A quick trip to Skagway – ships, planes, huskies and some rain
I made a quick trip to Skagway last Wednesday, mostly to pick up some shirts I’d ordered. The weather forecast wasn’t great but any drive through the mountains to Skagway is a good drive.
Going through the summit area, the scenery wasn’t as spectacular as it is some days 🙂 – I used to hate doing “fog tours” when I was driving those busses.
My first stop was at the post office. All 3 shirts had been stuffed into my PO box – that saved some time as there was a lineup at the counter.
I then headed down to the docks. There were 3 large cruise ships in, and the highway and town were both busy. Norwegian Bliss was the largest of them – she carries 4,002 passengers at double occupancy, plus 1,700 crew members, and can go a fair bit higher with kids etc. bringing occupancy above 2 per cabin.
Celebrity Millennium carries 2,218 passengers at double occupancy plus 1,050 crew members. Cathy and I and 4 friends did an Alaska cruise on “Millie” in June 2012 and we loved the ship.
Royal Princess carries 3,560 passengers at double occupancy plus 1,350 crew members. So on the 3 ships there would be 9,780 passengers at double occupancy plus 4,100 crew members. In a town with a population of just over 1,000 people…
I saw some action over at the airport, so that was the next stop. This 1980 Cessna T207A Turbo Stationair 8, N1301L, is registered to a numbered corporation in Juneau so I don’t know what it was doing.
It was actually this 1956 de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Mk 1 Beaver, N2400F, that attracted me to the strip. Operated by Mountain Flying Service in Haines (Paul and Amy Swanstrom), it was probably going for a flightseeing trip to Glacier Bay.
As Alaska Seaplanes’ Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, N750KP, landed, the Beaver was taking off.
A better look at the Grand Caravan as it taxied to the terminal.
I was soon headed north. Clearing Customs was quick and simple as usual, and a few minutes later I stopped at the Yukon Suspension Bridge to talk to the staff and get a few photos. The company has been offering people who are using “Murray’s Guide” to explore the highway a discount on admission, and I wanted to make sure that they’re still happy with that arrangement – they are 🙂
As well as the great views from the bridge high above the Tutshi River, there are excellent interpretive displays. I had planned on having lunch there, but the restaurant is now only for bus tours, which bring most of their visitors.
Driving along Tutshi Lake, I witnessed the most disgraceful driving I’ve ever seen by a Skagway tour van. That dark blue van is STOPPED in the middle of the highway on a blind corner, watching a bear!! I didn’t see a company name. If I find out who it is I’ll be filing a formal complaint. It’s bad enough when tourists do that, but for a commercial operator whose job is to keep people safe, it’s absolutely unacceptable.
Continuing on, I made a short stop at Michelle Phillips’ mushing operation, Tutshi Sleddog Tours, just to watch the action. Happy huskies make me smile 🙂
Part of the fun of seeing the dogs is hearing them! I love husky singing.
On the way south, I had noticed that another piece of the roof of the Venus mill has collapsed, so I stopped to get a few photos, just from the highway. When I posted this photo at the Yukon History and Abandoned Places group, somebody said it would make a good puzzle. So I made a 300-piece puzzle at jigsawplanet.com.
I rarely buy clothes, especially online, but I’ll show you the results of the funny mood I was in a few weeks ago. The next photo shows the amazing shirt that started me off 🙂 I stil haven’t got the wrinkles out – I guess it needs to be ironed 🙁
Then, a couple of “statement” tshirts – “Rescued is my favorite breed”…
and “Cameras make me happy, humans make my head hurt” 🙂
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