September 5, 2008
Garden City RV Park
Skagway, AK
I don't even know where to start telling you what a great day we had today. We went back into downtown Skagway and just walked around checking out the wonderful old buildings and doing the usual "touristy" things. By the end of the day, I think we all agreed that this is one place in Alaska that we would definitely come back to. We have seen a lot of amazing sights and had a wonderful time at all of them (even the steep, scary places!!) but this town is unique. It has so many old buildings that have a lot of character. It's also one of the cleanest, neatest towns we have seen. A part of me will be sad to leave tomorrow. I probably could spend another week here, but time is passing fast and we have lots more we want to see before our time is over. We are planning on leaving here by 11 in the morning and we will be in Canada within an hour of leaving here. That means no cell service and no internet unless we hit a campground with WiFi. If so, we can check our emails, so if you need us that is how you can reach us.
The folowing pictures were taken either yesterday or today.
Chuck and Carolee with the restored train in Skagway
Donna and Merrell at the train
Merrell and Donna and the Red Onion Saloon in Skagway
Carolee and Chuck at the Saloon
Merrell at the Alaskan signpost in Skagway, AK
Donna at the Alaska Sign Post in Skagway, AK
Carolee showing off the ring she bought in one of the MANY jewelry stores in Skagway. When I say there are a lot of jewelry stores, I mean there are a LOT!! LOL
One of the neat old building in downtown Skagway
I loved this neat old ambulance parked in front of the weirdest house I have ever seen. You can't really see the house, but trust me, it was different. All kinds of angles and round rooms and towers...............................
Since it was Merrell's birthday, we decided to eat out and we let him pick where he wanted to eat. He decided he wanted to eat at the Elk's Club where they were having a benefit all you can eat Spaghetti dinner. This Elk's club is over a hundred years old and the food was home cooked and they people were so nice. When they found out it was Merrell's birthday, they surprised him with a "cake" and sang for him. It was a real piece of cake, but they didn't have candles, so they used long matches and some sticks to "decorate" the cake. Well, I guess you could call it singing. Everyone had their mouths open and the words came out. In tune it wasn't, but it was fun. Since it was an Italian Spaghetti dinner, one of the guys "became" Luigi. Now, Luigi definitely wasn't Italian, but he sure was a lot of fun and kept everyone laughing all evening. He dressed the part, up to and including an apron and a fake mustache!!!
Happy Birthday to Merrell, Happy Birthday to Merrell. Press the button to get the sound. Now, maybe you should make sure your speakers are turned DOWN instead of up!!! Teeheehee
Merrell and "Luigi" with Merrell's birthday cake and "candles".
After we left the birthday dinner (well, it was between lunch and dinner time, so I guess it could be called dunch or linner??) we went back to exploring the town. We found a neat little cottage garden tucked in behind some of the buildings. Even though it is near the end of the "season" in Alaska, the flowers were still beautiful.
This is one of the gardens we found in downtown Skagway.
After we finished exploring downtown, we drove a little way out of town and discovered a restaurant and it's gardens. I can't even explain how beautiful the grounds were. They had a train track set up in part of it with a miniature train and all of the buildings that made up the full town of Skagway. I don't know how long the track was, but it ran for a long way. The gardens probably took up about 2 1/2 t0 3 acres. It was just amazing. We talked to one of the guys who works on the grounds and he said at the start of the season, they have 5 gardeners. Right now they are down to 2 because it's close to the end of the season. Not only do they have the flower beds, they have herbs and garden produce for the restaurant. Even the vegetable garden part is beautiful. I would love to see their garden and grounds about the first of August. It must be an amazing sight. No wonder the cruise ships keep the harbor busy here.
As most of you probably know, Merrell is "Poppy" to his grandkids. Well, we saw this sign for a Poppie's Garden Restaurant (this is where the beautiful garden and grounds are located) and thought the grandkids would get a kick out of Poppie/Poppy having his own restaurant.
This is the front of the restaurant. It is totally surrounded by the flower gardens and walkways. They even have their own greenhouse and compost piles!!!
Donna & Merrell in the BEAUTIMOUS flower garden in Skagway, Alaska
Walkway to one of the flower beds in the restaurant's flower gardens.
Carolee in one of the flower beds at the restaurant.
A picture of Carolee taking a picture in the flower gardens at the restaurant in Skagway
Now, last but not least........................................... Merrell decided that he wanted to go bear hunting in Alaska. He said it was something he had read about and had always wanted to do. I was a little skeptical, but thought that since it was his birthday, I should just let him do it if he wanted to. Well, being the good little wife that I am, I thought I should take a picture of him starting out on his once in a lifetime adventure. Well, guess what? He went. I took his picture. Check it out below. If you are squeamish maybe you shouldn't scroll down anymore.
Merrell Bear/Bare Hunting in Alaska!!! Get it??? Teeheehee This was actually a post card Merrell found and he thought it was funny, so I thought maybe you would too. I just took a picture of the post card with my camera. Turned out pretty good, huh?
Catch ya later and have a wonderful weekend!!!
Love, The Gang
