The Fjordland Express, Fast boat to Juneau

July 5, 2019

We got up really early this morning to be at the small boat harbor in Skagway to catch our Fjordland Express boat for an all day trip to Juneau. We have done this trip before, in 2015, but every trip and excursion is different. In 2015 we saw a lot of whales, this trip we only saw a couple, and those from far away. We did see a lot of seals and sea lions as well as eagles.

Juneau is the capital of Alaska and is not accessible by car, only way you can get there is by water. It is a city of old, mixed with new. Narrow streets, with houses going up a steep hill, there isn't a lot of land down on the flat.

We only had about 4 hours in the city, we spent it eating lunch and going through the shops. Some of the gang went up to the top of the mountain on the tram, we had done that in '15, so didn't feel a need to do it again.

At the end of our 4 hours in the city, the bus picked us up again and took us to a Salmon Hatchery. Here they harvest the eggs and take care of the babies until they are old enough to be released back into the wild. It was an interesting tour.

Back on the bus, we saw a few more sites around the city, then went back to meet the boat to return back to Skagway.

 Meeting the boat that will take us to Juneau and back

We find our seats and get comfortable for the long ride

 Beautiful waterfalls, but for each waterfall we see on this trip, it means that a glacier is dying. They are melting fast and it makes me a little sad.

We saw lots of Eagles, they are everywhere up here

Glaciers, everywhere we look there are glaciers. It was really smokey higher up due to the fires all over the state

 Rocks??? No, seals and sea lions

We meet the bus that will show us around the city for a bit, then drop us off for some hours of shopping and fun

 This is the tram that goes all the way to the top of the mountain.

This guy was on the building across from the salmon hatchery

 A tour of the hatchery

 You may want to enlarge this one, thousands of tiny salmon babies

 Seals taking in the sun on a harbor bouy

 A mix of clouds and smoke capture the sun

End of a long day, the cruise ships leave the port of Skagway as we make our way back

Independence Day, 2019

July 4, 2019

One of the reasons we plan the caravan so that we are in Skagway on July 4th is so that we can participate in the parade. Everyone always has a great time, decorating the 'floats' and then walking/riding in the parade, throwing candy to the kids. Showing their pride in their service to their country.

After the parade, we had BBQ burgers with all the fixings, it was a great day all the way around.

 Getting ready to start the parade

 The staging area is down by the harbor, notice the cruise ships

A few rode, but most walked

 A nice ending to our story

The Skagway city buses are called SMART!!

 Uncle Sam was there as well

 Back at the park, things are coming together for our burgers and fixings!!