Skagway - Thursday

Let me begin by posting this video I intended to share yesterday.  The previous day we were startled to hear, "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar!" from the loudspeaker on the ship, because that's the "man overboard" signal. After we exchanged looks, the captain added that it was only a drill.  But we got to see the crew launch the rescue boat and motor around! (There are rescue boats attached to each side of the ship.)

Yesterday for Happy Hour we went up to the top deck to the Vortex Lounge. We were the first customers, and Charlie asked the bartender if the bar still rotates. He assured us it did, but said it normally only starts moving around midnight. We confessed that, in that case, we would NEVER see it moving, so he obligingly offered to turn it on for us.  In the video, it looks like the photographer is moving away from me, but I'm actually rotating away from him. (Yes, we are easily amused.)

Early this morning Charlie captured a video of this waterfall before we arrived in Skagway.

There are three other cruise ships here today.  Here's a photo as we arrived this morning about 6:15. This is the area where a massive rockslide closed the port in 2022.

It is presently 51 degrees and drizzling in Skagway.  But! We saw the forecast, so were up and off the ship early to explore the town and take some photos for you, dear readers.  It was just beginning to sprinkle lightly as we returned to the ship, while loads of passengers were beginning to head toward the town. 

Fall is clearly on its way to this part of Alaska. The flowers were mostly finished in the native flowering plants park, but I took a few photos for my gardener-readers.

Fireweed

Wild strawberry bed

Sea asters

Nasturtiums

Shrubby cinquefoil

We enjoyed seeing a steam train on display, complete with a rotary snowplow.


Kirmse's Clock is another Skagway landmark.  It's a pocket watch painted on the side of the mountain by a gold-rush era jeweler who wanted to advertise. Google says it is touched up periodically to keep it visible.


We browsed in a few shops in town, which (no doubt deliberately) retains its rustic feel.




As we returned to the ship, Charlie managed to get this photo of Serenade of the Seas.


That's all for now! We are anticipating a good lunch and a cozy afternoon on a chilly, wet day.



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