DRAMA on the way to Tok--we stopped at an overlook 120 miles from anywhere and the RV wouldn't start! Pete fooled around with the battery and finally got it going. We never turned it off until we pulled into this RV repair place in Tok. This is the typical look of many places in Alaska.
He tightened the battery cables and off we went--no charge. The potholes in the road must have loosened them.
The next morning Joe our Tail gunner took the battery cables out, wire brushed them and made some adjustments. No more problems starting up! It was very comforting to know that our Tail gunner Joe was coming behind us and would help us out...a great caravan advantage!
We all walked to Fast Eddies for dinner. Soon we discovered that the campground bathroom lock code had been changed so no showers or bathroom for those who need it. That involves about 4 RVs. Dan our leader was informed and so he called 911! He asked it they could call the RV park owners and let them know because it is an emergency if you have to use the bathroom...."no, we can't do that but, have you ever heard of Fast Eddie's--go there!"
The natives say there are 4 seasons in Alaska--June is Spring, July is summer and August is Fall and the rest is winter! It is August 28th and it is cold 40s at night and 50 to 60 during the day. The leaves are changing and the fire weed flowers are gone--looks like October in Ohio!
The mountains are so beautiful but they do interfere with Pete's Sirius signal. Here he is trying to get better reception by holding the receiver up--sometimes even out the window! Doesn't last long!
Destruction Bay Lodge (RV park) was owned by a real character Lorenzo. He ran the whole operation which included a BBQ roast dinner. He introduced each dish to us as a work of art--food was good but his presentation was a riot. After dinner a wonderful local entertainer performed, then Lorenzo finished off the evening by performing some of his own songs and a poem. What he lacked in talent...he made up for with enthusiasm!
This area is famous for very high winds. The construction crew for the Alaska Highway had their heavy equipment blown right onto the frozen bay and so the name, Destruction Bay!
Skagway
This 270 mile drive was one of the most beautiful yet! We stopped at Emerald Lake (green from algae reflected from the white calcium lake bottom) and Carcross --the smallest desert in the world.
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| Emerald Lake |
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| Carcross desert |
Every turn was another beautiful scene with lakes, mountains, waterfalls and flowers. Maybe the best scenery of the trip!
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We decided to visit the 33 mile Chilkoot Trail which was the route early gold prospectors had to take to get over the mountain pass. The Canadian Mounties required them to bring 2000 pounds of supplies per person over this pass so that they could make it through the harsh winter. The the top of the pass is the Canadian border (The Yukon) and the Royal Mounties would turn them back if they lacked the requirement. We just walked part of it and it was brutal. No idea how they made 25 trips carrying 80 pounds of supplies on their backs! Then they had to build a boat to transport their supplies 500 miles up the Yukon River--not many made it and fewer got rich! The good claims had already been staked and most returned home or figured a way to fulfill a need and started a business. One lady baked apple pies and sold them to the prospectors.
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| A struggle without the snow! |
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| Skagway harbor from road to trailhead |
Juneau
We boarded our catamaran vessel at 7:30am for a 12 hour excursion to Juneau the capitol of Alaska. There are no roads into Juneau so boats, trains, or airplanes are it. 40,000 people live there with 30,000 cars and only 130 miles of roads! It is really beautiful--trees and mountains!
There was an interesting store in town called the Fireweed. Factory. Dan and Pete decided to do some research. They are both in their seventies and were "carded" at a little window which reminded me of the prohibition "speakeasy" before they were granted entry. I finally went in to check on them to find this was a marijuana store. They were both amazed at the variety and cost as they discussed the "medicinal quality" of the products! Didn't make any purchases--just want to be informed!
We did a tour of the salmon hatchery there, walked around the shops with the cruise ship bunch and ate lunch overlooking the cruise ship docks--3 in that day. There were also six pontoon sea planes taking off and landing constantly carrying the eager cruiser people up to see the glaciers.
We saw Humpback whales and Orca whales diving around us...they move too fast for pictures but SO beautiful! There were Bald headed eagles--although by this time we've seen so many that no one was taking pictures! These Sea Lions males are all resting up after a big few weeks with the ladies before they go out to the ocean to become whale dinner.
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| These guys are worn out from their amorous activities! |
It was a wonderful trip with great salmon chowder served! Bailey as usual made it 12 hours without going outside--she's the best
travel puppy you could ask for!
Back in Skagway...we merged in with the many cruise ship visitors and took a free ranger walking tour of the town, She was a terrific guide--from stories about "Soapy Smith" the infamous con man who controlled Skagway to the "crib houses" where ladies of the evening ran their private enterprises! The movie in the visitors center was terrific.
The National Park Service owns a lot of the town buildings and has kept them authentic looking. They lease them to businesses in the area. We happened to see a "Hostetter's Bitters" bottle in a store window. It is a very old tonic that no self-respecting family did without! The bottles are now collectibles and we have several! How it ended up in the window of a
liquor store?? maybe because this "tonic" had a very high alcohol content!
It is a bright fun place that gets so many tourists and RVers that the locals are being priced out of housing. Their economy comes from the cruise ships from May to October then shuts down.
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| Store front made from driftwood! |
Our group went to the "Soapy Smith Vaudeville Show" in town which started out with play money gambling at 21 and roulette tables. If you ran out of money, you answered trivia questions to re-load!
The show was great fun and our friends Ken and Carol were guest stars in the show. Lots of laughs!
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| Having a great time! |
Our last day here started out with laundry, cleaning and repairing a broken gray water tank with some wire from our friends. Things greatly improved with White Pass and Yukon railroad tour. It is a narrow gauge railroad that goes along the gold rush trail. The berm was straight down many places and you just can't imagine how this was ever built so many years ago with tunnels and bridges!
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| Original bridge |
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road bed so small that they used "narrow gauge" tracks. They did the job and cost less.
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| White Horse trail to the Yukon |
Our day ended with a pizza party compliments of our tour. Our trip has only 6 days to go!
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