Today I volunteered to drive the one remaining "old" bus to check out a perceived problem Bryan had yesterday. To wit, 2nd gear did not hold back enough on the downhill.
It was a summit tour with 18 on board. Got to the summit with all going well. Tried to leave the summit and the ignition did not connect. No clicking of dead battery. No grinding of starter. No nothing. All other electrical systems worked fine. I tried jiggling the neutral safety switch. I couldn't even find the starter. I moved the shift lever in and out of every position. Nothing.
The code of the trail. Another driver tried to help. But it came down to him going on up to Fraser and getting the train master (our friend Allyson) to call back to town and inform our office. That meant we could expect relief of some kind in about an hour or so. So, since it was windy cold outside, we all stayed on the bus and I regaled them with tales of the gold rush that would have come on the return to town. Three fell asleep. I thought I was more interesting than that. When I ran out of material, two men got in a joke telling contest. That was fun. Luckily, I was surprised when Jack drove up with the old-I-will-never-drive-it-again Ford. We gratefully loaded up and he entertained us on the way back to town. I promised everyone free popcorn for their inconvenience. One woman asked me privately and I think only half jokingly, if we could leave her husband there. Only 9 took me up on the free popcorn, and two groups actually gave me tips.
Not to leave you hanging, Heath took me back up in his Suburban, sat in the driver's seat, pumped the gas pedal 10 times hard, and the darned old thing started up! That was not the problem. Based on my experience with our Wagoneer in '95, I think it is a computer issue. Either way, if I have to drive it again, I will leave the engine running at stops.
Meanwhile, Peggie got to get out of office work and drive her second tour today. Then she got to do office work when she got back in town. Long day.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Congratulations Peggie
Long story, short version.
Peggie and I are both supposed to be driving tours this
year. But we got here and learned that
we needed to pass a drug-screening urine test before we could start. So an appointment was made, and we did our
thing. Now we are still waiting for results five days later. Meantime, tours have been sold and drivers
are needed. Yesterday, (May 10) we only
had 2 guests on “my” tour so I was allowed to take them in one of the green
jeeps, since the CDL is not required for that. Jaimie has to go home for the
oldest son’s graduation and will be gone two weeks. Michelle, who is supposed to be here managing
the office, is delayed in Wisconsin. So Peggie, who can’t even take her CDL
driving test until the end of the month, was tapped to learn the office routine
while Jaimie is gone. The small bus she
is supposed to drive doesn’t require a CDL, so she could be driving. She is disappointed, but she’s a team player.
She has been studying all the gold rush lore, riding along with other drivers,
including me, on both practice and actual tours. Yesterday, Jack sold a city
summit tour (2.5 hours) for five people.
All the drivers were out, so Jack would have taken it, but they offered
it to Peggie. She took it.
It was the best way. No time to get nervous. Even less time
to panic. When I got back in town I learned that she was out on a tour. We went
to celebrate and rehash the tour at Brew Co. Since Bryan also took his first
solo tour, and I took my first this season, we had much to celebrate, and good
stories to share.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Now THIS is FUN!!
Peggie has created an album to go with this post. Check it out.
Today was the orientation at Caribou Crossing and Peggie, Bryan, and I were the only ones who chose to go. I was just curious to see if the new owners had changed anything, and Peggie and Bryan needed to see it for the first time. We had been there twice with passengers, but didn't get any of the inside on what is new. Peggie drove the mini bus for the first time, and I sort of gave my narration, with many modifications caused by questions. Also, I haven't done this in two years so there was some rust in my delivery. We arrived in good time to see a ring of drivers from a competitor company standing in the parking lot. I know and like most of them, but three of eight were new to me. I met the husband side of the new owners for the first time, also. As soon as introductions were done all around, including some of the CC staff, the owner got attention and asked, "Is there anyone who does NOT want to take a helicopter ride." We all looked at each other and saw confusion but no raised hands. Why is he asking that?
