Skagway

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Wednesday July 10th

It was a really early start today.We had to meet our tour at 7.15 on the dock. So as soon as the gangplank was down we were off to find our meeting point. This tour took us over the border into Canada so we had have our passports.

Another delightful young man working his summer break from uni as a tour guide whisked us off to the Gold rush Sled dogs. Here we had an interesting presentation from Matt Hayashida who has run the Iditarod dog sled race 8 times. This is Alsaka's state sport. Matt showed us the gear he had to take on such a long distance race and talked us through the whole procedure.

 Matt's huge snow boots he uses on the run.

He then took us out to meet his dog team and Kat did a short demonstration of a run.

 Kat racing the dog sled team (on gravel)

The dogs that weren't chosen to be harnessed up and run got very annoyed and barked and cried. The ones that were chosen couldn't wait to get started. Matt's old retired lead dog Martina apparenlty hates all the fuss and the touristsand can't wait to get back into her enclosure and sit on her couch.

We were then introduced to the puppies.

 Patariki with Matt and Lili. Lili is Matt's daughter and helps with the dogs in the holidays. Matt told us there are three things an Alaskan man needs; a pickup truck, a chainsaw, and a wife and they all have to work.

We were then driven by motor coach up to the tiny town of Fraser in BC to catch the narrow gauge White pass and Yukon railroad train back to Skagway. The road takes you up one side of a huge gorge and the train brings you down the other. There was a short lived gold rush up this valley and the coach driver told us many tales of the stampeders who trekked through the pass in search of gold. It was quite a climb up the 2865 foot summit. At the top the customs officers from Canada came onto the coach and checked our passports. This seemed to be a token gesture. We had to open them at the photo page and they literally ran through the bus. We suspect that they have do it because we have crossed a border but it is taken very lightly. If you get on the train in Skagway and stay on the train and go back they do not need to see your passport.

 A view of the train across on the other side.

Inukshuk stone trail markers. I would not make a good trail marker. I would get wet and cold.

 One of the beautiful mirror lakes. It was an unusually calm and sunny day and even the tour guide was seeing lakes he had never seen since he had been driving up to Fraser.

Then it was onto the train for the ride back to Skagway. This left us with time to explore the quaint little town. Of course over 50% of the stores were selling high end jewellery. But there were some lovely little family owned shops selling good made in Alaska or Russia.

The buildings are all wooden and there is a wooden boardwalk in the whole town rather than foot paths.

 Street view of famous Red Onion Saloon

Broadway. It looks like the Norwegian Cruise Ship is sailing up the street.

 Horse and buggy in the town

 Totem poles.

Back at the ship we went to the best show yet. It was hits from the Broadway musicals. (not the Broadway in Skagway!) This cast is from the UK. They auditioned over there and an agency puts the show together over a period of 6 weeks. They are sent onto the ship with a dance captain and vocal coach from the cast to maintain the routines. Up to 500 people auditioned for 14 places avaiable. It would be a good stepping stone to profeswsional theatre on shore.