Alaska!

We’re back on U.S. soil, in the great state of Alaska! At least for 2 days, that is. Our trip today of less than 100 miles took us from Yukon Territory through a small piece of British Columbia and over the international border just north of Skagway, AK.

We awoke this morning to find that we had a few more neighbors in our wayside, including 2 trucks, one with No Name, and an airplane!

People towing the plane evidently slept in the van.

The border crossing was easy, just a few questions about guns, tobacco, alcohol, produce and meat. Don answered truthfully, and we were on our way in only a couple of minutes.

We all stopped at the “Welcome to Alaska” sign to take pictures.

Dennis and Carol have done this before!

The 11-mile descent at 11% was a challenge to drive, especially in the rain. Don volunteered to drive the downhill today; I’ll drive uphill when we reverse the route on Wednesday.

Skagway reminds me of some places in Colorado.

The 5 larger rigs parked on the pavement sites of Pullen RV Park, where we have a view of the harbor where cruise ships dock. Jim and Pat are just behind us in the main part of the RV Park; you can see their camper to the left of our rig.

The view from our windshield.

Another cruise ship arrived later in the day. Both ships were gone when we returned this evening around 9 pm.

Don and I drove out to the head of the Chilkoot Trail, where he hiked the full 33 miles in 5 days in June 2003. Later, at the Skagway Visitor Center, we saw a film about the Klondike Gold Rush and I learned more about the history of the rugged people who influenced this area. What hardships they endured! I don’t think I’d be able to live through similar challenges.

His group stayed in these cabins preparing for the hike.

Here’s the start of the trail.

The Dyea Estuary lies in the Taiya Inlet, as viewed from the road to the Chilkoot Trailhead.

On our return to Skagway, we stopped at an overlook above the town. Our RV park faces the harbor where the cruise ship is docked.

Skagway view from the lookout.

We had dinner at the Red Onion Saloon.

Bedpans of all shapes and sizes line the top of one wall of the Saloon.

It has an interesting bar and staircase.

After dinner, we attended a melodrama “The Days of ‘98” where Carol was the top winner in “fake gambling” and was presented with a poster autographed by all the actors.

Larry was selected to take part in the show, and played a great part, with show girls fighting over him.

It was a long, full day, and we had an extra hour to play because we’re now in the Alaska Time Zone, one hour earlier than Pacific Time. And this blog entry is long enough, so I’m hitting the sack!