Well, one of the new "staff" we had just met has a heli-ski company in winter, and looking for a way to get year round income thought that offering short rides to our passengers might work out. And to help us sell it, he gave us a free 10 minute ride around the Carcross area. In a helicopter, you can cover a lot of ground in ten minutes. We went into the mountains and over Bennett Lake and the town. They haven't worked out the price yet, but when they do, we both can enthusiastically sell the ride. I mentioned it was worth going today for free lunch and beautiful scenery. I didn't expect the aerial view of that scenery.
Speaking of scenery, it has only been three days since our last drive there, and the loss of snow is amazing. Water is running off everywhere. Rocks are pushing through. Soon there will be.......ANIMALS!
Today was the orientation at Caribou Crossing and Peggie, Bryan, and I were the only ones who chose to go. I was just curious to see if the new owners had changed anything, and Peggie and Bryan needed to see it for the first time. We had been there twice with passengers, but didn't get any of the inside on what is new. Peggie drove the mini bus for the first time, and I sort of gave my narration, with many modifications caused by questions. Also, I haven't done this in two years so there was some rust in my delivery. We arrived in good time to see a ring of drivers from a competitor company standing in the parking lot. I know and like most of them, but three of eight were new to me. I met the husband side of the new owners for the first time, also. As soon as introductions were done all around, including some of the CC staff, the owner got attention and asked, "Is there anyone who does NOT want to take a helicopter ride." We all looked at each other and saw confusion but no raised hands. Why is he asking that?
Well, one of the new "staff" we had just met has a heli-ski company in winter, and looking for a way to get year round income thought that offering short rides to our passengers might work out. And to help us sell it, he gave us a free 10 minute ride around the Carcross area. In a helicopter, you can cover a lot of ground in ten minutes. We went into the mountains and over Bennett Lake and the town. They haven't worked out the price yet, but when they do, we both can enthusiastically sell the ride. I mentioned it was worth going today for free lunch and beautiful scenery. I didn't expect the aerial view of that scenery.
Speaking of scenery, it has only been three days since our last drive there, and the loss of snow is amazing. Water is running off everywhere. Rocks are pushing through. Soon there will be.......ANIMALS!
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Day Off, no ship, no tour, no problem
I just decided that I will take some pictures today of our little RV park so you can see where we are living.
In the meantime.......
We are parked next to a long yellow-brown storage building. The slideout is about two feet from the wall. So one of the things I got at the hardware store on Wed. was a thermometer to hang on that wall so we could see it when we eat. It is always good to know how to dress. I drove a nail into the wall and stuck it up there. It was raining, and water dripped in my face as I did it. Within an hour it blew down. It came with a hanging strip that clips in place. So I attached that, got another nail, stood in the roof drip, and hung it with both the original and the new nail, on opposite sides. It blew down over night. Thursday, I asked Macky if he had any loose screws. Well, he is a Skagwegian, so there is an obvious answer. Badumpbump. He did. So I put two screws through the hanging strip and the thermometer has been solid ever since. It showed 46 when we went to bed and 48 when we got up. It will be a few days before the temp changes enough for us to see if it is an accurate instrument.
Oh yeah, the hardware store did not get in the sewer piece I needed, so I adapted and put it together differently. It required some cutting and gluing. You don't need the details, but we have sewer hooked up now. It looks very Skagwegian, but it works.
We are across the street from "Gravel City" rv park, so we went over there after work yesterday to do laundry. There are 10 regular washers. At least two don't work. The soap dispenser took my four quarters but produced no soap. There are three oversized washers, one is broken. But a man taking his clothes from another one offered us his soap. That is also typical Skag way. There are eight dryers, six work. The office is not only closed, but the junk piled in it shows that it has been closed for a while. Next time we will go to the laundry at the gas station. All their machines work, and there is always someone there to refund money or make change. But we did run into another old friend and got caught up on her adventures. We like our adventures much better.
In the meantime.......
We are parked next to a long yellow-brown storage building. The slideout is about two feet from the wall. So one of the things I got at the hardware store on Wed. was a thermometer to hang on that wall so we could see it when we eat. It is always good to know how to dress. I drove a nail into the wall and stuck it up there. It was raining, and water dripped in my face as I did it. Within an hour it blew down. It came with a hanging strip that clips in place. So I attached that, got another nail, stood in the roof drip, and hung it with both the original and the new nail, on opposite sides. It blew down over night. Thursday, I asked Macky if he had any loose screws. Well, he is a Skagwegian, so there is an obvious answer. Badumpbump. He did. So I put two screws through the hanging strip and the thermometer has been solid ever since. It showed 46 when we went to bed and 48 when we got up. It will be a few days before the temp changes enough for us to see if it is an accurate instrument.
