Memories of Alaska, Part 1

There are many, many things we will miss about Skagway. For example, there is no significant crime. The most that could happen is someone may borrow your bike without permission, but it's a small town so they are sure to leave it somewhere nearby when they are done with it!

We will miss the amazing beauty of the area – mountains just outside our door and long hiking trails. Fishing, bear-watching and mushroom hunting. Watching for Northern Lights, and realizing that the night is so beautiful that it won't make any difference if they show up or not.

And the resourceful way of life here. We got by just fine without Wal-Mart or malls (although I am enjoying them now). People walk more in Skagway, and are just as likely to ride a bike as drive a car.

But mostly we will miss the people we met and worked with. Friends that we hope to see again, somewhere on the RV circuit. This part of RVing stinks - we get to know people in an area, make some good friends, and then have to leave. If we stop RVing, it will probably be because of that. But for the time we had with good friends in Skagway, we are very grateful.

What won't we miss? Well, there's the mosquitoes. I thought the old references to mosquitoes killing horses was an exaggeration, but it’s not. During a hike our neighbors’ German Sheppard was bitten so many times that she just laid down on the trail, ready to give up. Her owners carried her back down the trail and she recovered just fine, but her face was swollen for several days. Fortunately the people in the Park didn’t have that severe of a reaction. But there are also something known as "no-see-ums". Several people developed severe allergic reactions to these, including Randy. His hand and arm swelled up so much that he had to go to the local clinic (no doctor in town) where they gave him some meds (no pharmacy in town).

And, of course, the grocery store . . . we won’t forget that, and won't miss it, either!

No comments:

Post a Comment