My parents happened to have scheduled a cruise to Alaska a year or more ago. It was by sheer luck and planning that we were able to meet up for a day in Skagway while their cruise ship was in port. Seeing my folks after four months was certainly a highlight of my time in Alaska. I do miss their company.
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The discovery of gold in the Klondike in 1896 ushered in a wave of "stampeeders" seeking riches from the north. Boarding steamships chock full of supplies and naive city folks from Washington, Idaho, Oregon and California, waves landed in the town of Moorseville, as it was then called. With any frontier town comes the saloons, brothels and general lawlessness. Outlaw characters like "Soapy" Smith ran the town through corruption and favors, preying on the influx of would-be miners. In the end, most returned empty handed and the town quickly faded from prominence and slowly evolved into a proper small port town and access to Whitehorse, YT via the White Pass & Yukon Route RR. To this day, large ships still breathe life into town. The street is lined with gift shops, jewelry stores and all the other "port" style places to drop money when disembarking from a cruise. If one looks around after 7PM, the "real" town comes out and you meet the nicest local bus drivers, bar tenders and unique folk that live in this 7-900 person town. I had a glorious birthday yesterday, waking up in a fog shrouded forest at Twin Falls then proceeded to celebrate with a 230mi ride down the Yellowhead Hwy to Prince George. I graciously accepted Dave and Joan's offer for dinner and had a fabulous time enjoying their company. Accidentally letting Cello, their beagle-poodle-something else mix out led me to a half-crocked barefoot chase around the neighborhood. My unsuccessful chase proved the prowess and skill of their dog in escaping and evading. An early morning shower brought him in around 1 and I breathed a sigh of relief. 28 years old but still young at heart. The road calls more than a day spent indoors updating my blog. Please rest content knowing there will be a future flurry of posts and pictures detailing my last week of rambles. For now I have a TV interview to catch! Woah! Have I been having such a great time riding through the Canadian provinces. I will stop to update in Prince George tonight or tomorrow. Bear with me ( no pun intended). |
Mike SaundersIn May 2014 I quit my job to ride a Honda Ruckus over 69'000 mi and counting. Wild camping most nights and cooking most of my own meals, I keep the costs low and the landscape changing. Archives
April 2018
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