Oh yeah, the hardware store did not get in the sewer piece I needed, so I adapted and put it together differently. It required some cutting and gluing. You don't need the details, but we have sewer hooked up now. It looks very Skagwegian, but it works.
We are across the street from "Gravel City" rv park, so we went over there after work yesterday to do laundry. There are 10 regular washers. At least two don't work. The soap dispenser took my four quarters but produced no soap. There are three oversized washers, one is broken. But a man taking his clothes from another one offered us his soap. That is also typical Skag way. There are eight dryers, six work. The office is not only closed, but the junk piled in it shows that it has been closed for a while. Next time we will go to the laundry at the gas station. All their machines work, and there is always someone there to refund money or make change. But we did run into another old friend and got caught up on her adventures. We like our adventures much better.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Day Two, with ship and tour
Today went the way yesterday was supposed to have gone.
Peggie got to ride along on the 8:00 summit tour with Alyssa training Brian because there were some empty seats. I stayed to help Jaimie and Heath with whatever might come up. Alyssa locked the keys in her bus, so I had to run to the bus lot, get the spares and bring them back to her. Then Jaimie and I got to spend some time getting acquainted while manning the desk. She had to run out for coffee so I hung out alone for a while.
The streets were empty. It was raining pretty hard so most folks just stayed on ship.
When it came time to take the Carcross run, I decided to go along again. Free lunch, beautiful scenery.
Not surprising me at all, there were visible changes in the snow cover. One of the things I always say is that the scenery changes every day, all summer long. When there are moving clouds, it changes while you are watching it. I love getting to see it without the distraction of driving and talking. We will all go up again on Tuesday for the driver orientation since new owners may have made some changes. Free lunch, beautiful scenery.
Today's trip, Brian took the wheel while Alyssa did the narrative. It is a good way for a new driver to make the connection between the story and the various stretches of road. On the return, he tried to contribute bits to the narrative, but he botched it every time. The passengers joined us in teasing him and laughing. He is so good natured that he usually laughed first and last.
We have Sunday and Monday off. No ships. Peggie will get some training in. No ships on Tuesday, that's why the orientation is that day.Peggie and I should be cleared to drive by Wednesday. She can drive the smaller bus without the CDL.
Our friend Barry, with whom I worked the first two years, has been desperately hunting a place to park his trailer since Mountain View has shut down. Tomorrow I will tow him to the site he landed at Pullen Creek which normally does not take seasonals. He does not have a truck, since he just leaves the trailer here year 'round
We won't be going to Dyea soon, since bears aren't out yet and the road is reported to be a muddy mess while it is being widened.
I will keep y'all posted (get it?) if any adventures crop up.
Peggie got to ride along on the 8:00 summit tour with Alyssa training Brian because there were some empty seats. I stayed to help Jaimie and Heath with whatever might come up. Alyssa locked the keys in her bus, so I had to run to the bus lot, get the spares and bring them back to her. Then Jaimie and I got to spend some time getting acquainted while manning the desk. She had to run out for coffee so I hung out alone for a while.
The streets were empty. It was raining pretty hard so most folks just stayed on ship.
When it came time to take the Carcross run, I decided to go along again. Free lunch, beautiful scenery.
Not surprising me at all, there were visible changes in the snow cover. One of the things I always say is that the scenery changes every day, all summer long. When there are moving clouds, it changes while you are watching it. I love getting to see it without the distraction of driving and talking. We will all go up again on Tuesday for the driver orientation since new owners may have made some changes. Free lunch, beautiful scenery.
Today's trip, Brian took the wheel while Alyssa did the narrative. It is a good way for a new driver to make the connection between the story and the various stretches of road. On the return, he tried to contribute bits to the narrative, but he botched it every time. The passengers joined us in teasing him and laughing. He is so good natured that he usually laughed first and last.
