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| From Alaska Ferry from Haines to Skagway |
We saw the ferry, Malaspina, coming up the Chilkoot Inlet about 8:15 and it docked at 8:30.
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| From Alaska Ferry from Haines to Skagway |
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| From Alaska Ferry from Haines to Skagway |
Once all of the passengers and vehicles had departed the ferry, the crew started directing the RVs on to the ferry first. A crew member checked each person’s ticket and ID before allowing the vehicles on the ferry.
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| From Alaska Ferry from Haines to Skagway |
We were impressed with the care they took in making sure each RV was not damaged driving on the ramp and entering the ferry. A crew member even squatted down to make sure the undercarriage of each RV cleared the ramp leaving the parking lot and entering the ferry.
Then the crew had the other vehicles start loading and as I drove on the ferry, I saw Mike taking a movie of me driving the car.
I passed by our RV
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| From Alaska Ferry from Haines to Skagway |
and was directed to the other side of the ferry where I parked the car. I met up with Mike near the vehicle entrance and we went up to the forward observation lounge on the boat deck.
We left Haines and headed north up the Taiya Inlet toward Skagway. In the distance we could see a couple of cruise ships leaving Skagway and heading south towards us. We went out onto the outer deck and took photos of the cruise ships.
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| From Alaska Ferry from Haines to Skagway |
It's about 14 miles from Haines to Skagway by ferry and since the ferry's speed is about 14 mph, it takes an hour which is better than driving the over 300 miles by land from Haines to Skagway.
We spent a little time out on the deck and then went back inside the lounge to get warm. We went back outside when we were close to Skagway.
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| From Alaska Ferry from Haines to Skagway |
The crew did an excellent job when we docked at 9:40. Normally you fell a "bump" when the boat touches up against the dock, but there was none. After a few minutes we heard the announcement that drivers could now go below decks and get in their vehicles.
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| From Alaska Ferry from Haines to Skagway |
We were instructed not to start the engine until we were told to and I had just gotten in the car when the cars in front of me started to move. We offloaded in the opposite order we boarded the ferry, so I was off the ferry before Mike was. I found a place near the exit gate where I could pull over and wait for Mike to catch up with me.
Mike told me later that because the first ramp off the dock had such a steep angle, the ferry crew added some portable ramps to reduce the angle so the back of the RV wouldn't drag on the dock and be damaged.
Once we met up again, I took the lead and we headed through town to the Garden City RV Park. I had the Garmin gps and we kept in touch with our CB radios. We arrived at the campground at 10:00 and there was no one in the office. When Mike had called to make our reservation here, John (the owner) said he would probably be here when we got off the ferry and if not, just to find a campsite. A couple of men came out of the RVs and said the same thing, just find a campsite and hook-up.
We found a pull-through near the office and parked the RV there. We leveled the RV, put out our slides and Mike hooked up the electric and water. Some more RVers came in after us and Mike told them just to find a site and park.
This is the latest we've ever gotten in at a campground. Hopefully this is our one and only time to come in this late.
Tomorrow we'll register and pay for our campsite for the 3 nights we're here. We're both tired and ready for bed, so I'll say goodnight.
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