The drive was again showing snow covered mountains on both sides of the road with frozen lakes and lots of trees in the valleys we followed. We got to the intersection called Jack’s Corner. There is a gas station so I stop to top off the tank. A lady comes out to pump the gas. I jokingly ask her is she is Jack. She says, “No! Why, do I look like him?” We had a nice conversation about the coming tourist season and being glad the weather is warming, etc.
We make our turn onto Hwy 8. The road took us to Carcross, YT. We turned onto Hwy 2 south and we immediately began to climb. As we went up in elevation the snow became deeper in the ditches and the mountains steeper with their peaks covered in clouds.
We went from the Yukon into British Columbia. There were signs warning of avalanches and falling rock. As we gained altitude the clouds not only got thicker, they got closer. Finally we were in the cloud layer with very dense fog. The fog was thick enough that Peggy was watching the fog line on the edge of the road while I watched the center line and ahead. We were crawling along while I hope we didn’t either get rear ended or that I run into someone stopped in the road ahead.
Finally we cleared the mountain pass and began the descent down towards Skagway. Just as we left the cloud bank we came to the US Port of Entry. We wait in a short line of vehicles and tour buses. Finally our turn. The officer asks the usual questions. But when she asked if we had made any purchases in Canada and what were they, I told her the only thing we had purchased was in the refrigerator. With that she made a grimace, but it was only a gallon of milk! I'm sure she was worried we had bought some meat products. She waved us through.
We found the Garden City RV campground on the outer edge of Skagway. We set up camp, and it began raining. Lunch was eaten, and we started to plan what our day’s activities would be. They advertised a free wifi, but it is not up! I'm currently using an open wifi from who knows where. But is is veerrrryyy ssssllllooooowww! I'll probably need to wait to upload pictures that we've taken while here.
During the afternoon we went to the NP Service's visitor center. We watched a 30 minute movie on the 1897-9 Klondike gold rush. Was very informative. We then found that there was an hour walking tour of Skagway's history lead by a NP ranger. We took the tour and found it to be very good, also.
We then went for drinks and chips and salsa at the Red Onion Saloon. It is decorated like a saloon during the time of the gold rush and the waitresses are dressed like the saloon girls of old! Oo-la-la!!
Peggy also found that at 6:00 there was a special presentation at the NP visitor center's auditorium on Martin Injens, a former citizen of Skagway starting in the 1920's who took the area's tourism to new levels. It gave a good snapshot of the history of Skagway, also.
I do have to say that Skagway was definitely a good decision to come and visit. It is the most impressive village we've seen since our trip started. The main street is made up of small shops that sell all sorts of products. The stores reflect the look of Skagway during its heyday following the gold rush. It reminds me of Estes Park, CO, with its hubbub of goings on. There are lots of people roaming around as there are 2 cruise ships docked here. I can always people watch! :o) There is a constant movement of tour buses bring people to town and I'm sure taking them to inland places. And there is a RR that goes up to the top of the White Pass. I wish the Dyea site was open as it is at the beginning of the Chilkoot Pass route to the Yukon gold fields, but it is to early in the season.
It has been sprinkling lightly all day. So we are eating our dinner meal indoors. We have a snowy TV picture using the antenna, but it's better than nothing on a cool, rainy night.
In planning for tomorrow we know there is a museum we only peeked at so can go to that. There also is a hike to a point of land on the inland waterway on the other side of the Skagway River. So seems there will be lots to do. Peggy says we need to do laundry also.
We only drove about 130 miles today, but according to one source we are only 20 hours away from Anchorage, including getting meals, eating pie, and having good conversation. In other words only about 800 miles from Wasilla where we need to be at by next Saturday.
During the afternoon we went to the NP Service's visitor center. We watched a 30 minute movie on the 1897-9 Klondike gold rush. Was very informative. We then found that there was an hour walking tour of Skagway's history lead by a NP ranger. We took the tour and found it to be very good, also.
We then went for drinks and chips and salsa at the Red Onion Saloon. It is decorated like a saloon during the time of the gold rush and the waitresses are dressed like the saloon girls of old! Oo-la-la!!
Peggy also found that at 6:00 there was a special presentation at the NP visitor center's auditorium on Martin Injens, a former citizen of Skagway starting in the 1920's who took the area's tourism to new levels. It gave a good snapshot of the history of Skagway, also.
I do have to say that Skagway was definitely a good decision to come and visit. It is the most impressive village we've seen since our trip started. The main street is made up of small shops that sell all sorts of products. The stores reflect the look of Skagway during its heyday following the gold rush. It reminds me of Estes Park, CO, with its hubbub of goings on. There are lots of people roaming around as there are 2 cruise ships docked here. I can always people watch! :o) There is a constant movement of tour buses bring people to town and I'm sure taking them to inland places. And there is a RR that goes up to the top of the White Pass. I wish the Dyea site was open as it is at the beginning of the Chilkoot Pass route to the Yukon gold fields, but it is to early in the season.
It has been sprinkling lightly all day. So we are eating our dinner meal indoors. We have a snowy TV picture using the antenna, but it's better than nothing on a cool, rainy night.
In planning for tomorrow we know there is a museum we only peeked at so can go to that. There also is a hike to a point of land on the inland waterway on the other side of the Skagway River. So seems there will be lots to do. Peggy says we need to do laundry also.
We only drove about 130 miles today, but according to one source we are only 20 hours away from Anchorage, including getting meals, eating pie, and having good conversation. In other words only about 800 miles from Wasilla where we need to be at by next Saturday.
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