We have Sunday and Monday off. No ships. Peggie will get some training in. No ships on Tuesday, that's why the orientation is that day.Peggie and I should be cleared to drive by Wednesday. She can drive the smaller bus without the CDL.
Our friend Barry, with whom I worked the first two years, has been desperately hunting a place to park his trailer since Mountain View has shut down. Tomorrow I will tow him to the site he landed at Pullen Creek which normally does not take seasonals. He does not have a truck, since he just leaves the trailer here year 'round
We won't be going to Dyea soon, since bears aren't out yet and the road is reported to be a muddy mess while it is being widened.
I will keep y'all posted (get it?) if any adventures crop up.
Friday, May 3, 2013
First ship day
Photo Album Should Post Soon:
We had an employee meeting yesterday to communicate procedures and expectations for the near future while Peggie and I are unavailable. I have worked for this company for three years, but that was softball compared to the hardball we are now playing.
Apparently there are DOT rules and regulations that Dave did not bother with. In 2011 he was audited by the DOT. So now all those rules have to be followed. Hence, I need a drug test before I can drive. We have paperwork to fill out for every run which I have never seen before. We have to keep a log. Two logs. One for our driving time, and one for the vehicle miles and maintenance and fuel usage. We have a maintenance man who will fix things at the end of each day. No waiting for three weeks when it is that vehicle's turn to take Dave for his weekly Whitehorse weekend. We have two new-er buses (2006 and 2010) to replace the 1999 "new" buses (one of which literally burned to the ground on the last ship day last year) and the 1991 piece of $&#@ "old" bus that cost me hundreds in tips in 2011.
So, back to the meeting. Everything seemed so squared away. All the pieces were in place, and each person knew what to do and where to go today. We all meet at the buses(which are conveniently located 30 feet from our trailer) and do team pre-trip inspection, both for training the two newbies, and because it is difficult to see your brake lights working while you are in the driver's seat with your foot on the pedal. This would happen at 6:40 so we could drive the buses to the popcorn store for our daily 7:00 am staff meeting.
Good plan.
At 6:40 Peggie and I walk over to the bus parking lot. One of the buses is missing.
Time to introduce the cast:
Heath and Jaimie ----own the popcorn store, bought the company at the beginning of the season last year after not completing the sale the year before. Over the winter also bought the green jeeps, including the land where we live, and opened popcorn stores in Juneau and Ketchikan.
Macky---born and raised Skagwegian (yes, that is what they call themselves, and it is a nicer term than I would use) our maintenance man.
Jack---seasonal who has been coming here since 1991, which means NOBODY CAN TELL HIM ANYTHING ABOUT ANYTHING because he has seen it all and it was better then.
Brian ---40ish semi-retired engineer who sold a successful company two years ago, ran into Jack on the Appalachian Trail, was talked into taking a job driving tours in Colorado, followed by coming here.
He lives in a "bunkhouse trailer" next door to us that he helped Heath, Jaimie, and Jack drive up here along with the two new buses and the two new green jeeps. We like him.
Alyssa ---twenty?something high energy, efficient, returnee from last year who previously drove the big buses and is married to a man who still does. She was training Brian before we got here and is now also training Peggie. We like her, too.
Okay. One of the buses was missing.
Jack shows up. (He lives in one of the six trailers, Jaimie and Heath in one, and the other two are leased to kids who work for Sockeye Cycles) We ask him how he wants to do the pre-trip inspection. He pooh poohs the idea and reaches in to start the small bus that will be Peggie's later. Dead battery. So he starts the new bus that is still there. At this point Alyssa shows up on her bike. She says to Jack, "Why are you starting my bus?" He says the other one is dead. She says how am I supposed to check the oil with it running. He says the oil has been checked 14 times in the last two days while you guys have been training.
This is the oil and water relationship Jack and Alyssa have already established in the last few days. She was trained by the big bus companies to follow the letter of the rules, he is....old school Skagway.
Upshot, Alyssa, Peggie, and I get in the running bus and head to the popcorn store for the daily staff meeting. Jack stays to help Macky get the jeeps ready for the prebooked renters. Oddly, they have not been cleaned and stocked prior to this moment.
