Those of you who follow us (that would be all of you, duh) know that we like to go on new roads. Not newly constructed roads per se, but roads on which we have never been. Around here, that is difficult, as there is only one road. Sort of. There is also the railroad.
We have been on the railroad as far as the White Pass summit. Today we got to ride all the way to Carcross, which is currently the end of the line. And it was free.
So once we crossed the summit, we were on new road. But it wasn't totally new road until we passed Log Cabin, because the highway parallels the railroad to there. The tracks go to Lake Bennett where a community existed during the gold rush for a brief time. Now there is a church, a private residence, and the train station, where they also serve a meal. We were allowed an hour and forty five minutes to eat and take a walking tour of the old town site. There are a lot of pieces of rusty metal and broken glass littering the area, dating from the gold rush. The church is standing, but not open. While we were there a float plane landed on the lake. That was fun to watch.
Then the rails follow the shore of the lake for 27 miles into Carcross. This is all country that you can't see by automobile.
Today was chilly and threatening rain in Skagway. Sunny and pleasant in Bennett. When we arrived in Carcross we were amazed to see two kite boarders on the lake (which is about forty degrees) but even more surprised to see 30 or so people on the beach and half a dozen in the water. The temp was about 80, so it was summer in Carcross. Brrrrr.
We then got a (free again) bus ride back to Skagway.
We have been on the railroad as far as the White Pass summit. Today we got to ride all the way to Carcross, which is currently the end of the line. And it was free.
So once we crossed the summit, we were on new road. But it wasn't totally new road until we passed Log Cabin, because the highway parallels the railroad to there. The tracks go to Lake Bennett where a community existed during the gold rush for a brief time. Now there is a church, a private residence, and the train station, where they also serve a meal. We were allowed an hour and forty five minutes to eat and take a walking tour of the old town site. There are a lot of pieces of rusty metal and broken glass littering the area, dating from the gold rush. The church is standing, but not open. While we were there a float plane landed on the lake. That was fun to watch.
Then the rails follow the shore of the lake for 27 miles into Carcross. This is all country that you can't see by automobile.
Today was chilly and threatening rain in Skagway. Sunny and pleasant in Bennett. When we arrived in Carcross we were amazed to see two kite boarders on the lake (which is about forty degrees) but even more surprised to see 30 or so people on the beach and half a dozen in the water. The temp was about 80, so it was summer in Carcross. Brrrrr.
We then got a (free again) bus ride back to Skagway.
3 comments:
No new animal sightings?! I figured the more interesting animals would stay on more secluded 'roads
Well, the train is kind of loud and scares them away. They announced a bear sighting but he ran off in the woods as the train approached. The more interesting animals this time were all the people on the beach and in the water (47 degrees?) in Carcross.
And I just recently learned that Carcross is short for Caribou Crossing...I did not know that.
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