Skagway

The time for travel has begun. Currently, I’m in Skagway with Jennifer and all the dogs, and we are planning on leaving this evening to begin the drive back to Michigan. Already there is a dusting of snow on the surrounding hills, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we hit snow in the passes on the way back. To start off the long trek back to Michigan, John, Justin, Brian, and I packed up the 39 NK dogs plus a couple of canine hitchhikers and drove to the ferry terminal on Wednesday night. The dogs and I would be taking the slow ferry through Haines and over to Skagway. Around midnight, John and Justin drove us onto the ferry, dropped the trailer, and then said final goodbyes. The dogs and I spent the night on the ferry and arrived in Haines at five the following morning. While the dogs slept soundly down in the car terminal, I joined the masses of ferry backpackers in the solarium. The solarium is essentially a large covered porch on the top deck with rows of reclining lawn chairs beneath individual heat lamps. I claimed a lawn chair, pulled out my sleeping bag, and peacefully slept until our arrival in Haines. After a brief, one-hour stop in Haines, the ferry continued on to Skagway where Jennifer met us with the truck. Jennifer had already had an exciting morning, blowing out a tire on the drive to the terminal. Hopefully, the flat tire isn’t an indication of the upcoming drive.
Jen and I dropped off the dogs at the Skagway Alaska Excursions camp then rushed out to Whitehorse, YT to have the truck serviced. Two new tires and a mechanic’s warning later, Jen and I were back on the road to Skagway and crossing our fingers that all is in tip-top shape for the long haul ahead. Right now, the leaves are changing and the nights are cold, which made the drive absolutely beautiful (and visions of sled dogs dance in my head).
This morning, while Jen is at work, I’ve been busy bopping around town and running errands. Since today is the last day the cruise ships are in town, all the stores are having huge bargain sales. As many of you know, I’ve never been much of a shopper, but get me out there with great sales and I have trouble holding back. I caught myself almost buying a 2009 calendar just because it was 80% off. Rein it in Ryne. I’m proud to say that I only bought $6 worth of chocolate (go figure). I must note that the chocolate had cute names like Bear Turds and Crab Crap. I’m hoping to bring it all the way back to the Outside (aka the lower 48 states- I’m trying to be Alaskan), but it will all depend on my self-control. Hi, my name is Ryne, and I’m a recovering chocoholic. Wait… perhaps not recovering.