At the popcorn store, Jaimie is putting together last minute paperwork and juggling phone calls with Heath, who stayed to help Macky and Jack.
There is no staff meeting.
Alyssa heads to the dock to pick up her passengers for the 8:00 summit tour. The "missing" bus and Brian are at the popcorn shop, he took it to get gas because it was the training bus and hadn't been filled up. He goes with Alyssa because he has to learn the tour. Peggie is given a green jeep to run some errands for Jaimie because half the office work is still down at the old Southeast office and half is at the popcorn store. I am dispatched in the "missing" bus to shuttle jeep renters up to the lot (remember, I can't do this yet, because I haven't done my urine test) so I make three trips, including a pickup at the dock, wherein Peggie has to go stand in the cold with a green jeep sign, so I can stay with the bus in a loading zone where the driver can't leave, or it is called parking.
Finally, Alyssa and Brian are back from the morning summit run and Peggie and I are allowed to join them for the Carcross run. This has been accomplished by Jaimie convincing two people to change from a 9:30 to an eleven that also only had two people, and moving four people from a shorter tour to a free upgrade to this one, so that Jack could use the other running bus for an eleven o'clock summit run. Jaimie is a good juggler.
This is only the second time I have been a passenger on this tour, the last time was four years ago. It is a great tour. Alyssa did a great job. Not as good as me, but who is? The passengers were happy and that is what counts. It was good for me to get a refresher after missing a season. Peggie and I got a free lunch.
Sgt. Brown was our customs officer when we got back and he came on to check passports with his customary (no pun intended) query: "Hi folks, did you see any critters today?"
No. We did not see any critters today. There is snow everywhere. Bears are sleeping. Sheep and goats are invisible. Moose and caribou? Probably somewhere with food.
But we had fun.
Tomorrow? Are you kidding? I (he means "we") am planning to meet Alyssa and Brian for pretrip at 6:40, drive to the 7:00 staff meeting and roll with the flow. Just like today.
We had an employee meeting yesterday to communicate procedures and expectations for the near future while Peggie and I are unavailable. I have worked for this company for three years, but that was softball compared to the hardball we are now playing.
Apparently there are DOT rules and regulations that Dave did not bother with. In 2011 he was audited by the DOT. So now all those rules have to be followed. Hence, I need a drug test before I can drive. We have paperwork to fill out for every run which I have never seen before. We have to keep a log. Two logs. One for our driving time, and one for the vehicle miles and maintenance and fuel usage. We have a maintenance man who will fix things at the end of each day. No waiting for three weeks when it is that vehicle's turn to take Dave for his weekly Whitehorse weekend. We have two new-er buses (2006 and 2010) to replace the 1999 "new" buses (one of which literally burned to the ground on the last ship day last year) and the 1991 piece of $&#@ "old" bus that cost me hundreds in tips in 2011.
So, back to the meeting. Everything seemed so squared away. All the pieces were in place, and each person knew what to do and where to go today. We all meet at the buses(which are conveniently located 30 feet from our trailer) and do team pre-trip inspection, both for training the two newbies, and because it is difficult to see your brake lights working while you are in the driver's seat with your foot on the pedal. This would happen at 6:40 so we could drive the buses to the popcorn store for our daily 7:00 am staff meeting.
Good plan.
At 6:40 Peggie and I walk over to the bus parking lot. One of the buses is missing.
Time to introduce the cast:
Heath and Jaimie ----own the popcorn store, bought the company at the beginning of the season last year after not completing the sale the year before. Over the winter also bought the green jeeps, including the land where we live, and opened popcorn stores in Juneau and Ketchikan.
Macky---born and raised Skagwegian (yes, that is what they call themselves, and it is a nicer term than I would use) our maintenance man.
Jack---seasonal who has been coming here since 1991, which means NOBODY CAN TELL HIM ANYTHING ABOUT ANYTHING because he has seen it all and it was better then.
Brian ---40ish semi-retired engineer who sold a successful company two years ago, ran into Jack on the Appalachian Trail, was talked into taking a job driving tours in Colorado, followed by coming here.
He lives in a "bunkhouse trailer" next door to us that he helped Heath, Jaimie, and Jack drive up here along with the two new buses and the two new green jeeps. We like him.
