Alaska Cruise Day 4... HISTORIC SKAGWAY

If you read the last post, you know that our trip started out with a few problems but after a good nights sleep aboard ship...we were ready to experience something wonderful! At 7:30 Am we left the ship to take in beautiful Skagway! ( original spelling is Skaguay)


Our excursion started with a bus taking us to the White Pass Depot to board a train to FraiserBC.



We rode this train but they also have a steam engine train, pictured below, that runs on certain days.....




This was our conductor whom I thought looked straight out of the 1800s...........


DIL Lori gets serious with GD Taylor when she hears we are about to cross a VERY high bridge!



Gold was never found in Skagway but it was the point at which the prospectors got ready to leave civilization and make the long hard trek across the Yukon Pass in search of wealth. The old foot path can still be seen. When the railroad was put in, it made carrying all the gear and food they would need a much easier task.
An interesting fact we learned about Skagway is that no one has been born there since the 1970s. They do not have a doctor there, only a clinic with 2 nurse practitioners. Women are removed at the start of their last trimester to Anchorage or Seattle to await the birth. If they are high risk, they are moved before the last trimester.




If you visit Skagway......ride the train as it will let you see a part of Alaska that will mesmerize you! The train made a couple of stops to let Hiker/Campers off. I'm assuming they were to be picked up a day or two later and taken back to Skagway.






In the distance you can see Bridal Falls which can only be seen from the train.......




For 15 years starting in 1923, George Buchanan, a Detroit Coal Merchant, began bringing groups of 50 boys and girls to Alaska to teach them about earning and saving money. This wall commemorates his effort.




When we got to the Canadian Border at Fraiser BC our bus was there to pick us up for the ride back to Skagway via the Klondike Highway..........



We enjoyed the bus ride back as you see some different scenery and our driver stopped at this sign so we could get pictures.........

A short distance past the sign is where we saw this Black Bear having lunch.....



He also stopped at this overlook where you can look down on Skagway and see the town along with the cruise ships in dock. On the far right are 2 Princess ships. The Golden is in front with the Diamond right behind her.



We were then dropped off in downtown Skagway at the historic Skagway Inn for lunch and then picked up for some Gold Panning! This "old time prospector" was a delight!




The Gold Panning was located on the banks of the Skagway River...........



Turns out I can add "panning" to my list of talents! I ended up doing both Hubby & son Todd's as they just couldn't "get it right"..... :)
After combining mine and Eric's, we had $37.51 in gold which I had put in a necklace. Todd's family of 5 panned $ 51.00 worth which was put in a necklace for DIL Lori!




Here's my necklace!



We were then dropped off in town for sightseeing and some shopping........



This is the 1899 Alaskan Brotherhood building whose front is made from driftwood..........
It now a museum........



As time to be back on ship approaches, the town empties...........


Day 5 will be be the Awesome Tracy Arms Fjord.................



Have a great weekend!!!

Alaska Cruise 2012....First 3 & 1/2 Days

You all know my son Todd and wife Lori gifted us with a Dream Cruise to Alaska...........
However it only takes one United Airlines Flight Delay to turn your dream into a nightmare!
Sit back and have a good laugh at our expense ??? :)

Friday...July 13 th.........

We left Hattiesburg and drove to New Orleans to spend the night as we had to be at the airport at 4:30 AM for our 5:54 Am flight to San Fransisco aboard United. We were told the flight was delayed due to mechanical problems and "hopefully" would take off at 12:00 noon. We were then told that all flights were overbooked and we would NOT make our ship in Seattle ! OMG! I was in tears! Since our flights were booked by Princess Cruises and United guarantees you to make the ship, United told us that we were to be switched in San Fran to Alaska Airlines, put up in a hotel in Seattle and flown to Juneau on Sunday morning to join our ship at noon on Monday. Take my advice....don't EVER book on United !!!

So we get into bed at Comfort Inn Suites in Seattle at midnight and had to get up at 3:00 AM for our Alaska Air flight to Juneau. Alaska Airlines is awesome and they put us in 1st class to Juneau.

We arrived in beautiful Juneau at 7:00 Am Alaska time Sunday morning.

