We didn’t have to travel far to see the sights today. Back at the campground, people emerged from their RV’s with coffee cups in hand in search of birds, whales, and vessels passing by. Someone shouted “Whale” and started pointing. Binoculars and spotting scopes came out and we all watched to see where they are. Far across the water we watched three whales as they spouted and breached.
Later, we drove along Mud Bay to a cannery to get some smoked salmon. No work was being done so we decided to come back another day to watch them at work. The local IGA had just received it’s weekly shipment so after we stocked up there we spent the rest of the day enjoying the views from our campground.
We’re in site 13 at the Oceanside RV Park overlooking the oceanHaines boat harborHaines HarborWelcome to HainesA Blue Heron in Haines
Have I mentioned how hot it is here? After traveling through Canada wearing sweatshirts, jeans and wool socks for days, we arrived in Alaska and had to change into short sleeves and shorts. Many people in the campground sat in their chairs sunbathing.
Blondie finally got to go swimming when we took her down to the beach.
I could see Henry and Blondie on the beach from our campsiteBlondie swimming in Haines, AlaskaKelp washed up on the beachShells were everywhere
Whale watching during cocktail hour and waiting for a storm to come in – it’s a tough job but someone has to do it.
This boat anchored right in front of usWatching for whales in Haines, AlaskaView from our campground in HainesA ship goes by in the distance as two ships are leaving the harbor in the rain
Day 34: June 18, 2013. Skagway, Alaska to Haines, Alaska on the ferry Walaspina. Oceanside RV Park, Site 13, Haines. About 335 miles by land, 15 miles and one hour by ferry.
Four new cruise ships arrived in the harbor while we were sleeping. The boardwalks were filled with shoppers from the ships early in the morning. We made a couple of last minute purchases before hitching up the fifth wheel to drive about two blocks to the ferry terminal. Our quiet little row of campers suddenly became busy as about 4 huge motor homes pulled in just as we were getting ready to leave. With cruise ship passengers walking through the parking lot and a train across the road stopping traffic it took us about 30 minutes to go two blocks to get in line for the ferry.
Our rig was measured – 46 feet from the front of the truck to the rear of the fifth wheel – we paid for the tickets, and had a couple of hours before boarding. We had hoped to grab a quick lunch in town but lines were out the doors everywhere so we just fixed lunch and ate at the ferry dock. Our rig was parked right next to Ted and Ruthy, a couple from Michigan and Arizona we met back in Prince George, BC. We saw their rig in Watson Lake and they saw ours in Liard Hotsprings.
When it was time to board the vehicles on the ferry a crew member directed traffic pointing to each vehicle when it was their turn to board. We sat and watched the motor homes and other trailers board until only cars were left. When they started moving quickly to the ferry we knew we would be the last ones on.
We rode the Walaspina ferry to HainesWe were the last ones to enter the ferryCars and RV’s are lined up inside the ferryHenry on deck of the WalaspinaSeveral helicopters flew past the shipLeaving the Skagway dock
Blondie had to stay in the truck while we went up to the passenger decks for our one hour journey through the inside passage to Haines. We stayed outside most of the trip to see the scenery and went inside to the nice comfortable lounge when we started getting cold.
Helicopter tours flew byAmazing views from the ferryApproaching HainesArriving at the Haines ferry dockWe traveled on the Alaska Ferry System from Skagway to Haines.
Our campground was just a few minutes drive from the ferry dock. Our friends Ted and Ruthy are just a few sites down from us. An eagle flew by to welcome us and perched on the rocks in the harbor. Our next door neighbors said they saw whales earlier. We knew we were going to like it here.
Driving into Haines, AlaskaWe watched the ferry from our campground as it was leaving HainesView from our campsiteA Bald Eagle on our first day in Haines
While we slept, four cruise ships arrived in the harbor. Skagway was bustling with activity early in the morning as the trains, sightseeing buses, and stores prepared for the onslaught of cruise ship passengers.
The streets were still fairly quiet as I took my early morning stroll through town. I passed by two trains filled with passengers waiting to depart. Later in the day the streets were filled with people strolling along, taking pictures, and hitting the shops.
Pullen Creek RV Park, Skagway, AlaskaThe White Pass train waiting to departThe train across from the cruise ship dockThis train is waiting to hitch up more carsHistorical buildings in downtown SkagwayDowntown SkagwayTotems in downtown SkagwayDowntown SkagwayAn advertisement painted on the side of the cliffDowntown SkagwayThis building is part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Inside is a replica of a saloon.Strolling on the boardwalk is part of the fun
After another delicious breakfast at the Sweet Tooth we joined the throngs of shoppers browsing the shops. You can find anything from the typical made in China souvenirs to beautiful handcrafted, made in Alaska items. After drooling over all the beautifully crafted items I finally decided on a pair of jade whale tail earrings.
At 10:30 we went to the Days of ’98 Show at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. The musical play tells the tale of Soapy Smith, Alaska’s most notorious outlaw. The show was entertaining and so much fun. The piano player, dance hall girls, ragtime music, and Soapy himself were all great. I highly recommend attending the show if you ever go to Skagway.
At the Days of 98 show at the Fraternal Order of EaglesSoapy Smith and the three dance all girlsBeth with the Soapy SmithHenry with the dance hall girls
Here is a video of the girls performing the can-can. If you are reading an email update and can’t watch the video, click Wandering Dawgs to go to the web page and scroll to the video to watch.