Alyssa ---twenty?something high energy, efficient, returnee from last year who previously drove the big buses and is married to a man who still does. She was training Brian before we got here and is now also training Peggie. We like her, too.
Okay. One of the buses was missing.
Jack shows up. (He lives in one of the six trailers, Jaimie and Heath in one, and the other two are leased to kids who work for Sockeye Cycles) We ask him how he wants to do the pre-trip inspection. He pooh poohs the idea and reaches in to start the small bus that will be Peggie's later. Dead battery. So he starts the new bus that is still there. At this point Alyssa shows up on her bike. She says to Jack, "Why are you starting my bus?" He says the other one is dead. She says how am I supposed to check the oil with it running. He says the oil has been checked 14 times in the last two days while you guys have been training.
This is the oil and water relationship Jack and Alyssa have already established in the last few days. She was trained by the big bus companies to follow the letter of the rules, he is....old school Skagway.
Upshot, Alyssa, Peggie, and I get in the running bus and head to the popcorn store for the daily staff meeting. Jack stays to help Macky get the jeeps ready for the prebooked renters. Oddly, they have not been cleaned and stocked prior to this moment.
At the popcorn store, Jaimie is putting together last minute paperwork and juggling phone calls with Heath, who stayed to help Macky and Jack.
There is no staff meeting.
Alyssa heads to the dock to pick up her passengers for the 8:00 summit tour. The "missing" bus and Brian are at the popcorn shop, he took it to get gas because it was the training bus and hadn't been filled up. He goes with Alyssa because he has to learn the tour. Peggie is given a green jeep to run some errands for Jaimie because half the office work is still down at the old Southeast office and half is at the popcorn store. I am dispatched in the "missing" bus to shuttle jeep renters up to the lot (remember, I can't do this yet, because I haven't done my urine test) so I make three trips, including a pickup at the dock, wherein Peggie has to go stand in the cold with a green jeep sign, so I can stay with the bus in a loading zone where the driver can't leave, or it is called parking.
Finally, Alyssa and Brian are back from the morning summit run and Peggie and I are allowed to join them for the Carcross run. This has been accomplished by Jaimie convincing two people to change from a 9:30 to an eleven that also only had two people, and moving four people from a shorter tour to a free upgrade to this one, so that Jack could use the other running bus for an eleven o'clock summit run. Jaimie is a good juggler.
This is only the second time I have been a passenger on this tour, the last time was four years ago. It is a great tour. Alyssa did a great job. Not as good as me, but who is? The passengers were happy and that is what counts. It was good for me to get a refresher after missing a season. Peggie and I got a free lunch.
Sgt. Brown was our customs officer when we got back and he came on to check passports with his customary (no pun intended) query: "Hi folks, did you see any critters today?"
No. We did not see any critters today. There is snow everywhere. Bears are sleeping. Sheep and goats are invisible. Moose and caribou? Probably somewhere with food.
But we had fun.
Tomorrow? Are you kidding? I (he means "we") am planning to meet Alyssa and Brian for pretrip at 6:40, drive to the 7:00 staff meeting and roll with the flow. Just like today.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
May Day, May Day!
It is Wed., the first of May. We don't have internet, so will post this later.
We arrived in Skagway at about 5pm last night. We had blizzard conditions the last five miles in Canada and the first two miles in Alaska. Apparently it was just above 3000' or so. Snow is falling in Skagway, but really light.
We were met by Macky, "our maintenance man," and he showed us our spot and helped back me in. Other employees, two drivers and the popcorn manager, who live here also dropped by after a bit to say hi. One of the other drivers, Alyssa, drove for Heath last year and for the large bus companies before that. She is
"in charge" of all DOT paper work. She has been training the "new guy" and immediately took Peggie under her wing, also. She went with them today to see the pre-trip inspection and some practice driving. (I am posting this on Thurs. and Peggie passed all three of the written portions of the test today. Yay!)
While she was out training, I finished leveling and setting the trailer up. I need a piece for the sewer pipe so that is the thing the hardware store is out of.