The airport is very small but so pretty. These were hanging in the airport.

This Grizzly was hanging out in a glass cage so hubby got close..........

This is a view of the Taxi parking lot and a gorgeous mountain.......

We were picked up by our hotel, The Driftwood Lodge, who were absolutely wonderful in getting a room ready and letting us check in early as we'd had only 3 hours sleep. Our room was the one on the bottom right, in back of the gray and red cars.

Right next door was a wonderful cafe The Sandpiper. After a hot shower and a few hours sleep we had lunch there. Hubby tried an Elk Burger which he did not like but I had a Reuben which was so good.

This was the view from our room.......

Juneau is full of these huge Ravens and they have no fear of humans. I loved hearing them as they seem to converse with each other constantly.

We spent Sunday resting and hoping that "someone" would find the suitcase that United lost when we were in San Fran that contained most of Hubby's clothes including all his jeans and underwear ! Since the cafe closed at 2:00 PM we ordered a Pizza delivered to our room from a local place that night. Talk about heart failure! $ 30.00 for a large Pizza! Good thing United was footing the bill! At 10:30 PM a Taxi brought the suitcase and Hubby was so happy!

Monday morning we were told by Princess that we would NOT be allowed to board until all passengers had disembarked the ship which meant that we would NOT get to go on our Juneau Excursion for Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier !! Here comes the tears again! So we went for a walk on the streets of Juneau and since all the shops don't open until "a ship docks" we only saw this lonely Bear.

It was freezing and I had forgot to bring my hat & gloves on the walk. The temp was about 49 but the North Wind blows constantly and is so strong it goes right through you!

At 11:30 my son called and said they were docking so the hotel loaded us up and took us to the pier. We were shocked to see about 20 others waiting who had also missed the ship in Seattle due to United. We met 3 couples from Shreveport, La who had gone through a worse ordeal than us. We also got to see our family coming off the ship on their way to the excursion which made me feel much better. When we checked in we were told we could book a later excursion in Juneau but I WAS NOT ABOUT TO LEAVE THAT SHIP !!! :)

I have to say Princess treated us like royalty once we boarded.

Of course the ship was pretty empty because everyone had been on the ship since Saturday and were ready to feel land under their feet. We also learned that in reality, we were lucky because they had gone through some rough seas and half the ship got sea sick and all the entertainment was canceled because the ship was rocking so bad.

I loved this picture on the ship..........

So.. you now know how the Dream Cruise began....

Next time we'll visit Skagway....

Thanks for laughing with me and not at me !!!! :)

PLANNING TO ESCAPE !!!

I know we aren't the only ones who are dreaming of escaping this horrible weather.........
My heart goes out to all those on the Northeast without power due to storms.......
Those in the Florida without homes due to flooding....
Those in Arizona & Colorado without homes due to fire........
Here in the deep south we are suffering from triple digit temps, horrible humidity and drought..........


However we see relief on the horizon! My son Todd and his wife Lori are taking us on a 7 day cruise !!!
NO....this is not our luggage but it's close at least in the amount!
Packing is real intense since it requires packing for 2 seasons because...........
We are going to ...........
We will tour Alaska's Inside Passage............



ABOARD............

We'll fly out of New Orleans to San Fransisco then on to Seattle...........
First port is Juneau where it's 49 degrees right now. Expected normal temps for our cruise week are 65 high/48 low.....ahhhhhhhhhh heavenly! However right now now they are running below normal.


In Juneau we will visit the Mendenhall Glacier..........
And go Whale Watching...........

Next stop....Skagway........




We will board the White Pass/Yukon Railroad to Canada........


Eat lunch and do some Gold Panning.........



Then we'll cruise the gorgeous Tracy Arms Fjord...........



Where lots of Grizzlies are seen...........



On to Ketchican.................


We are going wildlife exploring, Dungress Crabbing and get to have an outdoor Crab Feast...


Next stop.... Victoria BC for a walking tour.......


Then much to our dismay....
Back to this heatwave.............



Where I'll be dreaming of getting this awesome Swim Spa...........



However this better suits out budget !! How creative is this??



SO.........Do any of you have a planned escape
Stay cool and remember, THIS TOO SHALL PASS!