When we came out of the show the streets were filled with people. A drive along the Taiya Inlet to the former town of Dyea sounded perfect. Thousands of prospectors hoping to strike it rich during the Klondike Gold rush followed the Chilkoot trail which began in Dyea. The narrow, winding gravel road to the site of the once booming town of Dyea was beautiful. The trail to the town site takes you through woods and neither of us was prepared for the hike so we didn’t actually see where the town once was. At the end of the road were the Dyea Flats with wild iris and other wildflowers adding splashes of purple to the green.
Wild Iris in the Dyea FlatsField of wildflowers at DyeaSkagway Harbor from overlook on Dyea RaodDyea Flats
Henry spent the rest of the afternoon washing the truck while I did some cleaning inside. Watching the cruise ship passengers pass by on their way back to their ship was a great way to relax after a hard day of being a tourist.
Dinner at the Red Onion Saloon was really fun. As I was enjoying my pizza and Henry his Reuben, we were pleasantly surprised to see a band setting up to play. With two fiddles, a bass, a mandolin, a guitar, and English Concertina we knew the Windy Valley Boys would be fun to listen to. Their first song was a foot tapping, buck dancing kind of song that reminded me of the jam session at the Floyd Country Store in Virginia. We ordered another beer and stayed for the entire first set. What a great ending to our day!
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Henry’s Father’s Day present was he didn’t have to tow the RV anywhere! He got to relax and enjoy the day.
Blondie and I started the day with an early morning stroll through downtown Skagway. As I walked along the boardwalks gazing at the historic buildings I could imagine what it must have been like during the Gold Rush days in 1898.
This is what I saw when I stepped out of the RV this morningPullen RV Park Site 45, Skagway, AKLooking down State Street toward the HarborSkagway Visitor’s Center is one of the most photographed buildings in AlaskaSkagway Centenial Statue. The sculptor was killed in a plane crass two days ago.
Later on, Henry and I enjoyed breakfast at the Sweet Tooth Cafe before going for a drive back up the highway to enjoy the views we couldn’t stop to look at on our way to Skagway.
First Day in Alaska 2013We enjoyed a great Father’s Day breakfast hereWhite Pass & Yukon Route train enginesWatching the train go by from one of the overlooks on the Klondike HighwayPitchfork FallsWaterfalls along the Klondike HighwayWe crossed over the William Moore BridgeWelcome to AlaskaView at the Welcome SignWe felt like the only people in the world on the Klondike HighwayAlmost 80 degrees and there is still ice on the lakeHenry and Blondie with SnowMore snowSnow Remover
Fish and Chips at the Skagway Brewing Company with a Prospector’s Ale was a great way to end the day.
We couldn’t have picked a better place to start our Alaska adventure than Skagway. We love it here.
Day 31: Saturday, June 15, 2013. Watson Lake, Yukon to Skagway, Alaska. Pullen Creek RV Park Site 45 overlooking the Skagway Harbor and surrounded by mountains. 320 miles traveled.
I was talking to a fellow traveler at the RV park in Watson Lake before we left there this morning and I commented that this was our 31st day on the road and we still weren’t in Alaska! Our plan for the day was to continue on the Alaska to Whitehorse, Yukon and enter Alaska northwest of there in several days.
It was another beautiful drive on the Alaska Highway with some nice places to stop along the way.
We crossed the Continental DivideThese purple wildflowers were growing all along the highwayYukon wildflowersWe crossed the Nitsutlin Bay Bridge to the town of Teslin on the other side These carvings at the Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre represent the Wolf, Eagle, Frog, Beaver and Raven clans
We stopped for lunch at a rest stop. While I was fixing lunch Henry walked over to read an interpretive sign. On the sign was a large map of the area. As we were eating he commented that we weren’t very far from Skagway. We talked about it for a few minutes and he was just as anxious to get to Alaska as I was. We had to make a decision as the turnoff to go to Skagway was in about six miles. I entered Skagway into the GPS and it was 59 miles to Whitehorse and about 102 miles to Skagway. It was a no brainer. We were going to Skagway.
We left the Alaska Highway and off we went. We were about halfway to Skagway when I realized it was Saturday of Father’s Day weekend. What if all the rv parks were full? There was no cell service and no way to find out until we got there. I read ahead in the Milepost and saw in red letters warning of an 11 mile descent with 11% grade going into Skagway. I told Henry “There’s something coming up you’re not going to like.” There was no turning back.
The drive on the Klondike Highway was spectacular. Snow covered mountains, deep blue ice covered lakes. There were even two bears along the highway. We couldn’t stop to look at anything.
I kept checking my phone for cell service. We had to get AT&T when we got to Skagway, didn’t we?
Finally, we stopped for pictures at the Welcome to Alaska sign! We were really here!
We finally made it!
We cleared customs with no problem and headed straight for the Pullen Creek RV Park hoping for one of the waterfront sites on the harbor. We asked for 2 nights, maybe 3. He said no problem, go pick one and come back and tell me where you are. After setting up, we were happy to just sit outside and enjoy the view.
An old mine on the way to SkagwayOn the South Klondike Highway on the way to SkagwayThere is still ice on the lakeOver 70 degrees and there is still snowBack in the U.S.A.!!!!!Our campsite is in the parking lot at the Skagway HarborView from our campsite
Henry says I looked like I was going to cry when I saw AT&T with full bars and 3G come up on my phone. We called our kids and enjoyed the rest of the night.
Wandering Dawgs 