Summer in Skagway is lovely.
Skagway is blissfully chock full of sights and sounds that distract even the most ardent quilter from holing up inside and hovering over her Bernina. I am neither an ardent quilter or an indoor person. I'm easily distracted and can barely sit still long enough to get through a 30-minute sit-com, let alone a sunny day indoors.
That being said, I miss quilting.
We're just past mid-season, and the long days are waning. As the darker evenings creep in, not only do I anticipate the upcoming spectacular Northern Lights, but I also start gravitating towards my neglected pile of quilt books and magazines. I think, because of my seasonally divided lifestyle, it's natural for me to associate quilting with cooler temps and quieter nights. Now, surely July hasn't found us any quieter nights, but sadly, it has brought us cooler days. While we make the best of the sunny ones that come our way, this summer has certainly been cooler than normal. That hasn't stopped us from sitting around bonfires on the tidal flats or climbing mountains; we've just been doing it with a lot more clothes on. We're Alaskan tough like that.
So with eight(ish) weeks of our season ahead of us, I'm mentally gearing up for the onslaught of fabric and cutting that awaits me. My grand reward for welcoming back the last train. A bittersweet moment that closes another season will quickly become a welcome rush of expendible time. For the next seven months, anyway.
Until then, here's a little more of what I've been up to. You know, besides loading trains and making tourists' dreams come true.
The Chilkoot River in Haines, Alaska. We took a ferry over here one Saturday and enjoyed hanging out on the lake in 92° sunshine. For reals. No joke. Then we drove up the highway for burgers at the famed Mile 33 Roadhouse and ran into Parker Schnabel from the Discovery Channel's Gold Rush Alaska. I didn't know who he was, but trust me, the guys in our group were just beside themselves. I guess it would be akin to me running into Edyta Sitar on a trip to the Home Depot or something.
Being silly on the pilings on the Dyea tidal flats. We were supposed to ALL jump on the count of three. But I had a hard enough time just staying upright on my post, let alone adding in the toxic mix of jumping. Plus, I've broken my feet four times. I have no desire to relive summertime in a cast.
On Thursdays, when the Disney Wonder is in port, there are a few special excursions involving character experiences. I played hooky for a few hours and went out to Liarsville to hang with Chip and Dale and Donald Duck. Chip was busy gold panning and couldn't abandon his riches long enough to take a photo, but Dale was more than happy to.
It's been a fun summer, full of laughs, excellent friends, and high adventures. I'm loving every minute of it. But I sure do wish I knew where my sewing machine was...
