The cruise ship left port from Seattle on an adventure to Alaska. Leaving port the skies were cloudy with high seas and the ship bounced on the waves. The seas had calmed by the the time the ship reached our first destination. I was excited to see this new world filled with beautiful glaciers and exotic places.

Reaching Skagway Alaska I left the cruise ship and got on a tourist bus headed toward the Yukon in Canada. The sun was shining as we left Skagway on a scenic highway that took many turns with some snow on the side of the road. Leaving town we passed by various stores selling trinkets and some clothing. The bus passed by some local housing with diverse landscapes. Some were neatly kept while others looked old and dilapidated. Our guide told us that many of the houses used alternative fuel and a few did not have indoor plumbing. My first thought was how cold the winters are here. Our guide showed us his house and told stories of why people enjoyed living in this small town. The first stop is at a lake that is used for fishing and recreation. Trees surround a crystal clear lake that sparkled in the morning sun. Our guide alerted us to the small wildlife that inhabits the surrounding woods. A deer slowly emerges and gives us a curious look before drinking some water and scurrying back into the woods.

Our guide makes several stops for photo opportunities at scenic places along the route. Photographs are taken on the icy terrain where the morning sun is bouncing off the surrounding lake and ice sickles hang from the surrounding trees. There is a quick stop at a rest area where there are outhouses and a water fountain.

Our next stop was along the road to observe some goats on the surrounding cliffs. Surefooted they were regal creatures that jumped comfortably along the edges. A little farther along the route are some eagles flying over the terrain. A fanciful dance in the wind made them all the more spectacular.

Another quick turn and we are at the world’s smallest desert. Mostly covered in snow the terrain stood out among the surrounding mountains and lakes. The appeal to early pioneers is clear in the abundant resources of this area. During the pioneer days the Canadian government required settlers to have a year’s worth of provisions before entering the Yukon. The pioneers struggled to get the necessary provisions and then entered into this new frontier. I admire the courage these settlers had to embark on such a difficult journey and then rejoice in settling a new land.

The tour included lunch at a rustic restaurant in a small tourist town. The buffet was spread out on tables in a small dining room. It was mostly simple American flare type food with chicken, vegetable, desert , and a drink. The food was filling but was rather bland. The restaurant had a gift shop with trinkets from the area. It also had a porch with rocking chairs and a picturesque view of an iced capped mountain on a lake. There were some birds and other small wildlife.

After lunch there are numerous photo opportunities in the area. The mountains are capped with ice and project a mirror like image on the surrounding lakes. The air is crisp and cool as we make a final stop in a ghost town. An old train depot has a caboose that reminds us of people traveling in a time long past. The abandoned buildings had some furnishings from the pioneer days. It was easy to imagine the bustling life of this town in another era. There is a gift shop and a post office where passports can be stamped if desired.

The trip back is a bit long after a day of sightseeing. We stop and show our passports to the border patrol before reentering the United States. It begins to snow as we leave Canada and cross the United States border. For those of us that live in places where it rarely snows this is a new adventure. There are narrow turns and zero visibility but our guide is used to the terrain and weather. The snow stops and turns to rain as we travel back through Skagway. We pull into the depot and depart for our cruise ship. It has been a beautiful day and now the time has come for dinner and rest before the next port of call.

copyright 2023 Debbie Pierce

2308 Creative Writing Monthly Challenge