Alaska Adventures: Day 11--June 29

Tue. June 29: We pulled into Taiya inlet early this morning. Marv happened to be up at 4:15 or so to take pictures of the sun rise before we had docked at Skagway (the Tlinket name means ruffled waters). Once the major Klondike gateway, Skagway still boasts many historic Gold Rush buildings. Less evident now is how Dyea, nine miles north by unpaved road, rivaled it as Alaska’s largest town then. We went straight to the Klondike Gold Rush National Park Visitor Center, right in the center of town, to get information on what we wanted to do. We ended up taking a 1.6 mile hike out to Yakutania Point first, which looks down Lyn Canal toward the Chilkat Mountains. We got back to the Visitor Center in time for the 11:00 ranger led historical walk around town, learning about such characters as Soapy Smith and William Moore, who typified the people who made the town, which sustained what was only a two year gold rush. We heard about the “Stampeders” who climbed the shorter deadly Chilkoot Pass, rising 1000 feet in a quarter mile, or taking the equally harrowing White Pass, and carried their required 1 ton year’s supplies into Canada, arriving at Dawson City only to find that all the lands were claimed already and there was nothing to do but return. The ranger did a good job of telling the stories and it was well worth the one hour it took. We grabbed a quick sandwich to share at a bakery and returned to the Visitor Center to watch their informational film on the history of the Klondike Gold Rush. Afterwards we hiked about 3 miles and up 500 feet elevation to Lower Dewey Lake and beyond to the cascades of water which feed the lake. It was a pretty difficult climb made worthwhile by the beauty of the tumbling water. Shelby was more than ready to return to the ship when we reached the bottom again. But Ann and I wanted a few more of our coupon freebies so, with Marv, we made our way back downtown. We also considered a stop at the notorious Red Onion Saloon. But it was totally packed, so instead we dragged ourselves back to the ship. A soak in the hot tub helped our aching legs and put us in good shape for our 6:10 reservation at the Savoy, an Italian Restaurant. The four of us met our tour director, Connie; Ann, the retired elementary principal; and Lynn, who celebrated her 85^th birthday with us last week. We had a delightful two hour dinner with them and Connie even bought the wine! Marv had Fettuccini Alfredo in a parmesan cheese bowl and I had turbot with linguini. Both were delicious! For dessert I had a trio of gelato and Marv had the tiramisu. The illusionist’ show in the Princess Theater was completely packed so we returned to our room to work on pictures and the journal, before tumbling gratefully into our bed.