Skagway
Alaska 
Airstreaming  2006

Arrive:  August 18
Depart:  August 22
Road Conditions:  Ferry
Weather: Night Cloudy Cold
Miles:  Ferry

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Ferry Ride

Originally scheduled for 5:30 p.m. our ferry to Skagway actually left at 11:30 p.m.. giving us plenty of time to do nothing. We left Haines Hitchup, found parking along the street, and visited the Sheldon Museum. Then on to the ferry terminal where we spent the rest of the day killing time. Ted and I had to back down the ramp, Mike came straight in and had enough room to turn around when leaving. The ferry staff is well trained and very patient when guiding and packing the ferry with quite an assortment of cars, trucks, and RV's. The ride was smooth through a misty fog and most probably very scenic but it was dark so we didn't see a thing.

Ted made this ferry ride a most memorable event. He collapsed. That's right, he tumbled to the floor and lost consciousness, or perhaps the other way around. I alerted a deck hand and the ship's crew took over immediately. They cleared the area, except for Lois and his stunned and fearful friends, and started emergency medical procedures. The first check of his blood pressure was so low they assumed error but when the second reading on another machine agreed they said "Oh - call the ambulance." While all the passengers patiently waited Ted was quickly and professionally gurnied off the ship and rushed to the Skagway medical center. We were all nervous.

Time to leave the ferry, Lois, the calmest of all, drove there rig with Kath along for moral and communication support. Departure was smooth as silk and after finding the campground and all getting parked (in the dark) Mike got to work setting up their trailer while I took Lois to find Ted. There he was, his color returned, proving blood still pulsed through his veins and according to the doctor "alligators" churned in his stomach. While escorting Ted to my truck and out of earshot of Lois or the doctor Ted mirthfully commented "... you know, I didn't mention the two quarts of beer I drank." - he was back, alligators and all - our world was right again.

Skagway

There is a colorful history surrounding Skagway and beautiful mountains surrounding Skagway but for most who visit today shopping is the lure. Cruise ships disgorge a spate of people ready to swipe their cards. The locally owned gift shop proprietors rightfully complain about the cruise company owned stores that siphon off the loot. The cruise ships of course promote their own shops and not the local artists who built the town. We stayed at Pullen Creek RV Park and found it perfectly convenient to the downtown area.

The town is cute and fun from the wooden sidewalks to the Days of  "98" Show which highlights the hoodlum Soapy Smith. A lot of shopping was done of course and we attended a performance of the show where unwisely we sat in the first row . This got some of us dragged on stage while the rest suspired. The Klondike Gold Rush of 1898 has left a most interesting history about thousands of  eager prospectors challenging the White Pass Trail from Skagway or the Chilkoot Trail from nearby Dyea (where little remains). The lure of gold overwhelmed the need for life and many perished, few returned with their pockets full - as is the case today.