In running errands, primarily getting our Post Office keys, I ran into 6 people I know and like. Huh? Must be a small town. Speaking of the PO, I reserved our box last month so we could start getting some things sent directly here. But, somebody went online and reserved the same box. Really? Why wasn't my "reserved" box made unavailable for somebody as soon as it was assigned to me? If you had our first number and need the new one, let me know.
This is the coldest, wettest, windiest, May we have seen. Even the locals are complaining. Rain, mixed with snow off and on all day. High temps in the forties. We were told to keep water running to prevent freezing.
Some things are the same. Last minute painting, sign hanging, boardwalk building, and stocking. The bad weather made the barge 3 days late and everyone is panicking. There are new businesses in "what used to be there?" and closed businesses with FOR RENT signs in the windows, HELP WANTED signs everywhere.
Some things are different. The owner of the Pizza Station, that was the gas station when we were here in '95 has filled the tanks and sells gas by credit card only, with no personnel on hand. Twenty cents cheaper than the other "only station in town." There are some strong feelings about that! We saw all new faces at Customs, and the officer who checked us through was really friendly. We have since learned that three of the crew from our last visit are still there.
Thursday, May 2
First ship is tomorrow. One on Saturday. Then three empty days, then it starts to pick up. Neither of us can drive yet, because Peggie still needs to do the driving portion of the test, (only done on Thursday) and we both have to have a urine-drug test that can't be done till next week. (Because it is the Skag way.) I never knew how lax Dave was with some of these requirements until I see it being done "by the book." So we will ride along tomorrow and Saturday. I will start driving next Wed. and Peggie on Friday. She will get to practice driving during those off days. I don't know what I will do. Maybe help teach her.
We arrived in Skagway at about 5pm last night. We had blizzard conditions the last five miles in Canada and the first two miles in Alaska. Apparently it was just above 3000' or so. Snow is falling in Skagway, but really light.
We were met by Macky, "our maintenance man," and he showed us our spot and helped back me in. Other employees, two drivers and the popcorn manager, who live here also dropped by after a bit to say hi. One of the other drivers, Alyssa, drove for Heath last year and for the large bus companies before that. She is
"in charge" of all DOT paper work. She has been training the "new guy" and immediately took Peggie under her wing, also. She went with them today to see the pre-trip inspection and some practice driving. (I am posting this on Thurs. and Peggie passed all three of the written portions of the test today. Yay!)
While she was out training, I finished leveling and setting the trailer up. I need a piece for the sewer pipe so that is the thing the hardware store is out of.
In running errands, primarily getting our Post Office keys, I ran into 6 people I know and like. Huh? Must be a small town. Speaking of the PO, I reserved our box last month so we could start getting some things sent directly here. But, somebody went online and reserved the same box. Really? Why wasn't my "reserved" box made unavailable for somebody as soon as it was assigned to me? If you had our first number and need the new one, let me know.
This is the coldest, wettest, windiest, May we have seen. Even the locals are complaining. Rain, mixed with snow off and on all day. High temps in the forties. We were told to keep water running to prevent freezing.
Some things are the same. Last minute painting, sign hanging, boardwalk building, and stocking. The bad weather made the barge 3 days late and everyone is panicking. There are new businesses in "what used to be there?" and closed businesses with FOR RENT signs in the windows, HELP WANTED signs everywhere.
Some things are different. The owner of the Pizza Station, that was the gas station when we were here in '95 has filled the tanks and sells gas by credit card only, with no personnel on hand. Twenty cents cheaper than the other "only station in town." There are some strong feelings about that! We saw all new faces at Customs, and the officer who checked us through was really friendly. We have since learned that three of the crew from our last visit are still there.
Thursday, May 2
First ship is tomorrow. One on Saturday. Then three empty days, then it starts to pick up. Neither of us can drive yet, because Peggie still needs to do the driving portion of the test, (only done on Thursday) and we both have to have a urine-drug test that can't be done till next week. (Because it is the Skag way.) I never knew how lax Dave was with some of these requirements until I see it being done "by the book." So we will ride along tomorrow and Saturday. I will start driving next Wed. and Peggie on Friday. She will get to practice driving during those off days. I don't know what I will do. Maybe help teach her.
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