When we woke up this morning to the ship slowing down on the approach to Skagway which was an important port during the Klondike Gold Rush which was a migration by up to 100,000 prospectors between 1896 and 1899. Gold was discovered there by local miners on August 16, 1896 and when news reached Seattle and San Francisco the following year, it triggered a stampede of prospectors. Some became wealthy, but the majority went in vain. Skagway is a popular stop for cruise ships, and the tourist trade is a big part of business. The main street features pubs, jewelry store, fur traders and food. With Deb still feeling the effects of her cold, I had a wander ‘downtown’ and we agreed to meet up for today’s excursion. It was a dangerous trip though. You have to get a shuttle from the ship to end of the pier because there has been a number of rock falls, which you are apparently more likely to survive if you’re in a shuttle.
We started off with breakfast which was really only a consideration for me. Deb was up to a smoothie, but for me a breakfast favourite of eggs and lamb chops was in store. As you can see … I liked it.
While downtown, I ran into a couple we’d talked to a number of times on the trip and we walked back from Skagway to the meeting place. Deb showed up as we were about to board the White Pass and Yukon Route narrow gauge railroad which is now in operation purely for tourist’s through the summer months. The railway was built as a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge railroad linking the port of Skagway with Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon.
We had a fairly quiet afternoon and had afternoon tea prior to returning to our cabin to rest up prior to dinner. We had dinner with the couple that we did the train trip with who are from Vancouver. Compass Rose was the venue again, I had a Norwegian Gravlax for starter and Pork Belly for main, while Deb had Lobster Bisque and then Scallops for a main. For dessert I had a souffle while Deb had Chocolate Mousse. I forgot the photos until halfway through dinner… pffft!
We are not expecting good weather for tomorrow, so sadly it could end up
being another day at sea.
Until tomorrow!
Rob's "Beats Working" Blog 