While in Skagway, Alaska

OMG, I don't know how it can get better but this trip sure does. We needed to catch the boat at 7:30am, however our phones were messed up with whether we were on Canadian time or Alaskan time so we were already outside, waiting and wondering where everyone was when we realized that we were an hour early. Well, when the correct time came around we all walked across the parking lot to the 50 person catamaran. But getting up early let us watch two new cruise ships dock in Skagway. Amazing how they get maneuvered into place.

We are camped right across from the small boat harbor so we have a terrific view of all these boats, fishing and yachts. Boarded the catamaran and started out the harbor. The seats on the catamaran were a little tight but what a great boat.  Our captain, George, was great narrating all the scenery we were passing. I loved that we could easily see land on both sides, not any open ocean as we were in fjords. George told us that the tide swings could be as much as 25 feet, twice a day. He said that it can average 3 feet an hour change. He stopped so we could watch the Dall dolphins playing on the other side of the water.  Too far for great pictures and he said that they were shy animals so he really couldn't chase them. He also stopped for us to take pictures of the Eldred Rock Lighthouse. Old place but now is automated so that the Coast Guard just uses a helicopter to check on it twice a month.

The boat served muffins and apples on the way to Juneau. We really got off the boat at Auct Bay and rode a bus about 20 miles into Juneau. First thing, we have lunch at The Hangar right on the bay. We watched four float planes come in and take passengers out while we ate lunch. Fun place to watch from. 

 Then on to shop around town. Juneau is very small. Don't remember it from our cruise 12 years ago because we took shore excursions and missed seeing any of the towns. Did a little shopping and then boarded the bus to go up to the Mendenhall Glacier.  Another amazing site. 

Cruise ships here too.

There was a Visitor Center at the glacier that was very interesting.  Movies and lots of pictures, however, didn't expect to see a porcupine in a tree in Alaska ! !

From the glacier we went to the small boat harbor in Juneau to catch the catamaran back to Skagway.

Here's some shots along the way...

This is the community of Haines. About a short 1/2 hour boat commute or about 350 miles by land from Skagway to Haines. Take your pick! George lives in Haines and works in Skagway.

 New, high speed ferry ! 

We are now another 25 approximate miles from Skagway and I am thinking OMG, I am so tired, wish we could be back to the RV..... HOWEVER, George said that while we were in Juneau he went out looking for whales and wasn't very hopeful that we would find any.... BUT, when we were in the North Pass area, about 20 miles out of Juneau, we saw a pod of 8 - 10 whales doing what George called "bubble" fishing. You could watch the whales actually circling around the fish. George put a sounder in the bay so you could hear the whales, then watch and up they would come and also you needed to watch for the sea birds as they were there just as the whales were coming up. We watched for about half an hour and so we got to watch the process three to four times. Absolutely amazing ! !  George has worked summers in Alaska for 22 years, the rest of the time he lives in Florida. He says that he only sees this 3-4 times a season. We were soooooooo lucky today! ! 

There was this huge pod of whales and then about three way over on the other side of the boat.  George said that they had been ostracized for not properly hunting and so were sent away.  Again, AMAZING ! ! ! 

Tomorrow we ride the White Pass/Yukon Railroad ! !  

Rode the White Pass/Yukon Railroad today, Sunday, July 31st. Went up the other side of the valley that we came down getting into Skagway. It was 12 miles of very steep road coming into town and 20 plus miles on the train! !

Over the border into British Columbia ! No passports needed as we didn't get off the train ! !  LOL.  Can't tell you how many times we have had to go through border checks ~

 Old wooden bridge

While in town today, Monday, we talked with a shop owner that told us that the "bubble" fishing only happens in two places in the world and here is one!!  Again, AMAZING ! !