That's our ship at the end of the street. This is only part of the little town. From here you can ride the train or a motorcoach to White Pass which is just over the Canadian border.
We were on a motorcoach (next time I'd take the train - just because). This way we could watch the train travel the same canyon and those people can't see the gorgeous waterfall they're crossing! When the train gets to the end everyone stands up, flips their seat over and the engine unhooks to turn around. Then everyone switches sides so people on the cliff side get the hillside on the way back! Twice the price to ride the train, however.
This is in-between the Canadian and American borders. For some reason they are 15 miles apart. Yes you have to carry your passport but today the border guard didn't check because our coach didn't go all the way to the other border.
This bridge is unique in that it is supported only from the one side. The coaches are required to go 5 mph across it to prevent bouncing. The guide said he loves watching personal vehicles do the same thing even though they can go faster.
Again we had trouble with cloudiness but we'd get occasional glimpses like this.
This is a serious snow-blowing machine used on the railroad tracks.
We stopped in a little museum about the gold rush of 1898. It is said that the people then had heard tales from grandparents about the California gold rush of 1849 and how they wished they had gone. This caused thousands of people to go to Alaska. California gold is vein gold and is still mined whereas Alaska gold is placer gold and once picked up is gone. Skagway was the starting point. From there you had another 400 or so miles to the gold fields! After awhile the mounties got tired of rescuing people who weren't prepared and required a year's worth of goods be brought in order to be allowed to go. This picture illustrates what that would look like - 2,000 pounds of stuff. Can't be carried all at once. Miners carried 50 pounds or so for 20-30 miles then walk back and do it again, leapfrogging on the trail. If you reached a certain lake you could paddle up the river to the gold fields. Poor people didn't make the trip and very few got more wealthy. "The ones selling the shovels made more than the ones using them." Those buying out the others (such as corporations) also made money.
We visited another museum in town that showcased native artifacts like this ivory tusk...
...carved with lots of mammoths on it!
These are baskets woven from whale baleen. It's a sturdier material than I thought it would be.
This is scrimshaw on ivory. Intricate drawings. What else you gonna do on a ship between catches?
We saw lots of local artisans work including all this inside one shop. It's not cheap I can tell you but they must do good business.
There are MANY jewelry stores in all these towns. Some offer a "free gift" if you come inside to look. Nancy and I went in several times but the high pressure to buy from some of them is ridiculous. If I said I couldn't afford it they would be aghast - after all I "just got off a cruise ship"!
This was cute. There are many references to size here. Maps have never done Alaska justice.
Then it was time to sail on. This was a cute little Russian-influenced lighthouse we passed by. There is a big Russian influence here of course, being so close.
Just sailing along while we eat dinner.
While we ate whales appeared in the distance. Always a sight that gets people's attention. You learn to carry your camera around ALL the time - never know what might happen.
This night they brought out the kids that have been involved with their young-people programs during the day. They had a pirate theme and they displayed what they had been learning all week - complete with eye-patch make-up. They were very cute.
This is a group from Las Vegas called "Tribute". They do the songs of The Temptations. You also see the ship's band in the back. They are world-class talent in their own right.
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