Arrived in Skagway around noon. We had planned on staying at the AYH hostel, but thought we couldn't check in until 5:30, so we were going to put our bags in a locker at the ferry terminal and wander around until then. To our amazement, the woman from the hostel met us at the dock and drove us to the hostel! Never had that happen before. Turned out we can go in and out as much as we like during the day. Most hostels are locked from nine to five or whatever.
After signing up at the hostel for two nights, we walked over to the railroad station and bought tickets to ride the narrow-gauge railroad tomorrow. It follows the old Chilkoot Trail the gold-seekers so laboriously climbed in '97-'98.
Ate lunch and walked around. Skagway is a National Historical Monument. It was a major starting point for the Yukon Gold Rush of 1897. The sidewalks on the main street, Broadway, are made of wood, and many of the buildings are pretty much as they were nearly a century ago. We joined a Ranger walk that had already started. Will try to get in at the beginning tomorrow morning.
Ate a good supper at the hostel for only $5. Then we went to the perennial "Gold Rush" show. Gambled with play money for half an hour; then watched the melodrama. It was great. The performers are real professionals. Very enthusiastic.
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