh water, tidy up the camper, look over the maps- at least Peggy does, and rest up! Adieu, Skagway! We really enjoyed being here!
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